Lovelybooks

Stephen Moore Martin was born in Reidsville, NC to Methodist Clergy parents, grew up moving from church to church and place to place... never in one place more than four years. He enlisted in the Marines in 1965, serving one tour of duty in South Vietnam (Khe Sanh in 1968). Wounded in Quang Tri and medically-evacuated to the Army 106th Hospital in Yokohama, Japan and then back to the States at Camp Lejeune. After leaving the Marine Corps he began taking the necessary steps to become a United Methodist Pastor. This included College and Seminary at Duke Divinity School, followed a few years later with post-graduate studies to receive his Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity Seminary. He married Shirley Lea Bruce and they have enjoyed the pride of their lives, their son Stephen Bruce Martin. Stephen Bruce and his wife Joy Cantrell have graced this family with two beautiful, bright, creative and loving children; Noah and Abby. Through all the ups and downs of the life of a pastor we have been surrounded by people who have lifted us high on the mountain and revealed to us a higher plane of living. Dr. Martin is always quick to point to all the people who crossed his path as the ones who have built his faith and life. He served forty years as a pastor in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church where he excelled in being known as a peacekeeper and a healer of churches going through difficult times. His gentle spirit, humorous outlook and reconciling approach to life and ministry allowed the grace of God to work through his ministry to heal the sick, mend the broken, and renew that which had all but given up. Needless to say, in most places the Martin's were loved and accepted as part of church families. After retiring he began seeking ways to stay alive and involved. This led him to continue that which he loved... writing. He began with "The Grieving Heart" a collection of up-lifting funeral homilies he had given over the past forty years. He continued by writing devotions, Blogs, and nine other books including lectionary homilies, Lenten Studies, and health, nutritional and focusing journals. The last title he has offered is his life story "My Life: United States Marine" which will be followed by writing in a new genre... The Mystery Novel. This work of fiction is about the investigation into the assassination of the President of the United States, and should hit the market sometime in the fall of 2017. This new adventure seems both scary and exciting. Thanks to all who have supported me in this crazy endeavor of writing. I hope it has been as meaningful and uplifting to each of you, as it has been to me.