[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3498]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF INDIAN ROCKS HONORS ITS PASTOR CHARLIE MARTIN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. C. W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2008

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise in celebration of one of 
the most dynamic and inspirational pastors my community in Pinellas 
County has known. Reverend Charles William Martin retires Sunday after 
37 years as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks in 
Largo, Florida.
  This is my hometown church and Charlie has been my pastor, but more 
importantly he has been my friend. Charlie was born and raised in 
Arkansas and first felt the call to preach as a young man in 1960. He 
pursued this calling by completing work on his Bachelors of Arts in 
Religious Education at Trinity College in 1967 and his Doctor of 
Divinity at Trinity in 1986.
  He found his true calling in 1971 when he accepted the charge to 
serve as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, where he 
and his wife Stephanie have invested their heart and soul ever since. 
This is an amazing church of 5,300 members and a full-time staff of 18 
pastors and associate staff. Under Charlie's leadership, First Baptist 
spreads the word of God in all forms, from its stirring music, emphasis 
on the scriptures, and his from the heart sermons. They have a wide 
variety of ministries, in all parts of our State, our Nation, and the 
world.
  One of those ministries was the establishment of the Indian Rocks 
Christian School in 1984 with an enrollment of 42 students. Today more 
than 1,000 students attend the school which has earned a reputation of 
one of our county's best.
  Perhaps the greatest testimony to Charlie's service to his 
congregation is the pride his church members have in being a part of 
his church community. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see 
someone back home, here in our Nation's Capital, or even around the 
world that comes up to me and says, ``I'm a member of Charlie's 
church.''
  First Baptist will hold an honor and praise weekend this Friday 
through Sunday to celebrate the service of Pastor Martin and Stephanie. 
All of us who know Charlie are confident that this will not be the 
beginning of his retirement as he will always remain active in the 
church and his ministries. In fact, he and Stephanie are moving up to 
North Carolina where they are starting a church there.
  Madam Speaker, Pastor Charlie Martin is a friend to many and has 
shared God's word and God's grace with countless thousands of people 
throughout his life. He is a friend of Members of this House as he was 
our guest chaplain in April 1999. And he is a special friend of this 
Congressman and of my wife Beverly and our family. He has been there 
for us many, many times--in times of celebration and in times of grief. 
Please join me in saying thank you to Charlie and Stephanie and in 
offering our best wishes as they open a new chapter in their lives. It 
is my hope that God gives them many joyous years together with each 
other and with their five children and nine grandchildren.
  God bless you and keep you, Charlie Martin.

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