The Martins
Home: North America
Get to know The Martins
Doug and Sharon Martin, along with their 3 daughters Melissa, Michelle, and Mallory, began serving with ABWE in Romania in 1997. Along the way, Doug was named as the “Romania Country Coordinator”. Under the Martin’s leadership, the team grew to 20 missionaries and was involved in establishing translation and camping ministries and organizing the Church Ministries Institute, a lay-leader training program to raise up leaders for existing churches and to plant daughter churches. The Martins rejoice that these 3 ministries, begun decades ago, are still active today, producing fruit and providing the current ABWE Romania team with many ministry opportunities.
In 2004, the Lord led the Martins to Hungary to serve as the ABWE coordinator for Eastern Europe. Among their ministries, two are especially noteworthy. First, was Sharon’s ministry as teacher and then Elementary Principal at the International Christian School of Budapest. With some 20+ nationalities represented; the Lord used the school to reach many students for Christ. Sharon was instrumental in creating and launching the schools’ “Pre-first” grade class – a kindergarten-like program. Second, Doug created the “Global Missions Forums” where Central and Eastern European pastors could gather to dialog, gain insights, and strengthen one another. It was amazing to watch these “missionary receiving” nations into “missionary SENDING” nations.
In 2010, the Lord redirected the Martins to serve ABWE in North America with ABWE where Doug served as Executive Director of the North America/EveryEthne. The EveryEthne team has expanded to include new ministry teams which are reaching “Cross-culture” without having to go “Cross-border” and the “Heart, Mind & Soul” seminar series designed to help equip existing churches (and the average person in the pew) to better engage the plethora of different people groups in their communities.
Since 2018, Sharon has served in the President’s Office as the Executive Administrator for Board and Legal Operations. As of September 2021, Doug now serves as the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Development overseeing various strategic project initiatives.
As for the Martin’s 3 grown daughters: Melissa graduated from Cedarville University and currently is a literacy specialist for the Ohio Department of Education in Columbus. She and her husband, Devin Babcock, are the parents of Reagan and Miles. Michelle graduated from CSU and is married to Dan Dodd serving on staff at Christ’s Church Camden in Georgia. They are the parents of Hazel, Harper, and Hudson. Mallory graduated from Cedarville University and is working as a pharmacist. She and her husband, Kyle Thompson, reside in Xenia, Ohio.