Rod Martens is the son of a Mennonite father who broke tradition and attended Prairie Bible Institute and married an English lady. His father became pastor of the Evangelical Free church. The family of five was very poor.
“We were so poor,” Rod says, “that we depended on our own garden as a source of food. There was barely any electricity, no running water and we used an outhouse. Our weekly bath was melted snow, and we all used the same water.”
Most of Rod’s free time was spent playing sports. He loved hockey despite the fact that his “hockey” skates were hand-me-downs from an aunt—four sizes too large! He also played softball, football and basketball. In his school years he would often go door-to-door to round up players. In fact, Rod played slow pitch ball until retiring at age 72.
Rod’s father was very authoritarian and could not ‘spare the rod.’ Rod felt that his father was very distant. The family moved several times from B.C. to Saskatchewan and then to Lacombe, Alberta. As a preacher’s kid Rod at times faced persecution.
Rod says, “I became a believer at age four and a half. As young as I was, I still recall how meaningful this confession and commitment was. I asked my mother to lead me to Christ, and I remember my passion at the time, trying to tell friends and others about Him!” Rod was baptized at about thirteen years of age.
“I wish I could claim that I faithfully followed our Lord and Savior throughout my days,” he says. “Not so. In my teens and 20s I strayed and even rebelled against what I very well knew to be God’s truths. During this time I often lived a dual life. Friends and relatives assumed that I had it all together. I recall giving my testimony in which I quoted Phil. 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,’ when this was simply not true in my life. I was leading a very selfish, hedonistic life. I even told my mother that I was questioning my values as a Christian. My parents were very saddened by what they witnessed in me.”
Thankfully, God got hold of Rod. In 1971 or 1972 a revival led by the Suterra Twins swept much of Western Canada. At this time Rod recommitted his life, found his future wife Sharon and landed a job teaching high school social studies in Calgary.
“I wish I could say from that point on I lived a victorious life,” he says. “I still struggled like the apostle Paul’s experience. (I continue to do what I don’t want to do.) However, I can honestly say that I claim victory through Christ. Now I can quote Phil. 4:13 and really mean it! In my life I see the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians chapter 5. I note that I still need to be very vigilant to avoid the tug of the flesh and temporal things.”
Rod and Sharon went on to have two sons. In 1987, Rod experienced a severe clinical depression and spent a few weeks in the Calgary General Hospital. He says that this was easily the greatest challenge that he had to face as an adult Christian.
Rod learned many things from mental illness:
- There is still a stigma involved. It is still considered something to avoid, to abhor even though it is just part of our make-up, our very body and soul.
- One out of five will experience deep depression. For some, it is on-going.
- Depression cannot be resolved by saying, “Happiness is a choice.” You cannot just ‘snap out of it.’
- Depression does not reflect one’s spiritual condition. Some wrongly believe that if everything is right between you and God, no known sin, you should experience no negative emotions or feelings. Conversely, if you experience depression and/or anxiety you must have unconfessed sin; you are not enjoying spiritual victory; or, you are not exercising sufficient faith or trust in God. This just isn’t so.
- Suicide rates are highest among teenagers and the elderly.
- The most common causes of depression are low self image or low esteem in early life.
- The solution is some combination of therapy (counselling) and medication, and, of course, the intervention of God through prayer.
Since that period of clinical depression, God has placed on Rod’s heart the need and desire to come alongside people in hospitals and other institutions. People who are suffering physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. People who are hurting, lonely or depressed.
“We are comforted by God so that we in turn can comfort others,” says Rod. “Since that time I have been involved in various visitation ministries. Currently I am helping co-ordinate the visitation of Maranatha seniors. To God be the glory!”
Rod and Sharon initially tried CSC in the hope of finding a more effective youth program for their two sons.
“We ended up getting totally hooked on Pastor Henry’s sermons,” Rod says. “So practical. So much meat! That was in 1988, and we continue to be blessed to this very day. I have encountered a much closer walk with the Lord under the preaching and teaching of the pastoral staff. I believe that I have grown in obedience and have developed a stronger faith and trust in my Lord and Saviour. As well, serving in various capacities at CSC has served to ground me in my Christian walk as I attempt to become a more fully devoted follower of Jesus.”
More and more, God has given Rod a burden for those around him that so desperately need the Jesus he knows and loves. Their eternal destiny is weighing on him. As Rod says, “Unless they turn their lives around, they will be subject to a Christless eternity.”
He longs for others to find the hope and joy that he has in Christ.