Featured Testimony: Pastor Gerald Martinez

Risking it All in the 'War Zone'

"Promise Keepers...fanned the passion inside of me."

Pastor Gerald was born in Tucumcari, NM and moved to Albuquerque where he was raised. Gerald felt called to the ministry in the summer of 1974. He attended San Jose Christian College and after graduating in 1980, he returned to Albuquerque where he has been pastoring ever since. Pastor Gerald and his wife Liesa have five children; Jesse 24, Alie 16, Levi 13, Maggiejean 11, and Bethany 9.

Pastor Gerald began Joshua’s Vineyard church in 2001, which is located in a section of Albuquerque that once was known as the “war zone.” This community located in the SE part of Albuquerque was well known for crack houses and violent crimes. Joshua’s Vineyard and Pastor Gerald’s passion for this community helped to begin the process of changing this neighborhood by the power of the Holy Spirit. By placing the church and his family in this neighborhood, Pastor Gerald believes this is the mission field he has been called to serve.

In a sermon given to his congregation on April 6th, Pastor Gerald shared his personal journey through his ministry. In 1990, Pastor Gerald found himself down and becoming increasingly separated from God. For a period of about 10 years, Pastor Gerald did not read the Bible. In his words, “The flame had grown very, very dim...the life inside of me had almost gone out. Life was tough…I was really lonely in my spirit”

Liesa would encourage Pastor Gerald to go to church or get involved.

“She’s always been a ball of fire in love with the Lord, but I just did not want to go…I did go often but my heart would only go so far.” Pastor Gerald lamented. “My spirit was sad because I had tasted the good life, tasted the presence of the Lord; tasted of His mercy and yet something was wrong in my spirit and I did not have that connection with the Lord. I had lost my way. I was one of those sheep that had lost my way. I still knew God... I still prayed to Him…I still loved Him, but I was not close to Him.”

In 2000, Pastor Gerald was invited to a Promise Keepers conference at Albuquerque. While attending the conference, Pastor Gerald felt God’s presence again and as he explained, “something broke loose inside of me.” Pastor Gerald responded, “Okay God I am willing to step in again and risk it all.”

Pastor Gerald explained the Promise Keepers event began softening his heart and took him to a place where he began reading his Bible again. As Pastor Gerald read the Bible something even deeper occurred within him. God began revealing Himself to Pastor Gerald through His Word.

“I can honestly attribute the Promise Keepers event to the wind that fanned the passion inside of me. I encourage you to take advantage of events like Promise Keepers because God opens these doors for us and He can spark the passion within you.”

“I encourage you men, if your heart has gone astray or you just need that flame fanned again, an event like Promise Keepers can spark something inside of you that can change your destiny. It is no joke!”

Since the 2000 Promise Keepers event in Albuquerque, that flame that was fanned within Pastor Gerald has kept him passionately seeking God and serving his community.

On April 27th, the ABC hit series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will feature Pastor Gerald and his family on a two hour special. Their home is the first ever built by the show in New Mexico.