Visionary Couple
John and Jane Martin came to India in 1961 to serve as vocational missionary and all their three sons – Paul, Sam and Allen were born in India. John Martin started as a teacher in Clarence school Bangalore and went on to become the principal and served till 1968. He involved with the Union of Evangelical Students of India (UESI) as Associate Staff in 1963-64. The burning desire in his heart and passion for souls made him become a full-time Bible teacher in 1968. In his words “God has brought us to India, just to learn what a Christian home is. God has used our family relationship to draw people to Himself more than he has used my preaching and teaching.” He strongly believed that, families should have a distinct ministry in reaching others for Christ and building His church in India. And God used Martin’s own family to touch the lives of many families in meaning ways. It was his conviction that Christ-centred family is the greatest force for God on earth. It is the learning ground for Christian virtues and the training ground for future leaders for the church, society and the nation. This influence is perpetuated by ‘family reaching family’. This was his secret! Martins fulfilled this even as their family grew over the 17.5 years that they spent in India. As they left India in 1978, they desired that other godly families take on the mantle and continue the work to nurture Christian families.
God has brought us to India, just to learn what a Christian home is. God has used our family relationship to draw people to Himself more than he has used my preaching and teaching.
Founding Couple
It was in May 1978 in the UESI National Family Conference at Highfields, Kotagiri that VDS Chandrasekar & Beulah met John and Jane Martin for the first time. Married for just over 8 months, it was the time that God spoke to them both about His heart for Christ-centered homes. Hinged on a three prong purposes they ventured out. The first purpose was ‘to develop fellowship with one another’; the second was ‘to build-up our own Christian homes’ and the third purpose of ‘to know our responsibility in extending our help to others to establish similar Christian homes in our land’. Since then, both have continued ministering faithfully through the bi-monthly magazine, books on Christian marriage, equipping families through conferences and training mission leaders to mentor families. More than this, their home has been an open home where countless have sought rest, respite, counsel, and a place to grow. They have provided a home away from home for many, shared their life stories around their table and have been a channel of blessing in myriads of ways. Their lives have been a reflection of God’s absolute faithfulness.
More than this, their home has been an open home where countless have sought rest, respite, counsel, and a place to grow.
Pioneering Families
There are some very dear couple who have anchored this ministry alongside VDS & Beulah and have given their significant inputs since the formative years. We recall the contributions of VCA & Adeline Isaac, Peter and Shantha Pothan and JSA & Renuka Julius. All of them were busy professionals who alongside this were very intentional about reflecting the Christian marriage and Christian home principles in their lives and also took time to actively contribute to the ministry of Family Foundation by writing and providing godly counsel to the steer the magazine in the initial years.