Bishop Kenny Martin Shares Reflections on Life and Ministry

By Jeff Finley

In a wide-ranging conversation on “The Light + Life Podcast” with Brett Heintzman, retiring Bishop Kenny Martin recently reflected on his ministry journey and his historic leadership as a general overseer of the Free Methodist Church USA.

“I’m honored and humbled that the church believed that God called me to serve as the first African American bishop in the Free Methodist Church USA,” Martin said. “I would say to the church at large, this was the heart of our founder, B.T. Roberts. I would hope that, no matter what your ethnicity is, your children’s children would know God can send them as leaders with the purpose, vision and mission ordained by God to reach every people group with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Martin said when he first entered the denomination, “I was simply answering the call. Simply answering the call for me was to serve in St. Louis and help reach the urban community in a racially divided city. That call began my journey of cross-cultural ministry in the Free Methodist Church, where I walked alongside Pastor Howard Olver, the lead pastor of Lighthouse Free Methodist Church. Pastor Howard guided me through the process of becoming a Free Methodist elder.”

Martin also expressed appreciation for “others who prepared me on this journey, specifically Dr. Gene Alston who schooled me and mentored me on how to sit at the table where major decisions are made.”

Martin recalled meeting with the interdenominational Berean Fellowship of Churches after his 2023 election as a bishop in the Free Methodist Church that was founded in 1860.

“I went there and I shared to them, ‘I’m the first African American bishop.’ I thought they would celebrate, and then I told them how long it took,” Martin recalled. “The Black church is saying, ‘You’re celebrating that? … What took so long?’”

Martin reflected that “we still have a lot more work to do. … When you talk in the Black context of ministers that we have, it’s very low. … Look at statistics, and I shouldn’t have to be at the table to point that out.”

Still, “there are people that are coming to the Free Methodist Church. They see something in us,” Martin said. “I go to annual conferences, and I’m seeing new people of diversity from all different Christian backgrounds are being drawn to the Free Methodist Church, and that’s exciting.”

Preparing the Next Gen

Some Free Methodist congregations are thriving and attracting diverse members, but Martin noted that “as a whole, we should have more diversity.” That diversity should include not only race and ethnicity but also people of different ages as we prepare the next generation of leaders.

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 “I go to annual conferences, and I’m seeing new people of diversity from all different Christian backgrounds are being drawn to the Free Methodist Church, and that’s exciting.”

“Next gen, that’s where my heart is,” said Martin, who explained we need to be “preparing that group so they can sit at the table. … That’s going to be very important on our church boards.”

This summer, the denomination invested in young leaders ages 18–25 through the Next Gen 10:2 Gatherings “to launch a movement among Free Methodist young people to reach their peers and the community with the message of Christ and His Kingdom.”

Martin encouraged Free Methodists at the “home church” level to be “developing these leaders of diversity” and ensure they are “sitting on boards … even at a young age. I’m mentoring a young guy — and he happens to be White — and I keep asking, ‘You’re 21? I can’t believe you’re 21. You have so much wisdom.’”

Encouraging and equipping young leaders will benefit all levels of the church with a diverse generation of new leaders joining church boards.

“They can grow with us, so they can be where we’re making major decisions for the denomination,” Martin said. “We have to be intentional to ensure everyone is at the table, and we’re preparing everyone to be at the table. That’s my passion. That’s my heart, and I can say it because the people know I love them.”

Martin has intentionally modeled cross-cultural mentoring, and he hopes to see other Free Methodists “pick up that mantle of preparing a next gen of diversity of leaders.” He explained this mentoring includes finding “somebody that’s really hungry to grow, and so you have to carve out that time to prepare that person who’s hungry.”

Global Impact

Along with serving the church in the United States, the three U.S. bishops also oversee areas of missions work under the oversight of the FMCUSA General Conference.

As a pastor, Martin visited Tanzania and served with missionaries James and Barbara Stillman.

“I believe this was God preparing me to serve the church in Africa,” Martin said. “Then, when I traveled with Bishop Matt Whitehead to Africa, God was preparing me to model healthy transition.”

Martin then returned to Africa to oversee annual conferences after becoming bishop.

“I will never forget their celebration when they realized their son, whose ancestors were taken in chains to America, … found Jesus Christ there and returned to Africa free, not in chains. It exploded,” Martin said.

Excitement about Martin’s selection extended beyond Africa.

“It was the global church that was also celebrating,” he said. “Even though we’re celebrating, we really just scratched the surface.”

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 “I will never forget their celebration when they realized their son, whose ancestors were taken in chains to America, … found Jesus Christ there and returned to Africa free, not in chains.”

The Church’s Future

Martin said he sees “men and women of color here in the USA who will go further than me. I’m a visionary, so I expect them to go further than me. God has deposited in them, even at an early age, and all of us have a different path.”

Because of Martin’s decision to retire, General Conference 2023 delegates reconvened in March of this year and voted to elect Fraser Venter as a bishop of the FMCUSA. Venter was consecrated as a bishop in April, and he and Martin have been working together for several months.

“I’m so excited. The door is wide open, and for me to see my brother, Bishop Fraser, pick up this mantle, I just know he will help prepare alongside Bishop Keith [Cowart] and Kaye [Kolde],” Martin said. “I know this is their heart for the next generation — I call it the now generation — to lead God’s church of diversity.”

He acknowledged, “The Free Methodist Church still has some work to do in living out what we write on paper,” and clarified, “This is not putting the church down. I’m trying to say God wants to lift us up to who we print and who we say we are as Free Methodists.”

Faith Amid Loss

After a discussion of humorous moments during Martin’s time as bishop, the conversation shifted to times of loss during the last three years — including the death of daughter Chalana Haney on Feb. 12 of this year.

“I was able to speak into her spirit and release her to the Lord, and that’s when she took her last breath,” Martin said. “God’s hand was on her.”

Personal tragedy hasn’t diminished Martin’s faith.

In fact, “prayer has sustained me through all we’ve been through, especially when we look at our journey and becoming bishop, especially when things happen back to back,” he said. “You go through this discernment: What is spiritual warfare?”

In 2024, a two-day period included a house fire followed by a car being totaled.

“When the house caught on fire, I wasn’t even home. I was with the bishops, and I think I was speaking with the presidents of [Free Methodist] universities,” said Martin who added that his wife, Pastor Estelle Martin, called a colleague and said, “Don’t tell Kenny till he finishes his devotional that our house caught on fire.”

Plans and Prayers

Martin said that with a bishop’s busy schedule, he learned that he must set aside time with God by reading God’s Word. He also noted the importance of praying and sharing with other believers.

“That’s why it’s so important to have, I believe, a Board of Bishops and to pray together, give advice to help each other during challenging times,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine just having one bishop. … This is a safe place where we can pray for one another.”

As he retires, Martin said he believes he has “finished my assignment as bishop in the Free Methodist Church, and I’m also confident that my successor, Bishop Fraser Venter, will go further in the vision and mission of the new network of conferences that will bring a harvest of souls into the kingdom of God.”

Martin said his priorities in retirement include health and family. A bishop’s schedule often means missing wedding anniversaries and family birthdays.

Retirement, however, doesn’t mean an end to ministry. He said his “heart of bringing the body of Christ together” is already leading to new connections in his community of San Bernardino, California, “but the key is going to be a much different pace.”

“God wants me to enjoy life, be a grandpa,” he said. “Whatever God wants me to do, I want to do it, and that’s what’s important.”

Heintzman asked Martin about his prayers and dreams for the church.

“I believe God called the Free Methodist Church to go into every community where there are lost souls, people who have experienced church hurt, and those who have lost hope in this sinful world and need guidance from our risen Savior Jesus Christ,” Martin said. “I pray more churches will be planted in disinvested communities with the resources needed to not just be a church on Sunday and Wednesday” but to “impact communities” throughout the week.

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 “I believe God called the Free Methodist Church to go into every community where there are lost souls, people who have experienced church hurt, and those who have lost hope in this sinful world and need guidance from our risen Savior Jesus Christ.”

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