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Ordination Story in Nevada
My name is Mario Martinez.
I was born in a small desert town in Southern California, the youngest of four boys in a family of seven children. We weren’t well off financially, but as a child, I didn’t know the difference.
When my parents divorced at age 12, my world turned upside down. My mom struggled to make ends meet, and the next summer, she sent me to work with my eldest brother harvesting watermelons in central California. This experience exposed me to the working man’s world. I picked up bad habits during those first few years but also learned the value of a strong work ethic, which my brother instilled in me. Unfortunately, this was the start of a 17-year period of poor decisions, including the use of illegal drugs.
At 15, I contracted the hepatitis virus, an experience that nearly ended my life. I vividly remember a young doctor telling me, “We didn’t do anything for you. You need to thank God. For some reason, He let you live.” Those words stayed with me, and for the next 15 years, I felt like I was living under the shadow of death, knowing God had spared me for a reason.
I met Kathy, my future wife, when I was 19, and by the time I was 22, we were married and had our first child. Despite the blessings of marriage and fatherhood, I secretly continued using drugs.
At age 29, everything changed. My one-year-old son became gravely ill. Kathy called me at work, and I raced to the hospital on a 25-minute drive that felt like an eternity. Desperate, I prayed aloud to God, begging Him to spare my son’s life. I promised that if He would remove my addiction, I would serve Him however He led me.
After three nights at my son’s bedside, we brought him home. That first morning, I woke up and realized I hadn’t used drugs in three days, nor did I crave them. For the first time in 17 years, I was free of addiction. The Holy Spirit gave me a sense of peace like I had never felt before.
A New Beginning
A few weeks later, a neighbor invited us to church. Kathy and I attended, and together, we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. It felt right. I prayed that I could keep my promise to God. We spent the next year being discipled, and soon after, I began assisting with the church youth group.
In 2007, I underwent interferon treatments and was healed of the Hepatitis C virus—a miracle I attribute to God’s grace.
In 2012, my employer relocated our family to Reno, Nevada. God has continued to use me in ministry with high-risk youth, a calling close to my heart. I am passionate about helping young people avoid the destructive path I traveled for so many years.
Grateful for God’s Blessings
Kathy and I now have four children and four grandchildren. We love our life in Reno, surrounded by beautiful weather and stunning views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. We thank God every day for the abundant blessings He has given us. I will never forget how He rescued me from my old life and brought me into a true relationship with Him.
Serving in Ministry Through CLI
For the past 30 years, I’ve served in ministry as a volunteer. Now, thanks to Christian Leaders Institute (CLI), I can continue serving with ministry credentials, including being a Wedding Officiant, which is a great honor. I believe the Gospel is meant to be shared freely, as Christ served. While ministry often comes with costs that need to be covered, God has blessed me with a wonderful job that allows me to volunteer at no cost to those I serve.
This is one of the many blessings I see in CLI. It provides accessible, biblically grounded training, making ministry opportunities possible for those of us who want to serve God and others wholeheartedly.
Thank you,
Mario Martinez