Posts

A Procession of Light

Image
Several weeks ago, I had a dream that I’ve been processing with the Lord. In the dream, I was in a church filled with people from many of the denominations I’ve had the honor of serving over the years—Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, and non-denominational. It felt familiar, like any other Sunday gathering. Years ago, while serving on staff at a Spirit-filled Episcopal church, I oversaw the acolytes. This church held a deep reverence for the Lord through sacred rhythms—processions, the sacraments—while also fully embracing the gifts of the Spirit and the fivefold ministry. It was a rare and beautiful expression of the Church. The acolytes carried the light and incense, ushering in what was holy. In the dream, I was again overseeing the acolytes, and a significant procession was about to begin. As I looked around, many sat comfortably, largely unaware. But I knew something was off—we were not ready. The candles we had would not last. The robes had become dingy. Preparation was ne...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Call

Image
Falls Creek Baptist Church camp was my summer haven as a child and as a teen.  I look back with such fond memories!  I got my first kiss at that camp. I also got a tush full of cactus pricks at the same time.  (I had sat down on a cactus; the poor guy never knew.)  My friend had to pick them out later as I shared my story of my first kiss. I must be a great storyteller because she went on to marry that guy 5 or 6 years later. Falls Creek was where I first received the call to become a pastor.  I know it was God, because it was the same voice that invited me to become a part of His family 5 years prior at the age of 11.  It was a hot summer evening and I could feel the breeze blowing through the open air pavilion.  I was 16 and feeling pretty invincible!  It was one of the special services where they added an altar call for those feeling called to ministry.  I once again found myself at the altar, as if I had been transported from my s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Welcome to My Road

Image
Good morning, My name is Deborah Dawn Martin, but my friends call me Dawn.  I'm the wife of an airline pilot, the mom of three grown adults, and the grandmother to three grand littles!  To many outside of my family, I am Pastor Dawn, there are many others who call me Mama Dawn.  But, I have learned in recent years that even though I answer to many titles, none are the essence of who I am.  In fact, I am still learning who I am!  I am almost 55 years old and I am still on my road to the real me! This little blog will unpack my discovery process, and I hope it will inspire you on your journey to the real you!  I am a culmination of my past, my present, and the future that God has stored up in His heart for me! Through a lifetime of ministry I have learned a lot about people, but very little about me. The early lessons I learned as a child in the church was to put on a Sunday face and never let them see the real messy you!   The problem w...
2 comments
Read more

In the beginning...

Image
Where did my story begin?  My story as a believer began in the summer of 1976 at Falls Creek Baptist Church Camp.  I was 11 years old and it had been a rough year at home.  One of my three brothers had become involved in drugs and there had been some pretty scary moments for me as a young tween.  Summer camp was a welcome reprieve.  What I didn't realize was that I was in a divine set-up. Morning sessions at camp were followed by break-out sessions in these open pavilions.  I chose a session with a speaker named Eddie. He told the story of how he shot his mother while strung out on drugs. He told us that even as his mother bled out, she was praying for his soul.  He went through the entire story of how Jesus saved him spiritually and physically.  I knew without a doubt that I needed that Jesus! Earlier that summer I had seen my own strung-out brother trying to leave our house, his being confronted by my other brother, and a pretty intense wre...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is real?

Image
I think it's important for me to define what I mean by "real".  My definition of real comes from the book, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.  This is the part of the story where Rabbit learns the meaning of real from the Skin Horse. “Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become Real.” “Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit. “Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real, you don’t mind being hurt.” “Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?” “It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, an...
2 comments
Read more