"One of God's Generals Goes Home"

In Loving Memory of Elder/Pastor David Martinez

Born and raised in Pacoima, California, David Martinez was a long time resident of the San Fernando Valley. At the young age of 13, he found himself involved in gangs, which eventually led to drugs and crime, keeping him bound to a life of drug addiction for the next ten years.

Then in 1965, something miraculous took place, while sitting in the old county jail in Los Angeles, someone shared the Gospel with him and David gave his life to Christ. He immediately entered the Teen Challenge Center in Los Angeles and began his new life in Christ. It was there he met Faith Kemp, who was a staff worker in The Center at the time.

Shortly thereafter, he enrolled in the Latin American Bible Institute (Bible College) in La Puente, California. Then in 1967, he and Faith were married. They both felt the call of God and the Lord sent them to begin a work in Pennsylvania. They also performed short term missionary work in Durango, Mexico.

In 1973, Pastor David felt the stirring of God to return to California to reach out to those he knew best, the gang members and drug addicts of the San Fernando Valley.

He began a rehabilitation home, then seeing the need to reach the family members of those being set free by the power of God; he began the church of Victory Outreach San Fernando Valley in 1975.

As a faithful soldier in the Army of the Lord, Pastor David was raised up to be the Regional Pastor of the Los Angeles County North Region, where he faithfully served for over twenty-five years, assisting in the development of churches, pastors, ministers and leaders within the region.

In 1997 he was ordained as an Elder in Victory Outreach International. As an Elder, Pastor David Martinez was passionate for World Evangelism; his desire was to see drug addicts all over the world set free by the power of the Gospel. He took to heart the words of his Savior Jesus Christ, "Freely you have received, freely give."

With a burden to reach the lost at any cost, Pastor David blazed the way for Victory Outreach on the foreign field. He was instrumental in helping to expand the ministry of Victory Outreach International into the South Pacific; assisting with the planting of churches in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, Australia, as well as, South Auckland, New Zealand and numerous churches throughout California and the United States.

Just as passionate for souls, was his love for God’s majestic nature. He loved camping and the outdoors. One of his most favorite places in the world was Yosemite National Forrest in California. He once said, "If I can choose anywhere in the world to go home to be with the Lord, I would want to be in Yosemite." The Lord answered him, and on Sunday, June 13, 2010, while camping in Yosemite, this mighty General in the Army of Victory Outreach went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He was a faithful soldier, loving husband, adoring father and compassionate pastor. He is survived by his wife Faith, children Davina, Jonathan and Miguel and grandchildren Nicholas, Jacqueline, Ethan and Aiven, River and Eila; as well as many family members, life-long friends and church members. Elder/Pastor David Martinez will be greatly missed.

Memorial Services for Elder/Pastor David Martinez will take place on Saturday, June 19, 2010:

Viewing from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Graduation Celebration from 10:30a.m. - 12:30p.m.

at SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS
19700 Rinaldi Street
Porter Ranch, CA 91326

Internment will take place at 2:00 p.m.

at PIERCE BROTHERS VALHALLA MEMORIAL PARK
10621 Victory Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91606

In Lieu of Flowers - Sister Faith Martinez has asked that any Victory Outreach Church and/or individual(s) who are planning on sending flowers, would rather the finances be given to United We Can - In Memory of Pastor David Martinez. "He would have wanted it that way."

Click here to make your donation.

Click here to Sign Pastor David Martinez’s Memorial Book