Our Story
Debra W. Hartsfield is a Minister of God and founder of Called Up By Jesus Ministry. Through the intuitive witness of the Holy Spirit and commitment to God, she has a keen awareness of peoples’ needs and provides Bible based teachings of God’s Holy Word.
Debra Washington Hartsfield was born in the small town of Waterproof, Louisiana. The third of thirteen children, Debra grew up in the church, song in the choir and accepted Jesus Christ at the early age of 8. While other children were playing during the week, she attended prayer meetings praying with the mothers and deacons in the small church. It was through this humble beginning that the foundation in Jesus Christ was laid and her calling from God began. Her father nurtured her and gave her daily lectures (although at the time it felt more like he was preaching to her) about how to be a respectable young lady and the importance of having a solid relationship with the Lord. Unknowingly to her, God was using her father to continuously embed the ways of God in her heart, further preparing her for her calling, John 15:5-7 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Though her father died when she was 17 years old, his love and godly words of wisdom gave her strength to persevere and hold on to God’s unchanging hand. One quote of godly wisdom that continues to echo in her heart is:
“Do right in this world and God will bless you. If you do wrong, wrong will follow you, if you do right, then right will follow you. Do right.”
Though the death of her father was very hard to accept, she was able to persevere because she had been rooted and grounded in the Word of God. She graduated Valedictorian from high school and Cum Laude from Grambling State University with a Bachelor degree in Computer Science. She completed her Post Graduate studies with honors at Mercer University McAfee School of Theology where she received her Masters of Arts degree in Christian Ministry. She also graduated from Sonship School of The Firstborn, Killeen, TX – The Christian House Of Prayer – Bishop Nathaniel Holcomb.
Debra Hartsfield is married and currently resides in Marietta, Georgia with her family. God has brought her through devastating losses and many other life challenges. Her desire is to please God first and foremost and bring people to Him.
The Ministry
Called Up By Jesus Ministry, founded in 2009, is a Christian non-profit organization based in Marietta, Georgia. Our ministry endeavors to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, Deliverer, and Redeemer throughout the world to bring new souls to Jesus and strengthen the body of Christ. Our lead minister, Pastor Debra Hartsfield, preaches the word with an innovative approach that is relatable to people from many different walks of life.
God calls us to serve. That is our mission; that is our purpose. Our passion is to speak a word of love, compassion, and conviction over people’s lives.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:30…you have been called by Jesus Christ.
Our Core Beliefs
The Scripture
The Bible is the infallible Word of God written by men divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, and contains every answer to every problem in the world and with mankind.
2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21
The True Godhead
There is one, and only one, living and true God, manifested in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
John 10:30; John 14:26; Philippians 2:5-7; St. Matthew 3:16-17
Man
Man is created in the image of God. Although man was created in the image of God, he fell into sin and is lost. This is true of all men; and except a man be born again by the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Genesis 1:26-27; John 3:3; Romans 3:10, 23; 1 Timothy 2:5
Atonement For Sin
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe on Him are redeemed by His shed blood. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His ascension into heaven; He is our High Priest and Advocate.
John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; 1 John 2:2
Salvation
Man’s first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that worketh repentance. We can have a personal relationship with God through salvation. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. By admitting we have sinned and believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and accepting Him as Lord, we can spend eternity with God.
Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 5:1; Romans 3:24; II Corinthians 7:10
Water Baptism
We believe in water baptism, as taught and demonstrated by Jesus, as the way for believers to identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift from God. He helps empower the believer to develop the character of Christ and live every day in God’s will.
Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:4
Sanctification
Sanctification is the ongoing process of allowing God’s character to be developed in us. The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite progressive work of grace which commences at the time of regeneration and continues until the consummation of salvation.
Romans 6:19; Galatians 5:22-25; Hebrews 12:14; I Thessalonians 5:23; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; I Corinthians 1:30
Hell
The Bible describes hell as a real place. It is a place of suffering and a place of permanent separation from God for those who die without accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. God’s desire is that no one be separated from Him for eternity, which is why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth.
Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:12-15; John 3:16-18
Communion – The Lord’s Supper
Until Jesus Christ comes again, we partake of the Lord’s Supper to illustrate the Lord’s death. The bread symbolizes the Lord’s broken body. The cup represents the new covenant of His blood which provides us with forgiveness and relationship with God. Salvation is provided through the finished work of Christ and these sacraments are symbolic of His finished work. By sacred use of bread and wine, Christians are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ that is always preceded by solemn self-examination.
I Corinthians 11:23-31; Isaiah 53:5; I Corinthians; Hebrews 9; I
The Great Commission
Until the return of Christ, it is the Christian’s duty and privilege to seek the fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission and to minister in His name to a lost world. We are to be instruments of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit ministers redemption and reconciliation in the world. We should present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God and allow Him to guide, direct, counsel and instruct us in our everyday lives to reach the least, the less and the lost.
Matthew 25:31-46; 28:18-20; Romans 12:1-2
Resurrection of the Just and the Return of our Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus will return and take all those who have accepted Him as Savior to be with Him for eternity. His coming is imminent. Jesus Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave for final retribution and a solemn separation will take place. The wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment and the righteous to endless, eternal joy.
Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Hebrews 9:28