Charles D. Martin by Dixie Plata – NAD Youth Historian
Charles was born to Lester and Ione Martin in Anaheim, California in 1923. He grew up in Santa Ana, California and became a member of the second Pathfinder Club of record held in 1930 at the Johnston home with Theron and Ethel Johnson and his parents Lester and Ione Martin as directors. Charles attended Adventist Schools and as a young man spend his summers hauling lumber for cabins at Camp Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains of California. Each summer he worked at summer camp as a counselor and also worked in the Junior Tent at Campmeeting.
Charles graduated from La Sierra College in 1945 with a degree in Theology and pastored in the Southeastern California Conference for the Victorville Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa Churches. Charles married Pearl in 1947.
He worked every summer with juniors and was close friends with Southeastern California Conference Youth Director John Hancock, who was a good influence and mentor for him. Martin visited the Riverside Pathfinder Club and learned what this club was doing for Pathfinders first hand. He was pastor of the Redlands Seventh-day Adventist Church until 1950. When John Hancock was called to the Lake Union and Charles Martin became Youth Director of the Southeastern California Conference.
Charles enjoyed Pathfinders and the junior youth age visiting around the Conference to get to know them better. He organized a Pathfinder Fair in the old gym at La Sierra College with 35 Conference Pathfinder Clubs in attendance. There were displays of crafts, personal collections, working displays and exhibits.
Charles remembered well the 1954 Camporee which was held in the high desert. A group of staff went ahead to set up camp. It rained and rained that night and he discovered that the pup tents were full of holes. There were 400 Pathfinders and staff to arrive the next day. Thanks to answered prayers the sun came up and dried everything, tents, bedding and clothes, before the Pathfinders arrived.
Another camporee he well remembered was a camporee in the mountains south of Riverside, California. It was beautiful when camp was set up though a bit cloudy. During the night it began to rain and then to snow. Everything was wet but the youth had a great time anyway. They gave special awards to the clubs that stayed for the complete camporee.
There were individuals that stood out in Charles mind. Norm Chudleigh and his wife were among them. Norm became the first Pathfinder Coordinator in Southeastern California Conference. His son Gerry later became the Youth Director for Southeastern California Conference and their daughter and grandson were still involved in Pathfinder’s some 50 years later.
Charles was well liked for his friendly smile and willingness to work with leaders to encourage youth to be in God’s Kingdom.
Charles D Martin n Skinner
From Southeastern California Conference Charles went to the Far Eastern Division. F. A. Mote was the President of the Division and requested that Charles would come and lead out in youth ministry for the division. In 1957 Charles and his wife Pearl, and two children went to Singapore where he served as youth director. Their third child, Cindy, was born in Singapore.
In 1957 he pioneered Pathfindering in Japan and Korea. He wrote that “The young people and their leaders in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao loved Pathfinders. New Guinea was a bit of a problem as just where does one place pins and buttons on a loin cloth? We had to be very creative. The Philippians was wide open for Pathfindering.”
While on a year’s furlough in 1963 Charles received his Master of Arts degree from Andrews University.
The family spent nine years in the mission field before returning to America. Charles became in 1966 an Associate General Conference Youth Ministries Leader. His responsibilities included Student Missionaries, National Service Organization and Pathfinders.
Charles missed working directly with the local clubs and getting it done and seeing the response right away. At the Division level he worked with Union and local individuals to help with planning activities.
As a General Conference Associate he dealt with Divisions, including the first Division wide Camporee in 1971 which was held in Sweden. Paul Sanquest was then the Northern Europe Division youth director and planned well for the 350 to 400 Pathfinders that attended. Various clubs had displays; one club a Viking ship, another group built an igloo. There was a full size basket filled with balloons that floated away. But all was not lost as Paul had a helium balloon for each Pathfinder that was released at the same time as part of the closing program.
As an associate in the Youth Department of the General Conference he was pleased to work again with his mentor John Hancock. The 1980 team included a group of great youth directors Leo Ranzolin, Charles Martin, Mike Stevenson, Clark Smith, Desmond Hills, Richard Barron, Les Pitton, James Joiner and Norm Middag.
As a youth leader he said “you should never underestimate the possibility of the boys and girls. Invest time in them and the most energetic have the drive to become leaders, doctors, pastors, etc. A great reward.”
Martin once said that his “previous work with the NSO (National Service Organization) at the conference level built the experience that I would need in my new position at the General Conference as associate youth director.” He loved dealing with young people and turning their lives toward the Lord.
At the 1985 General Conference Session in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, Martin was appointed the first director of the General Conference Service – a department after 1995 called Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries. Under Martin’s leadership, annual professional growth conferences were established, specifically designed to meet the needs of Adventist Chaplains. He spent time educating others about chaplaincy ministry. The Annual conferences were a special time to renew friendships and commitment to ministry
Both Charles and Pearl retired in 1987. In retirement they went to Korea to operate the Adventist Servicemen’s Center in Seoul, returning to the United States in 1991 and moved to Florida in 1999.
Pearl died in 2009, after sharing 62 years of marriage, ministry and the joys of raising two daughters and a son. January of 2010 Charles married Eleene, and the newlyweds moved to California where Eleene died in 2015.
Elder Charles Martin died at age 94 January 7, 2018. His funeral service was held at the Redlands Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sunday, January 14 at 11 AM. Charles left to mourn his loving family and numerous friends faithfully waiting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ where they will be united with their loved one.
