Darlene Marcum has been a member of EMBC for almost 3 years. She is from Logan, West Virginia, and lived there all her life until moving to Maryville in 2017. 

Darlene earned her B.A. from Marshall University and 10 years later completed her M.A. in Counseling from Marshall University Graduate College. She started her career as a teacher at a Christian school. She later worked as a case manager and counselor in a mental health clinic, and it was there that she pursued her degree in counseling. She has experience as a high school counselor, a juvenile correctional facility counselor, and a middle school counselor. She is presently retired and serves at EMBC in the choir, nursery, and VBS.  She has been a Christian for 48 years and has attended and served in church since she was a teen. 

Darlene felt called to serve as a counselor with the Lighthouse Counseling Ministry because she wants to use her skills to help other people and to be a part of a Christian ministry that focuses on loving, healing, and hope in Jesus Christ. She has a particular interest in helping people with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, anger, forgiveness, guilt, diversity, self-worth, dependency, fears, and coping skills for loss of a relationship.

In her free time, Darlene enjoys walking, hiking, and biking, and loves traveling and exploring new places. She also enjoys reading books and studying the Bible. Most important, she loves spending time with her grandson and family. One of Darlene’s favorite Scripture passages is Proverbs 3: 5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Darlene knows that the Word of God is a “lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” and she is so thankful for its power to show us the way in this life and eternity.