Martin, B. Joseph
1/1/1996
| B. Joseph Martin was born August 21, 1906 in Bourg, Louisiana. He was the oldest son of Reverend Anatole Martin who was himself a Methodist minister. B. Joseph spent his early childhood in the Bourg—Bayou Blue area, later attending Terrebonne High School in Houma, Louisiana. While attending high school, B. Joseph became aware of God’s call upon his life and soon found himself teaching at the Wesley-MacDonnell House in Houma. In preparation for the ministry, B. Joseph set out for college in Ohio. While attending the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio he met Evelyn Duryea who was also a student at the university. B. Joseph and Evelyn were married December 31, 1931, and together launched a long and distinguished career in ministry, teaching and administration in a number of states and spanning over half a century. B. Joseph Martin was received as a probationary member of the Methodist Church in 1935. By 1937 he was ordained a deacon and in 1939 he was ordained an Elder in The Methodist Church. B. Joseph Martin earned his Bachelor of Theology degree from Pasadena College in Pasadena, California and his Master of Theology degree from The University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. He also received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from The University of Southern California. While attending the various schools, B. Joseph also served local congregations: Rossmoyne Methodist Church, Rossmoyne, Ohio; Reseda Community Methodist Church, Roseda, California; First Methodist Church, Taft, California; Trinity Missionary Church, Los Angeles, California. B. Joseph served in different capacities as a leader and an educator at various educational institutions throughout the country. He was Professor of Christian Education and Vice-President, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky; Vice-President, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Director, The Methodist College Foundation of North Carolina; President, Wesleyan College, Macon, Georgia; and President of Taylor University, Upland, Indiana. B. Joseph Martin returned home after his “first” retirement to pastor the Raceland-Lockport-Bayou Blue Charge, while also serving as Professor of Philosophy at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Under Dr. Martin’s leadership, the Raceland and Lockport congregations merged and built a new sanctuary in Mathews and thus formed the Mathew’s Memorial United Methodist Church. During Dr. Martin’s thirteen year pastorate, the Bayou Blue, as well as the Mathew’s Memorial congregations made great strides forward growing spiritually and numerically. I feel privileged to have spent time with Dr. Martin, a servant of Christ and a man who has touched people’s lives throughout this nation. |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference, 1997; p. 265 By Jose’ Garcia | |
