The Martin home is getting ready for the arrival of our 3rd daughter, Holland Hope. She is expected to arrive in early June and I’m so excited that I am excited. Yeah, I know that sounds weird, but with our first two daughters I was extremely nervous throughout the pregnancy and delivery. With Holland I am a lot more relaxed and more excited than nervous. I guess after having experienced the miracle of birth twice I have a reassured trust in Christ’s protection and will for our family.

I have also noticed that each time we have a baby my perspective of ministry changes. As a newlywed I was working countless hours and had huge aspirations of being the greatest within student ministry. After Sydney Grace was born I realized the overwhelming responsibility of being a Dad. I started cutting the overtime down and began prioritizing and setting boundaries between the Church and my family.

When London Faith was born, about 4yrs later, I began to internalize that it really doesn’t matter what I do for a career. At 18 months the saddest part of her day is when I say bye in the morning, and the happiest part of her day is when I walk through the door that evening. The girls running to give me a hug screaming “Daddy, Daddy!” with huge grins on their faces reminds me of the love Jesus has for me and my calling to demonstrate that love to them. The only thing that matters is how much my girls know that their Daddy loves them unconditionally, will protect them with every fiber of my soul, and how important it is for them to see Jesus living through me.

As Holland Hope begins to make her arrival “ministry” is beginning to gain so much clarity. Church ministry happens with or without my efforts. Jesus is in the life changing business and I am in awe to be a simple tool that He chooses to use from time to time. My calling, purpose, and ministry is centered on raising my girls to fall desperately in love with Jesus. If I can’t lead our home to fall in love with Jesus how could I expect a church to follow. A leader should be a living example and let Jesus take care of the details. Regardless of where the Holy Spirit has me or sends me to serve my awesome wife and precious daughters will be with me, therefore they are first! The most important thing my daughters can experience is a Christ centered home that believes in the power of the Holy Spirit, the unconditional love of Christ, and the Fatherhood of God.

For some people reading this post these perspectives may seem radical, warped, or a little over the top. You are completely free to have your own assumptions and opinions. (just as I a free to place mine on my blog) You are also completely entitled to be absolutely wrong! Jesus entrusts me (not the church) to lead my family to Him everyday, and if I can’t do that then He definitely will not trust me to lead the local church toward Him. It’s the fathers responsibility to show the Fathers love at home first!!! Let that last sentence sink in….