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November 2016

The Martin family

Alaska & Family Update

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We received another wonderful report from Hope Church this week! We greatly appreciate the burden with which Rev. Steve has taken care of the services the past three weekends. He shared with Bro Martin last night that there was around 50 in attendance Sunday. Devin* testified during the service how God had delivered him from drugs and alcohol. Praise God, We serve the Deliverer!!

 

We trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving week. We sure did! It was a joy to be together again, reminiscing and sharing special events and memories. Since Bro Martin, Julie, Jalisa, Jordan, and Joy will be leaving on December 1st, we celebrated Christmas while many were shopping for Christmas gifts! It was a very special time!

 

Bro Martin, Julie, Jalisa, Jordan and Joy ministered Sunday in Stuttgart and Russellville, Arkansas . They had great services at both churches and enjoyed being with dear friends.

 

Bro Martin and the children are working steadily to finish some projects at the home place before they fly back to Alaska on Thursday. It is hard for them to leave family and friends, but they are excited about getting back into their normal routine, being reunited with the family dog, Jingles, and ministering hope to hungry souls.

 

Thank you for your continued prayers!
God bless you!
*Name changed to protect privacy
Pastor Douglas Meadow and family

Martin Family Update

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      We had a very blessed week. Bro. Martin and the four children were able to get some much needed projects done around the house there in Texas as well as spend time with some of the family.  On Saturday around noon, we had a Martin side family reunion/Christmas gathering. It was good to be with some of the family that we rarely get to see except for special occasions such as this.

 

       Bro. Martin ministered at Chelsea, OK on Sunday morning and in Bristow, OK in the evening service. It was a treat to have the family stay with Derek and I and we were privileged to be with them in service on Sunday night. The Presence of God was so real as Bro. Martin shared many of the stories we have communicated here on the website in our weekly updates. We praise the Lord for the tremendous response in the altars.

 

        Bro. Martin received a text message on Sunday evening from the minister that has taken care of Hope Church for the past two Sundays. He said, “Hello Pastor James, We had another good meeting today – 50+ folks. Praise and worship led by Will*. A team led by Ben* fed the meal again today. I believe we’re keeping the fire of the Holy Spirit burning until you return. Look forward to talking to you this week.”  We are so thankful to hear how the Lord is working in these precious hearts. We know one thing for sure – Jesus loves them!

 

We trust you have a wonderful week leading up to Thanksgiving Day. Happy Thanksgiving!

*Name changed to protect privacy
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3 Keys to Wise Decision-Making

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Jeremiah 10:23 “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”

 

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

 

Direction is very important in life.

 

It has been said that young people make the most important decisions of their lives at a time when they are the least prepared for them. This can breed fear and uncertainty in the heart of a young person who wants to make wise and God-honoring decisions. However, for a young person that is completely dedicated to the Lord, they have the privilege of being lead by the ONE who knows all things – past, present and future. There are a few keys that we can glean from this thought.

 

  1. We must recognize and confess that our human understanding is insufficient.
 
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.”
God didn’t make us to be self-dependent. We see where being self-dependent got Adam and Eve in the garden. They took the chance of sinning in order to do something that appeared good to themselves. What could have happened if they would have sought counsel of the Lord before making that decision? No doubt the outcome would have been different. Our own understanding is an unsure foundation.

 

  1. We must acknowledge that each decision, great or small, is significant to the Lord.
 
If we aren’t careful, we view small decisions as nuisances to God. “Why bother God about this?” This reminds me of a time that the mothers were bringing their children to Jesus asking him to put their hands upon them. The disciples reprimanded the mothers, but God overstepped the correction to show his desire to answer the prayers of his people. It doesn’t matter how small and insignificant they may seem to us, God desires to intervene.

 

  1. We can rejoice in the surety of God’s direction when we are living a life pleasing to Him.

As Psalm 37:23 states, the requirement to having your steps ordered of the Lord is to be a “good man”. What does being a “good man” mean? In the Strong’s Concordance, it means a valiant man or warrior. We look at who is writing this – David – who was one of the greatest warriors of all time. We could say that an active person’s steps will be ordered of the Lord. How can God direct your steps if you are unwilling to move?  God does not force us to move, but He will lead us in the direction we should go as we are willing to go where He leads.

In relation to this subject, I’m reminded of an experience about a month ago when we were on bus route visitation one Saturday evening. We were about to leave the apartment complex when Derek felt lead to give our last flyer to a young boy who had come to Kid’s Crusade back in August, but hadn’t come since. As we were walking in the direction of his apartment, a lady who we had met before came up to us and started pouring out her heart to us. We started talking to her of the Hope and peace in Jesus. We had a powerful prayer time there and she kept telling us, “I know God sent y’all here to talk to me tonight.” It is clear to me that God will lead as we are willing to follow.

 

Are you seeking for direction in your life? Trust God and go where He leads.

Martin family Update

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This was an exciting weekend in the Martin Family as Jamin and Allison were united in Holy Matrimony. Oh, it was precious to see the seriousness with which they made each vow, and the happiness that was evident upon their countenances. We are so excited to see what God has in store for this precious couple.
We heard a tremendous report from Bro Steve who ministered at Hope Church yesterday morning. He shared that there was around 50 in attendance and 2 precious souls came up for salvation. We praise the Lord for how he is working in these hearts. We are so thankful for Heart of the City Church who offered to prepare the meal after the service.
Bro Martin, Julie, Jalisa, Jordan, and Joy ministered at Faith Tabernacle in Ft. Worth, TX this past Sunday morning and Faith Tabernacle in Denton, Texas in the evening. Both Bro Martin and Julie shared that God met with them in a special way in both services shown by the tremendous response in the altars.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers as we endeavor to follow God’s purposes each step of the way.
God bless!
11/7/16

Alaskan Update – November 8, 2016

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Bro Martin, Jordan and Joy made their arrival to Dallas, Texas around 5:30 yesterday morning. We praise the Lord for safe travels! This week will be full of activity with warm welcome wishes along with getting things ready for Jamin & Allison’s wedding this weekend!

 

There was a great influx of attendance yesterday morning at Hope Church. As we have mentioned before, many times the attendance goes down at the beginning of the month, yet that wasn’t the case this month. Bro Martin preached on “A Recipe for Hope” using an acrostic for the word HOPE. There was a tremendous response to the Word of God!

 

Bro Martin shares a powerful story of God’s intervention in a life:

 

 “A nurse requested that I visit her patient, Billy Wells*. He had been a youth pastor, but had turned his back on that. So I entered the room where he was alone, curled up on his bed.  When I knocked, he opened his eyes and moved. So I stepped in and introduced myself. I told him I was concerned about his spiritual needs. He responded, “That’s certainly where my needs lie.”  He told me that he had been a youth pastor, but had turned away to alcohol, drugs, and such.  He opened up to many evil spirits which had begun to torment him and control him. He is the head chief of a gang of over 1,000 native men. He said very recently the demons so “had” him that they raised him up into the air off of his bed. His girlfriend and cousin tried to push him back down onto the bed.  I began to plead the blood of Jesus and quote Scriptures about the superior power of Jesus. When I quoted Jn 10:10, he spoke in a different voice “I give life too!” Then he seemed in a trance, and his body began to tense, stiffen, and started to lift up. His girlfriend and nephew told him to just relax and don’t stress. I rebuked the lying spirit, and bound Satan’s power over this man. I told him to begin to call on Jesus, which he did! He began to cough and gag like he was expelling something. He started to pray, repenting of his sins of rebellion and renouncing every opening of himself to evil spirits. Then I prayed for his physical healing.” We ask you to please pray for a complete work of salvation in this man’s life.

 

Bro Martin also shares, 
“Gary, who got saved 2 weeks ago, got a good haircut. When he mentioned it, I told him, “Well, its the same you that I love.” He replied, “No, I’m not the same old man. I’m a new man in Jesus!””

 

We would appreciate you praying for the Holy Ghost anointing to rest upon the ministers that are caring for the church while Bro Martin and the children are away.
May God bless you!
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5 Things To Do in Uncertain Situations

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I felt impressed to share some thoughts from a message that I’ve heard my dad preach. Even though the story that we draw these insights from is in the Old Testament, I believe it is relevant for today.

 

What to do when you don’t know what to do:

 

1. Recall God’s Faithfulness in the Past 
  • 2 Chronicles 20:3, 5-6  And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jersualem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court. And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rules not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? (Emphasis added)

2. Renew your focus upon the Lord

  • 2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. (Emphasis added)

3. Rely on the Spirit’s Leading

  • 2 Chronicles 20:14-15 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah,…  came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, (Emphasis added)

4. Restrain your natural Inclinations or responses

  • 2 Chronicles 20:15- 17  Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of ZIz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. (Emphasis added)

5. Rejoice in anticipation of the Victory

  • 2 Chronicles 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. (Emphasis added)

 

I encourage you to practice these steps when you are facing something uncertain and seemingly impossible. Our response to the trouble and uncertainty around – whether political, relational, or personal – should be to lift our eyes unto the ONE whom our help cometh from! (Ps. 121:1-2)
May God bless you!
Hope Church

Update from Anchorage, AK – 10/31/16

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It is always a joy to share how God is working in Anchorage, Alaska. We appreciate you taking these updates to heart and praying for the needs we share about.

 

It’s been awhile since we have shared anything about Anchorage Native Medical Center. Bro Martin is still a chaplain there and makes visits several times a week. He had a special incident happen this week. One of the nurses in CCU called to tell him that there was a man by the name of Jerry* who could not speak but wanted to see a preacher. Bro Martin shares the following experience: “I went and found the same Jerry* that I had talked with several weeks before, with little seeming headway. This time he showed me a paper on which he had written, “I scared to go to sleep. I died twice in a couple days ago. What if the devel wants me.” To this I replied by opening my Bible to read Scripture to him. I read John 6:37-40; I Jn 1:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9,10; then finished up with Heb. 2:14-18. He wrote again, “NEVER slept in 2 days. They took out my TUMOR in my throat.” (He had a total laryngectomy) As we prayed, he really gripped my hand firmly, and when I quit he was noticeably moving his lips in prayer. Then he wrote, “You made feel better”. As I walked out of the room, took off my mask, and slid the glass door shut behind me, I looked back in at him. He was sitting up in his bed, waving to me with a huge smile on his face. Thank God for His peace! The next day, Jerry* was very happy to see me. Great big smile. He put his hands together, then leaned his head over on them to illustrate that he had gotten sleep! What a miracle!” We ask you to please pray for Jerry*.

 

Hope Church had a wonderful crowd yesterday and most of all, a great move of God’s presence in the midst. Bro Martin preached on a “Haunted House or Holy Temple?” With Halloween being on most minds, this was a very fitting message. Bro Martin dealt with sin clearly and the false idea that the deeds done in the body is separate from what the condition of the soul is. Several came up to Bro Martin afterward and shared how they needed that message.

Jordan and Joy jumped right in to serve the people a delicious noon meal of Taco Soup, Nachos, and ice-cream for dessert. The people enjoyed it very much!

A week from today, Bro Martin, Jordan and Joy will be making their arrival back to Texas. There is mixed emotions with wanting to see family and friends down here, but not wanting to leave the people they have come to love so deeply there. No doubt the 3 weeks will fly by (too fast for us!!!) and they will be back again.

We pray all of you are experiencing the joy of living a life full of service to the Lord! There’s truly no greater life to live.

God bless!

*Name changed to protect privacy