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"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came forth I set you apart and appointed you a prophet TO THE NATIONS."
I know that my call is to preach the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ to the nations of the world.
My father is now 82 and in his 66th year of preaching.
When he retired from the pastorate of the Galilee Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee in the spring, I resigned my position as Assistant Pastor.
SINCE THEN, I have returned to the joys of the Gospel trail...preaching in congregations, on the streets, and sharing Christ Jesus one-on-one with everyone who will listen to me in the neighborhoods of the cities and towns of our nation. Training people to be witnesses and soulwinners is a big part of the ministry God has entrusted me with.
God has delighted me by showing me a new ministry...reaching out to the international students who are working in my hometowns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. By presenting The Lord Jesus Christ to them I am indeed 'a prophet to the nations.' There is one church in particular in our area which is showing the love of God to these young people as they are in a strange land, and I am attempting to work alongside them, too.
My father, W. Clyde Martin (www.theprayerlife.com), is still accepting dates for revivals, prayer conferences and itinerant preaching and I will often be travelling with him to these meetings.
We lead in soulwinning and prayer conferences together at times...him doing much of the teaching and preaching, and me soulwinning in the church fields, as well as preaching and teaching also.
My sister, Deborah Gillespie, who is also in full time ministry, works alongside us sometimes, too. She uses her beautiful voice for The Lord, and is a tremendous soulwinner herself.
There are occasions when one might find our entire family together ministering. My mother, Ruth Martin, also has about 66 years of serving The Lord, and she is with us sometimes. She is a poet, teacher and the mainstay of our family's prayer ministry when one of the other of us is travelling in ministry. She carries on a very strong internet ministry to other women.
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I remain an active member of the ICE Team, a group of soulwinners from around the nation who meet in different cities in the USA to share Christ personally with as many people as possible, especially in low-income high-crime residential areas.
Already this year I have participated in four of these events, just returning yesterday from Louisville, Kentucky, where there were over 500 recorded professions of faith by our team.
God demonstrated His Power over and over to us by allowing us to see Him move in people's lives, right where they live.
Mass tract distribution and personal witnessing at large spectator events and in places where large crowds are gathered are also key parts of my ministry.
Evangelist David Cobb and I worked for The Lord at the Boneroo Music Festival (a present-day 'Woodstock') and then on to Nashville at the CMA Music Festival at the Tennessee Titans Stadium. We were able to pass out thousands of gospel tracts and New Testaments at these events.
I've also been active in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, preaching Jesus one-on-one to the crowds there.
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