Hope Lutheran Church service dedicated to Pastor Joel Martin in memoriam

On Sunday, September 10, Hope Lutheran Church will dedicate its Sunday service to Pastor Joel Martin in memoriam. Pastor Joel served as pastor at Hope from 2003 to 2014. Many have benefited from his dedication to his ministry. From building a local youth ministry to organizing ice fishing trips, Pastor Joel approached his ministry with great kindness, joy, faith, and above all else love. He is survived by his wife, Amanda, and two sons, Rowan and Ezra.

Please join Hope Lutheran Church located at 930 Julie Lane at 10 a.m. on Sunday, September 10 for this service dedicated to Pastor Joel Martin.

Being a disciple of Christ is not an easy task. Most of us succumb to the negativity around us. We grow cynical, worrisome, and very often in our hopelessness lose faith. Pastor Joel Martyn showed how people can FLOW through challenging times through Faith, Love, Outreach, and Worship (FLOW). His faith while sometimes challenged, never faltered even in the most difficult of personal circumstances. Martin Luther said, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” Pastor Joel would always plant his “apple trees” whether it was in the aftermath of the Angora Fire; the renovation of Hope Lutheran Church; the loss of a beloved parishioner, friend, sister, and, yes, even a child.

Joel's ability to plant these trees was made possible not only because of his love of God; but also, because he lived in the strong belief that God loved him. This love sustained him and empowered him to share what he felt through his love of music, and especially through his outreach to the youth in our community. His dedication to Hope’s youth ministry during his tenure there was inspiring. He helped organize trips to Rockin’ Waters; assisted in youth lead meetings; and offered chocolate-covered bacon to the young people crossing the church property as they finished their day at South Tahoe High School.

Demonstrating his faith and love were the cornerstone of his outreach efforts which overflowed into the worship services in which he presided.

Worship for Pastor Joel was a moment of celebration and an opportunity to strengthen our faith. They were moments to remember that we are all children of God who loves us despite our brokenness. His sermons were very often extemporaneous; inspired by an earlier thought or reading of the day’s gospel. One of his shortest sermons began with three simple words which were a very powerful reminder, “Jesus loves us.” Pastor Joel’s faith, love, outreach, and worship, his FLOW as it were, is a legacy felt at Hope Lutheran Church to this day.