The Martins - with Christian Friends of Israel Jerusalem

Christian Friends of Israel - our upcoming volunteer time in Jerusalem -

 Steve and Laurie Martin, Love For His People Ministry

July 8, 2025, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Greetings to all,

Laurie and I had a Zoom call on the morning of July 3 with the Christian Friends of Israel-Jerusalem Director, Tristan Hall, and Nicolene in HR. We will be volunteering for three months in Jerusalem, Israel, at the CFI ministry, beginning October 15, 2025, through January 14, 2026.

During the call, they informed us that Laurie will assist with outreach efforts to support individuals as needed, as well as participate in daily lunches for the 30 staff members.

I will be involved with social media and, hopefully, IDF (Israel Defense Forces) connections.

Pictured (L-R) Gayla Hall, Tristan Hall (CFI-Jerusalem), Steve Martin, Hannele Pardain (CFI-USA), and baby Hosea Hall. Photo taken in Charlotte, NC, May 28, 2025, at the CFI 40th ministry anniversary celebration.

We will share more information as it becomes available. During our time in Jerusalem, we would like to schedule Zoom calls with all interested parties to establish a weekly update schedule. Plus I will continue my FB, website and blogs to share with you from Jerusalem.

Both of us will be on the worship team and also help lead worship during the daily staff prayer times.

CFI will provide housing and bus passes for us. (We already have bus passes with our photos on them from a few years ago. We were anticipating this time years ago!) Plus, daily lunches are provided. 

We would appreciate monthly support during our Jerusalem service to cover supplies and other needs not covered. 

First, though, we booked our flights. Those two tickets amounted to $3,145.

You can make a donation online now by using the donate button located in the right-hand column of this Love For His People website.

In addition, we are seeking someone (or a couple, preferred) to stay in our home for three months, with minimal rent covering utilities and other expenses.

The Lord has led and continues to lead.

Yes, Lord!

Ahava and Shalom,

Steve & Laurie Martin

From a dear friend when she heard we were volunteering at CFI-Jerusalem:

July 6, 2025 Asheville, North Carolina

“SHABBAT SHALOM, Steve and Laurie!  Just had to pop in to say how absolutely rejoicing I am to hear that you two 

will soon be volunteering for 3 months with CFI-Jerusalem!!! PRAISE GOD!!!  There are no words to express how 

fruitful and fulfilling--truly immeasurable joy and blessing--Bill and my many years of volunteering were, and I know 

it will be the same for you! 

Congratulations on this new step into all God has purposed and planned for your life!  Love in Yeshua~ Cindi

Here is another confirming word and prophecy regarding our going to Israel at this time:

July 6, 2025 Charlotte, NC

“Greetings Hannele.

This is a prophetic word I received from Jeremy Lopez, whom I believe is a very gifted prophetic man, from whom 

I and several others have received accurate words from over the past 2 decades.

I have never met him in person, and only give my name when I have asked for a prophetic word, on his website.

As I was looking through some files this morning (07.05.25, 6:30 am) that I had saved on my phone, this one 

was found from 2008, 17 years ago!

At the time, I highlighted several words that stood out to me. One was his word about Israel. (Again, I never have 

told him about my connection to Israel.)

But on the 2nd page, there is a word which I never highlighted. Why?  Because I honestly never believed it at 

the time.

You know the exact amount of the check you gave Laurie and me (Love For His People) after the CFI-Jerusalem’s 

40th ministry anniversary celebration here in Charlotte, May 28-31. You even told me, when you handed me the 

envelope with the check a few days later, that you had one amount in mind, but the Lord gave you this amount 

to give us for our future involvement in Israel with CFI.

Unknown to anyone but me of the timing, I had given Tristan and Gayla Hall, and Sharon Sanders, my resume, 

after I had left the hotel at 1 am to come home and print copies out for them, to give to them that Saturday morning 

on the last day of the conference!

I myself am amazed! And totally grateful to Him and again to you for hearing His word, and fulfilling this prophecy!

We believe our Lord. We know we are blessed, and in His Name and power, provision, and encouragement, through you and many others, we will go onward with His love and provision always - to Jerusalem!

Ahava and Shalom Hannele,

Steve

 

Theresa Harper	Mon, Jul 7, 11:15 PM (9 hours ago)
to me

Thank you for sharing this with me.  It is a joy to watch how the Lord is unfolding His plans for your life 

and Laurie’s.  When I say “unfolding” I saw the Lord unfolding a large map. He laid it out before you.  

It was so big you couldn’t see the whole map.  This was a map of your life, Steve. 

He will show you more of the map as you go along.  Much like Abraham was called to leave the familiar, 

not knowing where he was going, you will know as you go.

The Lord richly bless you and Laurie in all your ways,

Theresa

From my good friend Morris Ruddick, Denver, Colorado, when I told him about our 

Zoom call from CFI-Jerusalem coming on July 3, 2025.

June 27, 2025 InBox:

Morris Ruddick

I tend to be big on praying spontaneously .... as the Spirit prompts .... so I was just revisiting praying for 

yours/ Laurie's upcoming zoom meeting. The upshot being that the Zoom meeting is only the landing 

point .... because the outcome has already been determined. Which dovetails with a key Word the Lord 

gave me years ago: "Whatever sphere of influence you walk into .... immediately begin looking 

beyond it, lest it overwhelm you." 

Sure hope you guys got your bags packed.

In His love and mine,

Morris

Come walk with me on tour at Christian Friends of Israel (CFI) in Jerusalem, Israel (4 videos)

A staff member graciously gave David Peterman and me a tour of the main office of CFI in Jerusalem, Israel. Now celebrating their 40th anniversary, founded by Ray and Sharon Sanders, I learned things I didn’t know, even after serving as a founding board member of the CFI-USA, beginning in 1994 and continuing for 14 years.

Laurie Martin now serves on the USA board, which has been faithfully directed by Hannele Pardain since 1994. This is a 4-part video, so you'll want to listen to it through to the end.

#CFI #christianfriendsofisrael #jerusalem #israel #volunteers #cfi-usa #cfijerusalem #tristanhall #loveforhispeople

Retirement letter to my secular employer. My next assignment is coming real soon! Steve Martin

My accountant's desk at Charlotte Center City Partners
Charlotte, NC  May 30, 2017

May 30, 2017

Tuesday, 8:24 am

Charlotte, NC

Greetings fellow crew members,

I have good news to share!

Effective Dec. 31, 2017, my "Retirement of Employment" here at Charlotte Center City Partners will occur. As my becoming “even more senior” happens on November 23, with 63 candles inflaming the double chocolate, extra frosting cake I will have, there are a few other things yet assigned for me to do before I am heaven bound.

What a blessing those days to come will be! Think of this - all of Charlotte and TV land will be celebrating my birthday and retirement too, as I drive another dignitary up Tryon during the Thanksgiving Day Parade (unless Grandpa K has Steve Martin as the Grand Marshall and I ride along as his mini-Grand!) 

Leaving this ever-changing 501 ©4 after four years, eight months on staff (and eight months as a contractor prior to April 29, 2013) as the accountant for all three organizations Eleni and I account for, will give Megan a new neighbor at some point, while Klint will be seeing a different hair color other than silver across the cubicle from him. (Maybe he likes blonde, brunette or red better?) I am sure Eleni and her HR department will find a good replacement to fill my numbers chair.

My heart's desire has always been to be back once again in Christian ministry most hours of my day. After serving 24 years, from 1987 - 2010, with three international ministries (Derek Prince Ministries, Mahesh Chavda Ministries /All Nations Church with Bonnie Chavda) and Vision for Israel and The Joseph Storehouse (Barry & Batya Segal) in Fort Lauderdale and Charlotte, as the USA Director or the Director of Administration and Finance, I have prayed for it to happen. It has always been my passion to reach the nations with His Good News. (I like Sam, the “Jesus Shouter” on the Charlotte Center City streets! He certainly has Good News!)

When Laurie, my good wife of 40 years (Oct. 7, 2017) and I founded our ministry, Love For His People, Inc. in April of 2010, I was believing that that would be my life’s work from that point on. But for the last seven years, the good Lord took me on a side journey, which is why I am grateful to Moira, Eleni and Jovonna for allowing me to serve with you at CCCP, CCCP-Community Trust and the 7th Street Public Market. But now the time has come to complete the plans set before me. 

After my 14th journey to Israel this month of May, with previous adventures to China, England, France, Germany, India, Canada, Spain and Trinidad and Tobago...I will once again be adding frequently to my frequent flyer miles’ travel log. Good thing I have a valid new 10-year passport with plenty of visa pages to again be imprinted!

Before I finish this “book”, I want to give you each a special gift. If you like to read good books, I will leave behind a copy of each of my 14 books in Eleni’s personal library of mine, sitting atop her cabinet in her office. (I would give her more but I know space is a premium in there and I don’t want her to be crowded out.) But check in and see the choices. Or you can get them all on Amazon and Kindle. (All purchased book proceeds go to Love For His People, Inc., but you could get a free copy from me.)

It has been a joy in serving my Lord Jesus Christ while I have been with all of you, and at the same time being a blessing to the good people of Israel and the nations. Maybe on the way to the airport sometime I’ll stop back in and greet you.

Until then, you still have me here for another seven months.

Be blessed in your calling,

Steve

P.S. Chris will be looking for another office dad. Any candidates?

P.S.S. To those who have the privilege of racking up their credit card purchases each month, please get your reports back to me on time. I know who you are. All 14 of you! I still will be doing them each month, until Eleni hands that off to the next blessed person! J

My contact info:

Love For His People, Inc.   P.O. Box 414  Pineville, NC 28134

USA Non-profit 501(c)3   Fed. ID #27-1633858

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com and martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People       

Twitter: martinlighthous,  LovingHisPeople, LoveHisPeople  and ahavaloveletters

Blogger: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com        

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Website: www.loveforhispeople.org

Blog: Love For His People website

Love For His People PayPal Gifts (secure giving online): LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE PayPal account

Steve’s published books. Fourteen and counting!

My home bookcase

 My latest one, published May 22, 2017

Thank you Lord!

  

Steve Martin

Accountant

smartin@charlottecentercity.org

200 S. Tryon Street, Suite 1600  |  Charlotte, NC 28202

P: 704.268.3409  F: 704.342.1233

www.charlottecentercity.org  |  www.findyourcenter.com

If He Had Not… - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

If He Had Not…

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23, NASU)

One of my recent Now Think On This messages was entitled The What Ifs. It has been one of my most read and shared ones. It is because we often find ourselves thinking about the “what ifs” in life, don’t we? But then, on the other hand, how often do we consider the “if He had nots” that I believe are just as important, if not more so.

As you look back on the road you have taken in life thus far, where would you be if the Lord Himself had not intervened in your life? What would have happened if His Almighty hand had not guided you to take that one specific step, or prevent you from taking one that would have had serious consequences?

During my first and only year of college (no degree here), I had become engaged to a sophomore who wanted to be an English teacher in Iowa. I wanted to be a missionary in Africa. As you guessed, the engagement did not last long. She wasn’t going the way I felt led to go. But two years later, I met the one who would be my life mate, and take the road the Lord had planned for the two of us, and yes, the kids and grandkids that followed. If He had not intervened…

I think back on that decision He led us to make when I left a well-paying, next rung-on-the-ladder VP job in Michigan in 1987. Moving our family then to the southern end of Florida, accepting a financial position with an international Christian ministry, was not the typical way to go for a 33 year-old with wife and four kids. Following that path had me help lead three ministries over the next 24 years with the administration and financial skills He has gifted me with. If He had not directed…

Where would you be today if you had married that one whom you knew deep down was not His choice? What would have happened if He had not sent you the wisdom of another, to give you scriptural advice in your decision?

If He had not closed that door to the one job you thought you desperately needed, because He knew you were to be at another, to bring His light into a dark place? Where would you be now?

If the Lord had not enabled you to escape that addiction gripping your life, whether it be drugs, alcohol, pornography, anger? What sorry state would you still be in?

If Jesus had not saved you from hell, your eternal life would end up there.

There are many situations that the Lord has not only protected us from, but even more so are the several times He has led us down the path of the narrow one. Those paths we have taken, knowingly and unknowingly.

For all those times when He intervened, He is worthy of our thankfulness and eternal love.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily in Israel, Hungary, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People. If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople 

Blogs: Love For His People,   Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This - In the Year of our Lord 02.20.17 - #276 – “If He Had Not…” – Monday 9:30 am

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve