Saving
Grace and
Transforming
Power Discuss this article in our
pg. 13 — lightandlifemagazine.com
By E. Kenneth Martin
Iwas born in Brooklyn, New York. My parents were a godly couple and served
as leaders in their church. When I was 5 years old, we moved to New Jersey
because my parents wanted to raise their children in a better neighborhood.
Although I was brought up in the church, I went through a rebellious stage
in my teens and got caught up in crime and drugs. I started out just hanging
on the corner with my friends. Always looking for the latest thing to get into,
we were introduced to marijuana. It wasn’t long before we went from smoking
marijuana to using stronger drugs.
I barely made it out of high school. A#er high school, I decided to go into
the Navy, but I still had the same mindset of partying and getting high. A#er
serving in the Navy, I was still lost. One day I distinctly heard the Lord say,
“How long will you run from Me?”
Soon a#er, I attended my cousin Lolita’s wedding and I saw my cousin Eric
who went to Teen Challenge (a Christian ministry) where his life was totally
changed. I knew I also needed a change in my life, so I went to Pivot House
Men’s Ministry, the induction center of Teen Challenge. It was there I accepted
Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. At that time, I also received the
call to ministry.
Facebook group at
fmchr.ch/conversations
E. Kenneth “Kenny”
Martin is the lead pastor
of John Wesley FMC in
Indianapolis, a member
of the Free Methodist
Church – USA Board of
Administration, and a
member of the Wabash
Conference Ministerial
Education and Guidance
Board. He previously
founded and served as
overseer of Kingdom
Ministries Network, an
interdenominational and
cross-cultural group of
pastors and leaders.
/lightandlifemagazine.com
/conversations