Birth: 15.01.1929
Death: 04.04.1968
City: Atlanta, Georgia
Country: America
Place of Vision : America
Martin was born into Godly Christian family and his father served as a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. At the age of five he heard his Sunday school teacher talking about salvation and gave his heart to Lord. However, during his college, he went through a period of skepticism and doubted Christianity as a myth. On the persuasion of his friends, he took up a course in Bible and that’s when he discovered profound truths of Bible which settled his cynical mind. After graduating from Morehouse College, Martin joined Crozer Theological Seminary in 1948. Thereafter, he got his Doctorate in Theology from Boston University.
Martin started ministering since his college days. In 1954, Martin became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery. He was a rational and devoted pastor, who with his spiritual wisdom changed the lives of many. He taught the church to keep God in the forefront and lead a practical Christian life. He was tough a preacher and never backed out to correct fellow believers and authorities when necessary. Hence, he had to face opposition and financial insecurities. Such challenging times didn’t affect him, but strengthened his faith more. He also shared the pulpit ministry with Dr. Billy Graham in his gospel crusades.
Martin staunchly believed Christianity should ultimately bring a change in the society. Saddened by the rising racial discrimination in America, he actively led the civil rights movement in 1950s. In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His protests were peaceful and his speeches were often the essence of Jesus teachings. At the age of thirty-five, Martin was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts for advancing the civil rights. On March 29, 1968 Martin was assassinated by one his opposers when he came to Memphis to stand in solidarity with the oppressed sanitary workers.
