Have you ever had a dream so big it could have only been dreamed up by a God-sized imagination? I asked this question a couple of months ago.
In answer to this question, I noticed several people around me who have some big, out-of-this-world dreams, and I wanted to figure out where their dreams came from
One of the people I noticed was Marcus Porter of I AM GPOV (God’s Point of View). I kept seeing his clothing line pop up in my Facebook feed and in my Instagram stream. I thought it was interesting that someone in my circle was launching a clothing line. Even more interesting was that the clothing line had a spiritual message.
When I reached out to him, I realised his story is so much more than a clothing line.
About five years ago, Marcus failed. In fact, he failed time and time again and disappointed many people. He tried his hand at his first business venture – a martial arts and fitness studio called Target Martial Arts & Fitness. After things didn’t work out as he planned, he told his wife, “we will NEVER EVER open up a business again.
What was the big turning point in your life that made you totally change directions?
My turning point was in September 2014. My wife was following me in her car while I was taking a group of kids home from a youth event late one night. I happened to notice she wasn’t in my rearview mirror and it appeared to me she was in an accident! It scared the living jeepers out of me. Come to find out she was okay.
My heart opened to God, and I turned my life around. I knew life was too short to be wasting time on earth not following your dreams. So, I contacted some mentors, and I started calling in on a men’s prayer line. Every since then, I have been on this prayer line early every morning listening to my great mentors. Some of them you may know, Dr. Eric Thomas (ET the Hip Hop Preacher), Jeremy Anderson (The Grace Tour), Coach Vaughn, Chris Crumpler, Kaggia, Dr. Mason West, and many more.
I’m also meeting with a great mentor Pastor Kymone Hinds who is helping grow spiritually!
Now, I’m headed into a new direction!
We are focusing on our youth ages 21 and under instilling positivity in our community through our brand. We’re not just a brand or business. We are a ministry flooding the minds of our young people with motivation that will lead to transformation.
I am also finishing up my first book to become a published author. The name of the book is “I AM GPOV”. This book shares my testimony and how we can overcome hardships, setbacks, trials, and temptations. It’s a guide that will change people’s perspective on how they see the difficult experiences we go through.
Why did you decide to create a Christian clothing line?
I decided to pursue this dream because God took me through some difficult experiences that made me discover my identity which lead me to my passion.
I never thought I was worth anything. I was lost in who I was. I was depressed, lonely, and felt isolated from people and from God. I wanted to die because I was unhappy. I had no purpose, at least that’s what I thought. God spared my life and I didn’t know why at the time. I was given this idea through deep meditation & prayer. After that, it seemed to hit me day in and day out. It was like all I could think about and I wasn’t at peace until I started the process.
The more I thought about it and research, studied, and prayed the more I realized that God wanted me to share my struggles and encourage people through their hardships.
What made me decide after 5 years to follow this dream, this idea, that’s been consistently in my mind is…failure.
I’ve failed time and time again. I’ve disappointed so many people. But I remember when I operated outside of God’s plan and opened a business that God didn’t tell me to open. I knew what He wanted but I thought my way would get me there a whole lot faster. But I failed. And I failed hard. I blamed God for it! But God reminded me of what He wanted me to do. He repaired me and spared my life.
And when I began to draw closer to him I was able to learn his perspective. I was able to see things from his point of view. I was able to overcome addictions because of Isaiah 55: 8-9. God’s thoughts are smarter, wiser, and higher than mine! And when I learned that. I understood that “why!” Why He spared me. Why He saved me. I realized that even though I lose, never lose the lesson. I’m alive because God valued me when I didn’t even value myself. Now I have the opportunity to share that, through this dream.
I’m here to share God’s Point of View!
What do you want to accomplish with I AM GPOV?
I want to encourage people who have lost themselves. I want to help that one person who is one day away from taking their own life. Why? Because I almost took my life and I want to prevent that by letting God use me in this idea.
What does it mean to have this Christian clothing line?
It’s much more than just a t-shirt or a piece of fabric. It’s much more than writing books or speaking to a group of kids.
It’s a creative way to get a positive message out to people who are hurting. If one person receives hope! If one person receives love! If one person’s life is spared because God used this dream to save them, then I’m all in. Why? Because He saved mine!
So you started I AM GPOV with your wife?
My wife and I started this business/ministry together. After I failed at my first business attempt, (Target Martial Arts & Fitness) I told her we would NEVER EVER open up a business again. When I decided to follow through with this dream, Courtney saw God changing my life. She knew by my spirit this was what He wanted me to do. Courtney is the Chief Operating Officer, COO of Marcus D Porter Enterprises, LLC.
I AM GPOV is its clothing brand!
Do you do it full time now or is it part-time with another job.
At the moment it’s part-time. My plan is to work the business full-time while holding down a part-time job. But if God calls me to do this full-time, then let His will be done.We are a inspirational clothing brand producing high quality t-shirts whether it’s an exclusive “GPOV” branded item or custom product. Our custom t-shirts are targeted for churches, youth, groups, organizations, schools, summer camps, programs, and much more. We produce other products such as our personal inspirational books, hats, wristbands, and other accessories.
What are all of the activities included in GPOV? You mentioned speaking as well as the clothing line.
I ultimately want God’s will to be done in this business. I have some goals and milestones I would love to reach. I first want to become a published author. I’m almost there! I would love to expand my clothing line to other types of clothing and maybe open up my own retail boutique.
I love to travel. I love the streets! I love the community! It would be so awesome to purchase a Mini Bus to travel across the United States sharing my testimony, doing book signings, speaking to young people, doing seminars, leading out in fun activities and community programs all while taking my clothing brand on the road with me. That’s another big dream! Sounds fun! I want to have a small team of people who can travel with me to share their testimony as well. I want to record everything I do and share it with the world.
What do you hope to accomplish with it?
I ultimately want God’s will to be done in this business. I have some goals and milestones I would love to reach. I first want to become a published author. I’m almost there! I would love to expand my clothing line to other types of clothing and maybe open up my own retail boutique. I love to travel. I love the streets! I love the community! It would be so awesome to purchase a Mini Bus to travel across the United States sharing my testimony, doing book signings, speaking to young people, doing seminars, leading out in fun activities and community programs all while taking my clothing brand on the road with me. That’s another big dream! Sounds fun! I want to have a small team of people who can travel with me to share their testimony as well. I want to record everything I do and share it with the world.
How do you hope this Christian clothing line and all of the ministry that goes with it will impact people?
I hope to change the way people think. I hope that by my testimony people will find themselves and know their worth. I want to push people to their potential and help them stay there. I want to have a follow-up program in place so that when I leave they won’t relapse back into old bad habits. I also want to give back and invest in people’s dreams. I want to coach people’s ideas to life and be there to support them every step of the way. My wife is a mental health therapist/social worker and it would be awesome for us to travel together and create our own facility to help deal with mental illnesses.
Another goal is to start a non-profit organization. That is in the works with a friend of mine so if it’s in God’s will, that will come through for us as well.
By being faithful I pray that I will reap the benefits of this harvest. By the grace of God, I want to finish paying off all of our debt. I’ve never owned a brand new car. My wife actually drives the new car to work everyday because she deserves it. It’s my dream to own a all black Chevrolet Tahoe or a Cadillac Escalade.
Where are the items available to buy?
www.iamgpov.com Click on the shop page for purchases. For custom orders email: marcusdewayneporter {at} gmail.com or call +1 256-289-3260
What kind of feedback have you gotten from I AM GPOV?
People love the design of the logos. They are in love with the big and brilliant website. They say it’s fashionable and they can’t wait to get a shirt. Some are demanding shirts right now! I’m getting a lot of positive feedback and it’s good to know