DIRECTOR'S BLOG

Dr. Sam Martin

‘…and his name shall be ….’ Isa. 9 v 6

A few weeks ago I mentioned I was reading a tremendous book, ‘Fight for the Forgotten’ by Justin Wren and to be honest I am just halfway through it. This mainly because so many things the author says challenge me. As a result I take time to think deeply about these things and my blog this week, comes from one such challenge.

As you probably realize my name is Samuel Ramsay Martin and obviously I had no say in that choice, not that I have a problem with it and I recall years ago asking my parents where my name came from. The answer was interesting and humbling. I had an Uncle who served in the Army during the last war and tragically he was killed in the war. He was just 21 and to honor him I was given his name. Of course I never met my Uncle Samuel, but did see an old picture of him in uniform. My parents also shared the fact that there was a biblical significance also in that ‘Samuel means God hears.’

You will notice the name ‘Efeosa’ at the top of this blog, it was given to Justin Wren the author of the book when he was beginning his ministry amongst the Mbuti Pygmies, a group of persecuted and forgotten people forced in to slavery in what was The Democratic Republic of Congo. To really understand the significance of this, I suggest you get a copy of the book, so you can experience it as I did.

However one evening Justin heard the world Efeosa being repeatedly whispered among the Pygmies. It was a word he hadn’t heard before. Later he asked the village chief what the word meant. The chief told him it was the name the people had given him and it meant “The Man Who Loves Us.”

What a testimony! In an age when people love and seek after titles, who strive for position and recognition, to be known as “The Man who loves us.”

Strange but as I write this, it is Valentines Day and by the way, there is One who loves us unconditionally. His name is Jesus.