The Church
By Ruby Martin
My name is Ruby Martin, and I want to share how the church has been my strength through life’s darkest valleys.
I first started attending church as a child, though my memories are faint. Later, when I was married with five children, I took my little ones to church, even when my husband stayed home. For six years, that Baptist church in East Point, Georgia, supported us with prayers, encouragement, and even financial help when times were hard.
But life moved us away, and slowly, church slipped out of my routine. My husband drank and gambled more, and problems piled higher. By the time my oldest son was in serious trouble, I felt abandoned—even by God.
Rediscovering God’s Presence
After 27 years of marriage, my husband and I divorced. He died in an accident just seven months later. I remarried and went through seasons of attending church occasionally, but not faithfully.
Then one day, I was invited to a Christian retreat. And in that moment, I felt God’s love again. I realized it wasn’t God who had left me—I h
ad pulled away from Him. He had been with me all along.
Looking back, I could see every prayer He had answered: sparing my son’s life from the death penalty, carrying me through grief, and giving me strength when I thought I had none left.
The Church as Family
When tragedy struck again in 2009—the loss of my grandson and, just days later, the death of my sister—it was the church that surrounded me. My pastor called, friends prayed, and I felt the love of God through His people.
Even when I couldn’t attend in person, I carried sermons with me on CDs, listening as I traveled to care for family. The church was with me, even on the road.
A Living Body of Christ
Today, my husband and I are active in our small but mighty church. We support youth trips, community outreach, and programs that bring hope to those in need. Whether it’s handmade gifts for the sick, youth-led services, or ministries for the elderly, the church is alive with love.
I am grateful to be part of this body of Christ. The church is not just a building—it is people. People who love, serve, and remind each other that God has not forgotten us.
My Prayer
My son is still in prison. My prayer now is that he will be paroled and that I will have the blessing of time with him outside those walls. But no matter what, I know God is faithful, and He has given me a church family to walk beside me.