ABOUT ML
Mary Linda Morlock is better known simply as “ML” by her friends. But if you were around while she was growing up, you would have heard her mother call her “Pistol!” It seemed her adventurous side brought out her gift for finding trouble. Turns out, that wasn’t her only gift!
Her parents quickly recognized her musical gift when, at just four years old and without a single piano lesson, she effortlessly played Greensleeves. Without hesitation, they placed her under the instruction of a skilled piano teacher to nurture her talent.
ML grew up as an Air Force brat, journeying from the icy landscapes of Alaska to the heartlands of Ohio. Raised in the United Methodist Church, the foundation of Jesus was woven into her life from the very beginning. But even as a child, she didn’t just inherit faith—she began experiencing beautiful and intimate encounters with the Lord.
Moved by these moments, she’d sneak out of bed late at night, put on her beloved Keith Green albums, and line her stuffed animals across the bed like an eager congregation. Hairbrush in hand, she’d sing and preach with passion, sharing about her Jesus with hopes that their little stuffed souls might be saved.
(Yes, really—a stuffed soul revival!)
Funny as it sounds now, those late-night “services” were the blueprint for ministry to come.
A ministry of music and message, all designed with the purpose to lead others to Christ. Though her heart burned passionately for the Lord, ML’s fire dimmed at sixteen when her parents divorced after twenty-two years of marriage. The echo of God’s calling still lingered, but for a season, she let it fall silent. Searching for comfort, she wandered into college choices that numbed the pain and experimented with narcotics that dulled the divine. For a decade, she tried to rewrite her story in ink that never lasted. But the pull of God’s presence never let go. (He’s good like that!) The longing for purpose, for restoration,….for Him—eventually guided her home. At twenty-six, she rededicated her life to Christ, and she's never looked back.
After relocating to Nashville, TN, in 1990, she connected with a producer who recognized her potential in song writing and helped launch her recording career. Soon after, she began taking the stage, sharing her songs through live concerts.
In the early days of her ministry, ML also poured into the lives of young people—directing musicals and mentoring girls in her home. Soon, Saturday nights turned into packed gatherings of thirty teenagers worshiping and learning about Jesus for five unforgettable years.
Eventually, the Lord led her into prison ministry, where she brought worship and Bible study to women at the Tennessee State Penitentiary. But the calling didn’t end at the prison gates. Recognizing the need for support after release, ML said “yes” to the next step of mentoring and walking with them as they rebuilt their lives. (Transition isn’t easy, and it isn’t pretty.)
Today, ML travels abroad with a ministry born not from ease, but from encounter. She sings and speaks at conferences, retreats, churches, and intimate gatherings full of hungry hearts. She’s affectionately known as the “Bette Midler in the Spirit”—
a prophetic voice wrapped in humor, grit, and grace. Her worship flows from a heart that has been broken and beautifully rebuilt, and when she sings, the Holy Spirit carries listeners into the deep waters of healing and revelation. Her speaking brings a bold, playful spirit that sparks laughter and awakens truth. Her lively humor keeps rooms engaged—but she insists it’s all part of the divine design: “God has an incredible sense of humor. He and I laugh together all the time!”
ML holds a master’s in education from Auburn University, along with an ESL endorsement. She spent two decades teaching in public schools across the southeastern U.S., followed by three impactful years in Ecuador, educating second graders and ministering in diverse settings on How to Hear the Voice of God. She also earned a master’s in theology, which she calls her most cherished and fulfilling degree.
She founded Behind Me Now, a dual-impact nonprofit—offering mentorship and support to women transitioning out of prison, while also ministering through worship and speaking engagements at conferences, events, and gatherings.
ML is an ordained minister and department head with Artists in Christian Testimony, Intl. She resides in Nashville, TN, enjoying the single life with patience, purpose, and a touch of wit. Single—not because she’s hiding, but because heaven’s timing is strategic. “I know scripture says that he who finds a wife finds a good thing... but I’m not hard to find – so what’s the deal?!”
Her theory as to why she’s had to wait so long for "Mr. Right" is because men don’t like to ask for directions. (Haha!)
“But I trust that God will redirect my ‘lost’ man to his missed exit labeled Favor Meets Fire...
and when He does, won’t THAT be an adventure!”