In July, 2010, Heaven acquired another one of the faithful. Ivan Martin, a long time missionary to Zimbabwe and a personal family friend, was taken to Glory after a long bout with cancer. The world’s loss was Heaven’s gain.
Jack and I first met Ivan and his wife JoAnn over twenty years ago when we ministered to a small church in Colorado. JoAnn’s mother was a member of our church and one of the most hospitable women I have ever met. At 80 years old, it was Evelyn’s goal to have every church family to her home for Sunday dinner at least once during the year. She missed her goal by two families! But oh, what wonderful meals! I can still taste her homemade dinner rolls.
We had the privilege of passing forward the blessing to JoAnn and Ivan. I still remember sitting around our dining table in our crowded living room, hearing Ivan give quite a different perspective on the problem and causes of AIDS in Africa. Just a few years later, they sat again at our table, this time in the parsonage of our ministry in rural Kansas. I doubt my girls remember much of the visit but they were enthralled with the Martins. The older girl signed up for Ivan’s missionary letter and for years afterwards, both girls regularly asked, “What do you hear from Ivan and JoAnn?”
If Heaven had an award for outstanding faithfulness, Ivan would be in the running.Tweet this. In spite of the mega-epidemic of AIDS sweeping across Africa, the Martins stayed on. In spite of out-of-control inflation and political corruption in Zimbabwe, placing conditions on the country few of us would put up with for more than two seconds, the Martins stayed on. Because of the economic conditions, the Martins lived simply, doing without necessities many of us take for granted; yet to their neighbors they still lived like royalty so theft was a constant concern. Still they stayed on – at a great price, for one of their daughters was murdered and another fought severe health issues. When Ivan was diagnosed with cancer, he had to seek treatment in South Africa. Each journey was long and arduous; although not that many miles, it took hours on the African roads. They could have so easily come home to the States, citing any of the above as legitimate reasons, and not one of us would have blamed them. Instead, they saw those problems as opportunities to display the love of Jesus to those around them.
Ivan reminds me of that long chapter in Hebrews that gives example after example of faithful men and women who “stayed on,” who didn’t give up on God. How appropriate that the writer of Hebrews concludes his walk down memory lane with these words:
“Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us drop off anything that slows us down or hold us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up, and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1, Living Bible
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Rahab, Ivan, JoAnn – they all have left behind a legacy of faith that demonstrates to the rest of us that we can stay on in spite of whatever faces us and challenges us. They held their heads high and stood firm for their God, believing in what they or the rest of the world could not physically see – a land beyond our world where God is on the throne.
If they could stay on, so can I. So can you.
This Friday edition is the final blog the A to Z blog hop. Thanks for staying with us and be sure to check out what other writers are saying about the letter Z.
I stayed with the Martins in Bulawayo back in the early 80s. I was a mission intern in Zimbabwe at the time, and was in Bulawayo for a weekend with friends.
They were very kind and hospitable to me when I was young and unsure of myself.
You know how they say hindsight is always 20-20, but I truly got a sense of truly Godly people, and this blog post just confirms that.
Tanya, thank you so much for sharing this. Your post confirms it for me as well. As far as i know, Joann continues the work in Zimbabwe, even after Ivan’s death. She rarely talks about herself in her newsletters, but about the work. My prayer is that God will strengthen the church there and enable those believers to model her faithfulness to the One and Only God.
This is especially true to me. I am not sure where the place is for me to give a wondrous testimony about The Family Martin- I knew them for many years and as of recently 2024 I am not sure if JoAnn continues to reside in our child home neighbourhood. In 2023 I believe she was still in the area- of that I am not certain yet I can ask mother who is her long long long living church relative as we have known JoAnn who too knew us from birth and cared for us lovingly- no words are enough. How do you recompense a people who pick you up every Sunday to take you to church all the years until school graduation from kindergarten-every Sunday? Bringing you clothes, books, pens and pencils?? Who are these people- OF GOOD is what I can say. May we speak more because I haven’t even scratched the surface.
Karen, what a wonderful story. What an incredible testimony!!
And then I look at my own life. What a contrast. Thank you. We need to hear things like this.
I give up too easily. I need to be reminded too. Thanks, Patty, for sharing.
We stayed in their home two different times when in Zimbabwe. Once for a National Conference and one time on our travels to Victoria Falls. They were awesome hosts and we felt comfortable in their home. The were servants who never gave up and stayed through all the turmoil of the country.
We didn’t see JoAnne on our last trip in 2012 but hear she is living alone and doing work for the church.
Heard she just went on a cruise with Marsha Kay Thompson.
Rick and Sue Hahn
Thank you for sharing!
I was a member of that small church in Holly, Colorado (1967-68) where Ivan was the preacher. He was also the guiding light for the youth that attended church there. I remember going on many 5th Sunday rallies with Ivan. He was more like a older brother to me than a preacher. In all of your comments about Ivan and JoAnn I didn’t read anything about Steven. How is he? I was at home with my grandmother Myota Thompson, when Ivan and JoAnn brought Steven home for the first time. They must have left for Africa shorly after that. Although I did not keep in touch with Ivan and JoAnn, I thought about them a lot .
Thomas, thank you so much for responding. I have lost touch with the Martin family so I’m afraid I don’t know has happened To Steven. Joann and Ivan and Joann’s mother were such wonderful godly examples for us in our early years of ministry. And I know Holly Colorado, including a minister who preached there for many years. I think we have some mutual acquaintances. God bless you.
Does anyone have any contacts for what JoAnn is still doing in Zimbabwe? I am from a small church that was supporting them years ago and we are trying to find a contact who can help us begin supporting them again. Please email it to me at prhelm2000@yahoo.com thanks for any help.
Good Morning,
I know this man who picked me up from my home very Sunday none stop for about ten years none stop, every Sunday morning. He drove the landcover, within it JoAnn, Cheryl and I forget the son’s name, and Karen, then us packed in the back seat- we were little girlies then with our mother who they seemed to love- I grew up to know who she is thus creating this bond of Martins and The Dube’s. I’d like to share a story with you. May anyone relating to this post please post me to the author or email me at sonicscience123@gmail.com.