Grayson Marshall, Jr. has long been known for leadership, influence, and impact—from the basketball court as Clemson Uni
versity’s all-time assist leader, to being honored as a Clemson Sports Hall of Fame inductee and a 2016 ACC Legend. But it was a life-altering moment—an aortic dissection that nearly claimed his life—that shifted not only his physical heart, but the very heart of his calling.
From that crucible came the divine blueprint for Project 7:13—a movement birthed not from ambition, but from awakening. Anchored in the words of Mark 7:13, the project confronts the painful truth: that tradition, when left unchecked, can nullify the power and purpose of God’s Word. For Marshall, this isn’t a catchy verse—it’s a mandate.
The Heart of the Matter: Project 7:13
Project 7:13 is more than a nonprofit—it’s a prophetic confrontation with the systems, ideologies, and religious structures that have distorted Kingdom living into performance-based church culture. Its mission is unapologetically clear: to dismantle strongholds of tradition that have made believers powerless, passive, and performative. It seeks to restore the raw, real, and relational message of the Kingdom of God—a message often missing from modern pulpits.
Grayson’s near-death experience was not just medical—it was spiritual. As he recovered, he realized he had been entrusted with more than another chance at life—he had been commissioned with a responsibility to tell the truth, even if it cost him everything.
From Self-Made to Servant-Made
At the core of Project 7:13 is the foundational philosophy Grayson calls Servant Made, Not Self Made (SMNSM). In a world obsessed with platforms, personas, and performance, SMNSM is a clarion call back to humility, obedience, and divine alignment. It is not about branding oneself as a kingdom citizen—it’s about being broken enough to carry the weight of one.
SMNSM is not a motto. It’s a mirror. It asks hard questions: Who gets the glory? What’s the motive? Are we building God’s Kingdom or our own?
For Grayson, these are not rhetorical. They are the filter through which every program, podcast, song, and summit is birthed. Whether developing scorecards to measure health in five areas (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial) or launching music that critiques cultural idols, the message is the same—tradition cannot transform us. Only surrender can.
A Vision Rooted in Realignment
Project 7:13 is not just a reaction to religious dysfunction—it is a reformation effort. Its initiatives range from social media campaigns and teaching curriculums to transition programs for athletes and discipleship platforms for men. Yet every component is rooted in one central reality: we must return to the Kingdom message Jesus preached—one of authority, citizenship, obedience, and influence on earth as it is in heaven.
It calls believers to wake up, not just shout amen. It challenges churches to equip, not entertain. It redefines leadership as stewardship, not spotlight.
This is not revival hype. It’s a Kingdom realignment.
The Man Behind the Mandate
Grayson Marshall, Jr. is not trying to be liked. He’s trying to be obedient.
In a culture where silence is safe and conformity pays, he’s chosen the narrow path. He speaks truth even when it isolates. He builds with the broken, not the famous. And he reminds anyone listening that God often hides His greatest assignments behind pain, pruning, and process.
He is not a survivor of heart trauma—he is a steward of a renewed heart. And from that heart beats the rhythm of Project 7:13—a Kingdom heartbeat. A Kingdom call. A Kingdom confrontation.
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