Abraham Marshall (1748-1819), son of Daniel Marshall, founder of the first Baptist church in Georgia, was saved at age 22 and called to preach. Over his lifetime he traveled thousands of miles and started many churches, but in 1772, when he was about 24 years old and at the beginning of his ministry, he had a fierce battle with fear. Abraham agreed to preach at a trading post 40 miles into the wilderness. As he thought about the dangers, he tried to find an excuse not to go. He wished he was sick. He couldn’t find an excuse. Then he remembered that he didn’t have a way-bill (pass). While thinking on this, he was aroused as if he had been spoken to, “I will find you a bill.” Filled with doubts and fears, he commenced his journey. When he had traveled about fifteen miles, it struck his mind, “It is time you should look for your way-bill.” Casting his eyes on the side of the Indian trading path, about two or three rods (16.5 feet), lo, there it lay! Instantly he seized his prize, mounted his horse again, these words saluting him forcibly – “When I sent you without script or purse, lacked you anything?” (Luke 22:35). “No,” was his answer, and he went on his way, strengthened in faith. When he arrived at his destined place, on the Lord’s Day, a mixed multitude of Indians, Indian traders, Irish, and the uncultivated of all sorts, some who had never heard a sermon before, had collected together. To them he published the Word of Life. Some gazed, some wondered, and some felt the power of the Word and were deeply affected, moved down a little lower in the settlements (nearer to civilization), and shortly after became useful members of a flourishing church.
(Thomas Ray, Daniel and Abraham Marshall: Pioneer Baptist Evangelists to the South, pp. 81-82)