Marlon Williams’ office is full of objects that define him: A pewter cross sits on his desk. An autographed Magic Johnson jersey hangs on the wall behind him, along with a framed Cop’s Prayer. A photo of the group he went through police academy with also hangs on the wall.

The cross, however, best defines Williams both on and off duty. When Williams isn’t wearing a police badge, he’s donning a clerical collar.

From a young age, Williams was destined to serve. He enjoys both duties equally, but it was becoming a detective that attracted him first.

Born in Mattoon, Illinois, Williams, 44, graduated from Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Alabama, where his family moved when he was a young boy. His father taught and coached and his mother worked in human services.

By age 12, Williams knew he wanted to be a police officer — specifically a detective.

“Growing up my grandmother used to watch every police or detective show ever produced,” he told the Effingham, Illinois Daily News. “I thought it would be cool one day to be like those people I saw on television. Both my older brother and I had the same desire to be in law enforcement. Both of us were blessed to have attained our goals.”

Williams began his police career as a patrolman for the City of Neoga, Illinois, where he worked for four years. He’s now a detective with the Charleston, Illinois Police Department — a position he’s held for the past year.

His calling to serve God didn’t come as easily. Others around him recognized he was suited for ministry long before he did.

“I at first had absolutely no desire,” he said. “I knew what the life of a minister entailed and I didn’t think I was worthy of such a duty.”

Williams said he was working in a factory on a production line when he received an unmistakable sign of his ministerial calling.

“All of a sudden all the lighting began to go dim,” he recalled. “Everything seemed to be suspended in time. Then a bright light appeared in the middle of the air, just above me. When I looked into the light, I saw myself standing at the pulpit, giving an entire sermon.”

Once everything returned to the normal production line, he looked around to see if anyone else saw the same thing. But, it seemed to be a message just for him.

“I immediately told my pastor at the time and I was told that it was God’s way of speaking to me. About a month later, I announced to the church that I had accepted my calling.”

He accepted a calling into the ministry while at the Second Missionary Baptist Church in Mattoon, Illinois. He now serves as an associate minister at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Champaign, Illinois.

Williams believes the two roles are actually not that different from each other.

“Both clergy work and law enforcement are, in essence, ministries in that they both serve and protect people.”

“I have been blessed to have used, and have been asked to use, my minister’s hat a number of times in my police career,” he said.

Williams is now pursuing an online degree in theology at Liberty University, where he plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in religion with a focus on Biblical and theological studies.

Throughout his career, he’s learned that duties in police work and as a minister often intersect. Whether it’s comforting the family who has lost a loved one, counseling a wayward teen or even advising a co-worker regarding his spiritual life, Williams said he is happy to serve.

“I believe my co-workers understand the value of both and how the two careers intertwine,” Williams said.

Williams said his “inner strength” to deal with adverse situations comes from his upbringing.

“I’ve learned that from my parents,” he said. “Both were born in the south in the late 1940s. They grew up in what were most certainly difficult times for African-Americans. They had to learn not to react to adverse situations.”

As a cop, Williams enjoys being able to help people resolve their problems. As an associate minister, he also gets to help people by way of a sermon or prayer.

“It’s rewarding when people can move past their problems,” he said.

Schabbing writes for the Effingham, Illinois Daily News.