A Personal Message from Darlene Martin
On the morning of June 26, 1989, Dr. Walter R. Martin -- founder and president of the Christian Research Institute -- died peacefully at his home in San Juan Capistrano, California.
A memorial service was held for Dr. Martin at Capistrano Valley Church on Thursday evening, June 29. The service featured tributary comments from family, friends, and CRI personnel. It was a service that honored Walter, yet also brought great glory to his beloved Savior.
A highlight of the service was when Darlene Martin, Walter's wife, shared her thoughts with the congregation. Her comforting words are recorded below.
On behalf of my family and myself, I want to thank you all so much for being here at the home going celebration of Walter Martin. I awakened early Monday morning to find he was not in bed. I went to the next room to see if all was okay, and found Walt on his knees there. My first thoughts were, "Can you say 'Amen' now and come back to bed?" But after gently touching him on his shoulder and calling his name, I realized he was no longer here, but in the presence of the Lord.
Walt was often up in the middle of the night. And I was many times awakened to the sounds of his praying quietly or reading the scriptures in the next room, or jotting down notes for a sermon or a new book he would like to write. His love of the Lord was everything to him. It was his life. There were no gray areas when it came to the truths of the gospel, a stance which cost him much by earthly standards. But he did not live by earthly standards. His role model was Jesus Christ, and his constant desire was to be more like Him and to do his Father's will.
God put him where He wanted him to be, and took him home in His time. Walt had been in the battle for almost 40 years. He had fought the good fight. He had run the course. And now is laid up for him the crown of glory.
We shall all miss him greatly. But his rest is well earned. He is praising the Lord now in His presence, and I am sure the Lord has taken him by the hand and said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
We who are left will continue to struggle, to win the fight, to run the course. God has set before us to endure until He comes again, or calls us home. We must continue to build on the foundation Walt has laid, never wavering from the truth of the gospel, and never compromising for the sake of popularity or position.
Walt was constantly aware and grateful for what the Lord had done for him and the avenues of service the Lord had made available to him. My prayer is that we would all be inspired by this man's life and ministry, to earnestly contend for the faith as he had so vigorously done all the years the Lord had given to him.
God's richest blessings on each of you! May He give us strength to fight the good fight. And -- as Walt had said so often -- "I've got good news for you. I've read the end of the book, and we win."
Thank you again for all your love and prayers that have made it physically possible for me to endure. Thanks also to the many people who have prepared food and sent cards and flowers. I deeply appreciate it all.