MARTIN, Kenneth Thomas, Rev (1947-2017)
Assembly memorial minute, 2017
Rev Kenneth Thomas Martin (1947-2017) served the Church of the
Lord Jesus Christ in a variety of ways and places. He was licensed to preach the gospel in April 1978, then ordained and inducted into the Argyle Charge, Presbytery of Canberra, in February 1979. Ken was then called to Benalla, where he served with great industry and faithfulness from 1982-1989 – a charge with several preaching places. The Presbytery benefited from Ken's patience and fairness as moderator, as did
several vacant charges he cared for in the sometimes stormy days following the formation of the Uniting Church.
Following this, Ken and Gillian served as missionaries alongside the Reformed Church in Venda, South Africa, serving for five and a half years again with great industry and faithfulness, sometimes in times of civil unrest. Ken immersed himself in training pastors and laymen, nurturing Sunday
School teachers and youth leaders, and preaching wherever and whenever invited. The family then returned to Australia to serve in the Cranbourne–Kooweerup charge until 2001, before ‘retiring’.
Ken was subsequently called back to Benalla, serving with distinction in his former charge from 2011-2016. He then was a great help in Flinders Presbytery: preaching and pastoring at Cardinia / Kooweerup in 2016 and 2017.
Ken often crafted his own materials and studies for ministry use in congregational Bible studies and training situations, photocopying his own neatly handwritten and illustrated notes. Ken was known as a sincere and hardworking man of God who loved his Lord and his truth, and as one who would tenaciously hold fast to the truth no matter what the opposition. At the
same time he was known for his patience and faithfulness. He was a real pastor who loved everyone because Jesus loved him.
We are grateful to God for fond memories of Ken Martin. He was a rugged and individualistic colleague of ours: unabashed at being a Christian pastor, tenacious and kind. He’d learnt not to care so much about what people thought of him as what God thought.
There is so much about Paul’s pastoral charge to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:11,12) that Ken Martin lived out through his 39 years of ministry with the Presbyterian Church of Australia, namely: ‘You, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you
were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.’
It remains for us to follow Ken’s example in as much as we must pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Gender
- Male