Family Time

Looking at this group of people, it’s easy to tell they are a close-knit family. Christen and Michael Martinez have attended the SoCal Harvest before, but never together. Tonight they are here for the first time as a family, with their children Jamie, 17, Brianna, 13, and Destiny, 11.

Michael is their stepdad, and he’s been a Christian for over 10 years. But he wasn’t always walking close with the Lord. He came from a home filled with abuse; his father was an alcoholic who nearly killed them both in a drunk-driving accident. While his father ended up in jail, Michael ended up in a hospital bed contemplating his mortality. It was then that he decided to recommit his life to God.

He met Christen through her children; he was their camp counselor. She too had come from an abusive background, at the hands of her ex-husband. For them, family is very important. But even more important is that they raise their family in the ways of the Lord. They spend quality time together playing games, hanging out, and going to church. “It’s important that we stay in the Word and put God first; we want to raise our kids knowing love and not abuse,” she says.

They’ve certainly come to the right place to spend quality family time together.