Gathering Together

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Gathering together for special events reminds me of several in the past where we enjoyed getting together in large numbers - ministry conferences, graduations, weddings, family reunions, and beyond. 

Even NASCAR races, as with the one I have often gone to in Charlotte, North Carolina - the Coca-Cola 600 every Memorial Day weekend. This year will be no exception. Five guys!

Our good friend for over 39 years, Indira Persad, having first met in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1987, along with her husband Edgar, graduates this May 23, 2026 with a doctorate from CMM. The ceremony is in Wilkesboro, NC. Laurie and I made the two hour trek by car to celebrate with her and the ministry/college founders Jorge and AnnamarieParrott, along with many others.

Prior to the event, as I sat in the hotel room waiting for the sun to get up too, I happened to listen to a YouTube message on house churches. We have had a small home group for many years, and I look forward to once again resuming our precious times together, once I return back from a month-long ministry trip to Texas in June with Christian Friends of Israel and the Jerusalem team.

The early church met in house churches. We need to rethink our gatherings in these days, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread [as]from house to house, they were taking their [at]meals together with gladness and [au]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding [av]to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47, NASB)

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

P.S. Check out the video I watched: 

“Where You Are” - sung by Leland

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Where You Are by Leland

Come Lord Jesus!

Walk On. Complete your destiny and leave a legacy.

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Complete your destiny and leave a legacy. Steve Martin in Charlotte, NC

Press On by Steve Martin

Press On

​Looking at that covered wagon, a prairie schooner, in the small Waxhaw, North Carolina museum got me to thinking about what character those people had to have. As I leaned over the side, on my toes to see high enough, I became in awe of their grit, courage, and fortitude.

They had little in regards to physical means. And yet they pressed on with their imbedded character.

Entire families, moving with what they owned and could fit in that space, set out for a more hopeful future.

According to Gemini, “a classic Western covered wagon, known as a Prairie Schooner, featured a wooden box that was about 4 feet wide and 9 to 11 feet long. With the canvas cover attached, the wagon stood about 10 feet tall and spanned 23 feet in total length including the animal yoke and tongue.”

Not much. But they did what they had to do, with what they had.

We got it made with our cushioned seats, power steering, more horse power than we need A/C vehicles, which can drive hundreds of miles in a single day.

We need more of their “press on” attitude in our comfortable lives. To be able to see ahead, commit to getting it done, and believing the good Lord will bless the work of our hands is needed more today than even then.

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13, NASB

I hope you are too. Press on!

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

You Have To Fight by Steve Martin

​You Have To Fight

Living the Christian life, as men of God, will require you to fight. We are in a constant spiritual battle. They enemy will not give up until he is thrown into his eternal damnation location as promised in the Bible.

We need to fight for our nation, our families, our communities, the nation of Israel, and our own spiritual lives.

Our enemy, the fallen angel who wanted to be the one worshiped and praised, is continually warring against the saints of our Creator. He is relentless.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8, NASB

Men should be accustomed to war. In the natural, it has mostly been the men who have gone out, leaving home and family, to wage war against those who had sought to take over, destroy, and kill off other countries. It has cost million of lives on both sides.

But as in the natural, we must fight in the spiritual, using the weapons we have been given.

With prayer (I especially use my spiritual prayer tongue daily), the Lord’s written Word, gathering with other believers – these are needed to combat the enemy in the unseen world.

We must not think we can sit on the sidelines and casually watch. We must engage the enemy to win the battle. Not just on defense, but we must go on the offense too.

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31, NASB

I am most thankful for the faithful women who have been prayer warriors.

Men, we need to step up our game!

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Our President! Shabbat and prayer

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Expectations - message by Steve Martin

Expectations

Having something to look forward to is something we all need. Knowing something exciting is going to happen – an upcoming event, a family trip, the end of the school year with a full summer (but not as long as when we were young) lies ahead of us.

New horizons to foresee ahead gives us the energy, courage, and faith to press on. Knowing that good awaits us does something needed, and special, to our souls. It is very precious.

Growing up in Iowa, my dad had two weeks off every August from his job. It meant our family vacation was coming, which was very special to all of the 10 in my family. Those camping trips to Minnesota, or even the Grand Tetons in the West once, brought great expectations. We could hardly wait as we looked forward with great expectations!

But knowing that the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach, is coming back, is the greatest expectation we can have. Wars will cease, evil will be thrown into an eternal hell, and His rule and reign from Jerusalem will be part of our eternal reward for trusting in Him.

The Messiah is coming! For Christians, this will be for the second time. For Jews, the first time, until they realize who Yeshua was, is, and is to come.

Expectations are needed in our hearts. He is coming back, and will fulfill all the desires He has given to us.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin