True Vine Ministries
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:1-3
I visited First Ward Park downtown Wednesday to participate in a seventeen-year-old weekly ministry carried out by Ken Martin of True Vine Ministry, one of many that StoneBridge has partnered with. Brent introduced us, and I asked how his ministry of Pizza in the Park began. It was like water from a firehose, washing me with a testimony of what a sold out trust and obedience to God looks like.
In 1989, 20-year-old Ken Martin had a golden future ahead. A senior at UNC-Chapel Hill, he was about to graduate as the star tailback on the football team, a double major in philosophy and economics, and enticing pro football offers.
After playing for a few years in the Canadian Football League, he began making one bad decision after another and lost everything material known to him. By the age of 35, Ken was homeless, experimenting with all types of drugs, and called home the underside of a bridge near North Tryon Street. His wife, Temika, couldn’t tolerate this lifestyle anymore and collected their two children, fleeing to Raleigh to live with family.
Raised in Winston-Salem, Ken never went to church nor saw a need for God. Because of his philosophy major, he was steeped in knowledge of all forms of religion, but never developed any type of spiritual quest or thirst for a higher power. He made a life for himself under the bridge, taking advantage of handouts, shelters, and the kindness of others. What happened next in his life was one miracle after another, causing any skeptic of the Christian faith to pause.
Hungry and broke, Ken frequented various homeless ministries in Charlotte to be fed and clothed. A good Samaritan gave him some cash, so he treated himself to breakfast at Waffle House. A kind lady served him and he lingered, enjoying the hot meal. Just before leaving, she came with a Gideon Bible, saying nothing and just laying it on the table and disappearing. From his early days Ken was a voracious reader, even packing his current duffle bag with books to indulge his passion. Stuffing it in his bag and exiting, he wanted to thank her. He asked the hostess if he could speak with the lady who served him, but to his surprise he was told there was no female server working that morning.
Ken read this Bible front to back, under the bridge, in parks, wherever and whenever he had time. Something was breaking inside of him. Towards the end of his third reading, he describes an experience that was surreal: while reading, the words on the pages became squiggly and shimmery and seemed to be lifting off the paper. As they rose up, he opened his mouth, and he felt himself literally swallow the text whole. He remembers then walking to a large field, laying down, and praying for the first time, “God, if you are real, show me a sign.”
A few days later, he went to Community Urban Partners (C.U.P.) ministry for food and provisions. A volunteer took an interest in him and Ken shared his surreal experience with him. As they were walking near Hawthorne and Seventh Street, the volunteer was encouraging him to ask God for what he needed. Ken responded boldly, “I want a pepperoni pizza!” He walked in Hawthorne’s Pizza and asked for any food. The manager replied that he would give him some salad. Ken said, “No, I really want a pepperoni pizza!”, putting God to the test. The manager told him to hold on, then said, “I am making you two large pepperoni pizzas.” He told Ken he was a Christian and God had told him to do this.
Ken broke down, knelt, and said, “OK, God, I give my life to you.” A fire erupted in his soul—an excitement and passion for God that was unstoppable. He called his estranged wife and said, “Baby, come back! I found Jesus!”, and she did. Still homeless, they encamped under the bridge for a while longer, even conceiving a child in these quarters! Ken continued his friendship with the C.U.P. volunteer, growing in his faith, trusting God, and turning his life around.
The volunteer approached him one day with a proposition. The ministry head, who lived on the ministry grounds was going to be away for two months, and would Ken and Temika want to live there temporarily? With a resounding yes, they were no longer homeless. So many miracles occurred after this, leading the Martins to permanent housing, stability, and the God-given necessities for them to begin their ministry, Pizza in the Park.
Ken is now pastor of True Vine Church, lives his life in obedience to God and loves God’s children, a living example of the 1 John passage above. Every Wednesday, you can hear Christian rap and his robust voice and laugh. He greets the homeless with hugs and words of encouragement. He feeds them pizza and preaches. The numbers range from 20 to over one hundred, but he always has enough to go around. He gathers coats, blankets, clothing, and more to help those who are living in the conditions he knows so well. His message to those in need is that God is the giver of all good things and the only sure thing in life.
by Kelly Dockery
