David Martin: Connections and Missions Pastor

David came on Board at Wills Valley Community Church as Connections Missions Pastor in September 2007, bringing with him more than 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry.  Originally from Jackson County Alabama, he has lived in Chicago, IL, South Florida (where he married his wife Barbee), Germany and Vietnam while in the United States Army.  He graduated from college in Florida.  David and Barbee have 3 wonderful children, Leah, Joanna, and David, and 8 delightful grandchildren.

Throughout his overseas travel with Uncle Sam as well as during his entire ministry, God put a special place in David's heart for missions, beginning with the war-weary little faces of children in Vietnam.

Having been pastor of a church in Rainsville, AL for 16 years, in 1999 the Lord's "tugging at the heart" took David and Barbee from Rainsville back to South Florida to experience cross-cultural ministry.  God blessed their work with many special new friends including a Jewish group, a Spanish congregation (who had no place to worship), a deaf ministry, as well as several other nationalities - all worshipping together under one roof, sometimes all at the same time!  (Hey, I wonder if that's they way heaven is gong to be!?)

In 2005 the couple returned to Alabama to work at The Summit in Fort Payne, a Christian retreat facility under the ministry of Lifeshape, Inc.  Lifeshape is one of several ministries initiated by S. Truett Cathy, owner and founder of Chick-fil-A, Inc.  This was also when they began attending WVCC.

This brings us to present, when the Lord again tugs at the heart, and in His wonderful timing, closes doors and opens others.  For a little more than 2 years the relationship grew between the people and leaders at WVCC and David.  It gradually became obvious that this was a union meant to be.

David led a missions trip to Haiti while at his church in South Florida and one so far with WVCC.  More trips are planned, working with MFI (Missionary Fights International).  WVCC is connecting with a church to assist a your Haitian pastor in training his staff and workers, reaching the lost, and working with children.  The Wills Valley missions ministry will also extend to helping meet the needs of orphanages in Haiti.  This is just the beginning, as other possibilities and locations for missions are being explored.

"It is thrilling to watch God work and so exciting to anticipate what He is going to do in this new chapter of our lives.  We like to say the ministry at Wills Valley is 'changed lives changing lives'".  ~ David Martin

 

David and Barbee have 3 wonderful children, Leah, Joanna, and David, and 8 delightful grandchildren.

 

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This site last updated:02/19/2008