Nine years ago, Mandy and I took the largest step of faith that we had ever made, and with complete trust and confidence in God launched Martin Ministries International (MMI). With a directive from God out of Isaiah 50:4 which reads, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.” we began setting out believing God to open to us a door for the word. (Col. 4:2)
Soon after we launched MMI the Lord instructed me to read the book of Romans. As I began to read, the Lord brought my attention to our mission in chapter one verses eleven and twelve. We were called to the body of Christ to impart, establish and encourage. This vision was birthed in the beginning and is still alive and well. We are purposefully and diligently taking steps each year to get the word out and support the local church so that each one can thrive in its call and area of influence.
MMI exists to awaken the spiritual position and ability of the people and restore assurance and confidence needed to live in this time. There is an urgency for the body of Christ to activate as the Father reveals His anointing and glory which breaks the mindset of religion in the hearts of men. We have been given fullness in Christ and application of all that has been revealed must be walked in. Colossians 2:7 (MSG) says, “You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.”
I want to renew these words the Lord has given MMI in your minds concerning where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. You are a part of a worldwide, global effort to bring awareness to the body of Christ so countless lives can be saved and healed. This is what you are connected to as you sow into this ministry
MMI is not a temporary assignment or a stepping stone to something else. I say this because I believe that God has given us words that speak of a lifetime assignment.
I remember being in a meeting with Mandy where a minister by the name of Dick Mills was ministering. He had Mandy and I stand up and then he began to prophesy over us concerning our future. Brother Dick said, “Everything not at once, “Durability, longevity, in it for the long haul”, “Don’t be in a hurry”. He continued with, “Pay off your credit cards, get your passports ready, fasten your seat belts, and get ready to fly!”
He gave us Job 8:7, “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” Also, Ecclesiastes 7:8, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” And last but not least he gave us Isaiah 28:10 which reads, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
Time always tries trust, but truth trumps the trial of time, every time. Mandy and I, from time to time, when things seem slow in coming or goals are not achieved as quickly as we would like them to be, remind ourselves that we are in this for the long haul and we will win if we don’t quit. I want you to know we are not quitting or giving up. We are just beginning, and the best is yet to come.
I will end with some thoughts that will unfold into discussions we will have in our future monthly letters.
Being our ninth year, I began to look at the number’s meaning in the Hebrew language and I believe it holds pertinent meaning to this year and beyond. The number nine symbolizes harvest, fruitfulness, loving-kindness, fruit of the Spirit, turning to look upon/gaze, and hour of prayer. Truth, covenant, and light are just a few other positive words associated with this number.
There has been a stirring in my heart where prayer is concerned. The paradigm that has taken place in me is that prayer is not giving out as much as it is the taking in. We are called to this place, especially now when the world is being swayed by the antichrist spirit, to gaze upon the face of the Father and receive from Him the revealing of fullness so that we may release an effective sound in the spirit that causes the change needed to build and establish the kingdom of God. It is an exciting time to be alive and we are going to witness the greatest move of God that has ever been seen. Stand by!