‘Never Give Up’: Former Marine, Victor Marx, Speaks on Overcoming Adversity

Marine turned missionary campaigns to strengthen resiliency, readiness

Victor Marx finished his stint in the military and began his next mission

Living life in obedience to God

Motivational speaker Victor Marx visited Fort Carson, Colorado to share his personal, inspirational story of overcoming adversity with the 4th Infantry Division and the Fort Carson community.

Marx told the story of his challenging childhood. He described it as marked by physical and sexual abuse, multiple stepfathers, and several homes and school relocations. “I was tortured, according to the experts,” he said. “My mother was married six times. I went to 14 schools and lived in 17 houses…I had 123 visits to a trauma specialist.”

Marx endured physical and sexual abuse as a child and eventually escaped the situation, even though his personal struggles continued in the aftermath. After graduating from high school, his life was consumed with drugs, anger, and theft.

He said having a disciplined military life, practicing his religion, and marrying a wonderful woman all helped him get to where he is today. He said he was able to avoid dwelling on his trauma and a dark mindset, by holding his thoughts “captive.”

“Never, ever give up,” he said. “Allowing negative thoughts like ‘you’re stupid and your worthless’ to run through your mind only pushes you toward a downward spiral, but if you take a small moment to pause and self-reflect, that has a huge impact. Capture those thoughts. Hold them captive, and ask yourself, ‘where is this coming from?’”

“He immediately grabbed my attention and was inspiring,” said Pfc. Lucero Gonzalez, with 52nd BEB, 2nd SBCT. “I’m 33 years old, and I just joined the Army last year. I didn’t end up like the people I grew up with, and I fought to be where I’m at now. I still go through tough situations, so it was nice to (hear his story) and relate to him.”

Staff Sgt. Monisa McKay, a religious affairs specialist with 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Inf. Div. spoke with tears welling in her eyes.

“His story was genuine, heartfelt, and relatable,” McKay said. “I’ve been hurt before, and it takes a while, but I’m learning to forgive.”

Although Marx might have had every reason to be mad at the world and the people who inflicted harm on him, he forgave them.

Never Give Up — The Victor Marx Story by our friend, Lauren Gillquist

“My favorite weapon is forgiveness,” Marx said. “(Forgiveness means) giving up your right to hurting someone who hurt you.”

Marx lives with many accomplishments, including holding a seventh-degree black belt in karate, being the world’s fastest gun disarmer, and becoming an author and filmmaker of several works.

Marx continues to share his incredible story about overcoming trauma and using it for good. He is the founder of “All Things Possible Ministries” which is a faith-based organization that performs “high-risk missions work” on a global scale to free victims of abuse from the effects of trauma.

As an individual who has overcome the pain of their past, Marx uses his story as a catalyst to help others do the same.

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