So what does the name “A Ministry of Restoration” really mean? The dictionary definition of the word “restoration” is a “a return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition”. It can refer to a person’s physical well-being, their emotional health, their financial condition, or most importantly, their spiritual condition. In 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, the Lord speaks concerning the “ministry of reconciliation” – which is another way of saying that the Lord desires to “restore” us to a relationship with Himself. And He will do this, as we surrender our lives to Him. In the book of Joel specifically Joel 2:25, we also find that the Lord desires to restore to us all that the enemy has taken from us – in every area of our lives.

So, why “restoration”? Several years ago, Rev. Martin gave a beautiful answer to that question. He said that in his years of ministry, he had seen or known many hurting people. Many of them were hurt by churches they were associated with one way or another. Some had just given up on the Lord entirely, or at least were no longer affiliated with a church. Or they were bouncing from place to place, from church to church, never really comfortable where they were, never really fitting in. Rev. Martin feels strongly that it is the primary purpose of churches in general and of this ministry in particular, to “restore: people back to wholeness and fullness in Christ. That is why the Lord has placed this ministry here. To see hurting people healed, to see relationships between people and their God restored to wholeness.