by Linda E. Martin

My early church life 

I grew up in Chandler Heights, Arizona. This little community was on the edge of the desert next to the San Tan Mountains near the Sacaton Reservation, the Gila River Indian Community. We attended the local Community Church which was supported at that time by the Presbyterian Church. It was an old building that needed a lot of work. But to me and others, it was the most important building in the community. The church sponsored all kinds of events for the whole community. When we gathered to worship, you could feel the spirit of God. Its spiritual shoulders were broad; therefore, a variety of denominations found comfort there. My mother at one time wrote a poem about Our Little Church with Broad, Broad Shoulders. I was baptized at twelve years which was a formal acknowledgement of my commitment to Christ, but the truth is, this is what I knew and loved growing up. Entering adolescence, I taught Sunday School and helped out in a variety of ways which helped me grow in my faith. There are so many special memories of this church and community but not enough time to share.

As my life has moved on, I have lived in a variety of places, although most of that time was in Utah on the Ute Indian Reservation in the Uinta Basin. That is where my three sons, Larry, Ray and Vincent, were raised and went to school. I taught school there. On Sunday, we drove a distance and attended the newly formed Community Christian Church in Vernal, Utah about 25 miles across the mountains. Actually, the newly formed church was meeting in a log cabin in a town park at that time. One story you may like is that my oldest son (Larry) was baptized there. The pastor brought in a new watering trough to baptize him. Note: At this time, the Community Christian Church in Vernal has a beautiful home building to worship and they also support a local Christian School. 

So, as you can see, I have attended a variety of churches throughout my life. Actually, when I moved to Muncie area, I again attended a variety of churches to find my home to worship. When I walked into the Yorktown Methodist Church, I felt the spirit and it felt like home. This is our church with broad shoulders!

What has been your career?

As I stated earlier, I taught school on the Ute Indian Reservation after receiving a B.S. at Utah State University in Elementary Education. I felt a great need to understand the learning of the children I taught—their families were our neighbors and our friends. Later, I also earned a Masters in Secondary Education to better understand the development of the adolescence. All of this led to examining a Leadership degree and finally a Doctorate in Reading. I came to Ball State University to teach in the Department of Elementary Education. Working with new promising teachers is important to make sure all children of all ages have the best teachers to teach them to live in our world successfully. 

Share any experiences in your life where you felt God was especially comforting or near.

My oldest son, Larry, made the United States Army his career after graduating at the University of Utah. He flies helicopters for the Army—usually Black Hawks. He was on the front lines when our soldiers entered Iraq during the Iraq War after 9-11. I knew he was leaving a few weeks before, so we had a plan to make sure everyone would know he was okay now and then. When a helicopter was shot down (which happened often), and when he was able, he notified his wife (Rena) and she let the rest of us know he was okay. But the heartbreak was that when a helicopter went down, a part of you would feel such dread and ache--and then over time, Rena would let us know he was fine. But you did not feel good very long, because someone else lost a child. So, the dread and ache was heart breaking for them. I could not have made it without God and my family by my side. Note: Larry is now retired but still works for the US Army to train new helicopter pilots. 

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? God is Love I John 4: 7-21

I John 4:16 "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."

It seems fitting to end with my mother’s poem:

Our Little Church

By: Rachel Adell Martin

Now whoever heard of shoulders that were so wide

They could take anyone’s troubles, whatever betide?

Does it matter so much what path you trod

So long as the end of it leads to God?

Congregations could bring their troubles and cares;

They just pour them out and leave them there.

Each little face displays faith you can see

As children’s voices ring out, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.”

Young and old themselves they convince

As we meditate with the feeling of fond reverence.

We can leave most of our cares from the youngest to older

In our little church with the broad, broad shoulders.

Our Reverend plays the most wonderful part;

With a smile on his face, he is crying at heart

To remind all the sinners the Lord to seek;

For often I’ve noticed tears on his cheek.

One special time it seemed I could see

The tears he had shed were beckoning me.

That is when I took the Lord past my pride

And removed the horrible Thorn from My Side.

Now I’ve yet to move mountains, but I’ve removed many boulders

In our Little Church with the Broad, Broad Shoulders