Born & Raised New Boston, MI in 1957, son of Frieda and Robert Martin, brother of Bill, Jim, Tom, Bonnie Hightower & Tammie Hegarty

Baptized St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Confirmed also at St. Paul’s on May 2, 1971, under Rev. Daniel Richert

High School Graduated from Huron High School in 1975; played football, basketball, baseball and ran track; acted in school plays

College AA degree from Concordia College, Ann Arbor in 1977; while attending played bass and sang in part-time with 4 country bands; Acted in college plays, designed stage lighting and ran sound for productions and concerts at the college

Christian Music Full-time playing bass & singing with Don Wharton 1977-80

Excavation Worker With Dan Carey of Harvey Carey & Sons Excavating while playing Christian Music part-time with the band “Fortress” 1980-81, and song leading for Bill McCartney at weekly Men’s Prayer Breakfasts in Ann Arbor and Taylor; coached JV Girl’s Volleyball at Southgate HS; Sang in Seaway Chorale

Church Worker Full-time at Community Lutheran Church, while playing bass & singing in a country band with David Walz 1981-85 and completing final year of BA requirements for pre-seminary

College BA degree from Concordia College, Ann Arbor in 1984

Married to Sheryl Coudret on May 4, 1985 after meeting her at a dress rehearsal for “1776” at the Huron Community Theater in 1984

Children Have been blessed with 9 children: Stephanie, Rob, Joe, Laura, David, Becky, Emilie, Katy and Luke

Seminary Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN, in 1989