DIRECTOR'S BLOG

Dr. Sam Martin

As one who loves to read, and read widely , I picked up a copy of a book by Robert Herjavec who is known for his appearance on ‘Shark Tank.’ It was as you can imagine about how to build a business and succeed in life. However it was written in a very down to earth way as Robert shared an insight into his life.

Now to be honest, I skipped many pages but then was deeply moved by what I have called ‘a message from a shark.’ That message came as I read chapter 26 with the title ‘The Significance of Socks.’

Robert Herjavec shares how in spite of all his success, went through a very difficult family situation which saw his marriage end and caused him to consider suicide proving that money cannot buy happiness or love. As a result, he went to Seattle where he gave himself to work at Union Gospel Mission, serving the homeless and needy. One evening he went with the Director of the Mission on a search-and–rescue trip.

About two in..

Dr. Sam Martin

Let me begin by wishing you and yours a ‘Blessed New year’ and assure you, I pray the Lord will bless you in every way in the months ahead!

Over the years I often became discouraged when I heard Church leaders say, “We cannot get anyone to serve! We need workers for Sunday school, youth ….. And … but no one responds to our cries for help.” The list goes on. Of course as a Pastor, I had been in their shoes. So often we hear people say/sing “I surrender all” but then find they are too busy to make themselves available to serve God.

Well at the end of the year, a young lady who had grown up through the Mission and who had just graduated from our High School asked to speak with me. She began by sharing how blessed she had been as a Sponsored child, and how she loved every moment studying at the Mission School. She hugged me with a big smile of thanks and appreciation.

Then she startled me by saying, “Pastor..

Dr. Sam Martin

Let me simply take a few moments to wish you and yours, A Very Merry and Blessed Christmas! Thank you also for being so faithful in reading ‘Mission Moments’ and for supporting the Mission.

Let me just share with you a few thoughts as we approach Christmas, and ask you to read and think about the words of a beautiful poem, “What Christmas is all about."

What Christmas Is All About

Christmas will always be for us
A time to reflect on Christ,
The gift God gave to all the world
Was the gift of His life

We know Christmas is not about tinsel,
Nor fancy Christmas wreaths,
Nor is it about all the decorations
That adorns our Christmas trees

And it's not about Holly or Mistletoe
Hanging from our doors,
Nor is it about the gifts that are left
By the jolly Santa Claus

Christmas is more than all of this
And the only reason why
..

Dr. Sam Martin

Forgive me, I am not being negative or factious, I am thinking about some of the homes I have visited, some homes that we have found families living in.

Let me share please:

* Where a Guatemalan Pastor, his wife and 4 children were living! Honestly as I stood looking at what was their home, tears filled my eyes and pain my heart! Here was a servant of God, a brother. It was a thrill for the Mission to build a new home for him complete with kitchen and toilet. He shared how he had prayed for a long time that someone would come and help him and his family, and The Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission became the answer to his prayers.

My friends, we are incredibly blessed!

Dr. Sam Martin

Honestly, it was one of the most moving moments in the four Graduation Ceremonies in Guatemala, and there were many!

It is an honor for me to speak at the graduations of our School in Guatemala and honestly it is such a blessing! I had my addresses prepared, but then something happened that made me change the address for the Primary School. I received an email with a picture attached – let me share the picture:

Yes it was a picture of Minnie Mouse, taken on a Disney Cruise. If you look closely you will notice Minnie is holding a picture and has her arm around a special boy.

Now you might be tempted to ask, ‘So – what is the big deal?’ Well, the picture is of a girl sponsored by the boy’s Family! Honestly, they were on a..

Dr. Sam Martin

It was one of those things I just could not get out of my mind! And driving to the office this morning I felt I had to share it with the staff in our devotional time, and I had to write it for the Blog, trusting it will be an encouragement and inspiration to all who read it.

Every week people place their garbage at the end of the driveway knowing that no matter the weather, the Garbage Truck will come along and the driver will get out and pick up the bags or boxes and empty the garbage into the truck.

The lady, looking at the garbage placed at homes along the street, began to think about ‘The Garbage Man.’ Yes the driver of the truck who week by week stops and picks up the garbage, throws it into the truck and moves on to the next home. She wondered if anyone ever took the time to thank him. Rather than just wonder, she decided to do something.

She left her home when she heard the garbage truck in the distance and walked down her dr..

Dr. Sam Martin

Quite a few years ago I walked up to the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Port Au Prince in Haiti and I was struck by its size, its beauty in fact it was a lighthouse to the ships passing the Island, drawing them into Haiti. What struck me most was the fact that there was a beggar lying outside the door, a woman wearing only bits of a torn sack with, her hands stretched out looking for help.

My mind took me back to a story I had heard so many times, the story told in Acts 3. Peter and John were making their way to the temple. They made to go through what was called ‘The Beautiful Gate’ when they heard a man beg for help, he was lame and we are told he was carried to the gate every day and left there to beg, something he had done for 40 years (Acts 4:22). Here is what the scripture say:

“They looked at him intently, and then Peter said, 'Look here!’ The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift. But Peter said, ‘We don’t have any money..