Longtime ministry leader Charlie Martin was initially invested into by two people. One was a summer youth pastor who found out Martin was musical and convinced him to join the youth choir. Another was his uncle, who was the minister of music at his church around that time. He gave Martin the opportunity to lead a few hymns on Sunday nights.
Martin recently retired as associate pastor of worship for NorthPark Baptist Church in Trussville and is the founder of Worship Practice. He wants to use his talents, gifts and extensive training to continue what was done for him by investing in and helping others.
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“Those [mentors] helped develop my calling and also the desire to continue and develop my talents by going to college and seminary,” Martin noted. “I’ve been in ministry for 45 years.
“I’m very, very thankful. It’s been a great ride now, and I want to have the opportunity to give back a little bit to churches in the area by filling in for worship pastors and doing short-term interims to choir retreats to also investing in mentoring worship leaders, which I absolutely love doing,” he said.
Changed lives
When a high school student showed up at his church and asked to be mentored in this field and discipled, Martin decided to work with him. Martin challenged him to lead student worship and encouraged him to help during the service on Sunday mornings.
Although this student was initially very uncertain, he and Martin gradually worked through issues — everything from how to hold the microphone to living life as a worshipper. For about four years, he gradually took on more responsibilities until he became a primary worship leader with a large organization.
After he left, Martin mentored two others in a similar fashion. One young college student remained under Martin’s tutelage for a couple of years before marrying a worship pastor. She now serves with her husband in a small church in Alabama.
A third was just out of college when he began learning from Martin. This young man worked in an interim-type position until he moved on to another congregation. Even though his new responsibilities aren’t in the field of musical worship, Martin knows that he had an impact on the man’s life.
“I can go back to when I started ministry where I was meeting kids in my home before school, where we read the Bible together,” Martin said. “To see that they’re missionaries now or they married pastors or are pastors or worship pastors — that is discipling and mentoring that goes back to my early 20s. It’s been something I highly valued throughout my ministry because I was mentored and discipled.”
He is so proud of who they’ve become and the ministries they are now part of. Those he worked with are very grateful — and many are following in his footsteps.
Marshall Thrasher, a worship pastor, said he “moved more choir chairs than I can count” with Martin. Martin also gave him opportunities to serve, noticed his potential and calling and encouraged him to grow in his faith and his gifts. Plus, Martin was there for him.
“I’m not sure if he ever planned out the process, but I did the same and as a result, in churches across the world there are men and women — as well as my own son serving in ministry — because Charlie took time out of his busy life to mentor me,” Thrasher said.
Martin’s effectiveness stems from his extensive education and his varied experiences in leading music. He has led with only a piano and organ and also with full orchestras, fully-robed traditional choirs and praise teams. He has led services with only hymns and in dark rooms with full bands.
Serve, equip and mentor
His passion and experience led to founding Worship Practice.
These three avenues accomplish his goal, which is to “serve, equip and mentor leaders and teams”:
— Filling in as worship leader for churches in need
— Leading retreats about aspects of worship — from its biblical foundations to practical aspects of being part of a worship team to finding individual purpose
— Mentoring by spending four to six weeks meeting with a worship pastor face-to-face or on visual calls
Heart of a worship leader
Though the practical side is important, Martin is more concerned with a worship leader’s heart. Pride, arrogance, not being teachable and not valuing authority aren’t conducive to being an effective leader.
“How do you receive counsel, advice and direction? You need to learn how to be submissive and how to be humble, and that comes through a daily walk with Christ.
“It’s just practicing those disciplines of worship every day and making worship a lifestyle and implementing and putting into practice Romans 12:1: ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.’
“The word from the Greek means ‘worship.’ It’s to be what we do throughout the day. It’s so much more than a corporate event that we do on Sunday mornings; it’s something we do every day. It’s a lifestyle.”
To learn more about and to get in touch with Martin, go to www.TheWorshipPractice.org.
Testimonials
“Charlie Martin has had a profound and lasting impact on my life. He was a mentor to me when I was first out of college and early in my ministry as a worship leader and church staff member. He discipled me in spiritual disciplines—a gift for which I am forever grateful. He is authentic both on and off the platform. I’ve known Charlie as a worship pastor, a caring boss, and a mentor even after God called me into another ministry journey. I’ve also known him across a lunch table and in his home with him and his wife, Lisa. He is always the same. His authenticity and consistency have inspired me and held me to a higher standard in my own life and leadership. I am truly grateful for Charlie’s guidance, friendship, and spiritual example.”
— Brooke Dodd
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To say that Mr. Charlie Martin helped change my life would be an understatement. I had never seen someone with such a passion for worship until I started attending North Park Baptist Church. One of the first moments I truly felt the power of worship was when I saw the authenticity of Mr. Charlie Martin’s praise. The words he was singing were not just words on a screen but a testament to God’s faithfulness. His willingness to lead every Sunday inspired me to worship with that same passion — a passion to praise the One who gave His life for my sins to give me hope and a future. I will forever be grateful for the way Mr. Charlie took me under his wing. He was willing to pour into anyone who was seeking guidance — whether it be vocal lessons or biblical questions—he was there to help. “Others over self” is how Mr. Charlie lives his life. His passion is to grow the Kingdom of Christ, and he does so by showing others how to use their own spiritual gifts. Throughout my time at North Park, Mr. Charlie gave me opportunities to grow my spiritual gift of worship. He challenged me both vocally and spiritually, helping me fully understand what it means to be a daughter of Christ. Without Mr. Charlie’s willingness to pour into me, I do not think I would be where I am spiritually now that I am in college. I am now able to use what he taught me to continue growing in my abilities and to encourage others to grow in their own faith. The lessons I have learned will always be imprinted on my heart, and I am forever grateful to have Mr. Charlie Martin in my life.
— Meah Goodell
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“My grandfather to most was a simple Mississippi farmer. His education consisted of a few weeks of first grade, he couldn’t read a simple sentence and he signed his name with an X.
His idea of getting dressed up was an ironed pair for overalls with a white dress shirt. In one pocket he always had roasted peanuts and in the other he often had some seed. He understood one of the most amazing processes in all of creation. One small seed when placed in nutrient rich soil, watered, and protected from impending weeds would not only grow into an individual plant but produce countless seeds. Those seeds not only provide food but can also produce many plants that continue the cycle over and over again.”
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“Looking back over almost 30 years of being a worship pastor, I have seen that process unfold in my own life. Charlie Martin, didn’t have seeds in his pocket but he did take time to teach me the simple art of duplication through mentoring. Charlie mentored me in many ways.
- He offered me opportunities to serve. The first day I met him he asked if I could help him. He handed me a 3×5 card, a toilet paper tube and an old slide projector. These tools not only made me a spotlight engineer but opened my mind to how God could use me.
- He noticed my potential and calling. I moved more choir chairs than I can count with him. During these tasks our conversations gravitated to prayer and the realization that God had called me to serve Him through music.
- He helped me grow in my faith through discipleship, prayer and bible study.
- He gave and encouraged development of my gifts through experience and education.
- Through the years and places of ministry he was still there. Big decisions, conflict, crazy ideas, questions, victories, birth of my children, and even death of my spouse he was a call, email or text away.
I’m not sure if he ever planned out the process but I did the same and as a result in churches across the world there are men and women, as well as my own son serving in ministry because Charlie took time out of his busy life to mentor me.”
— Marshall Thrasher
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“I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am in ministry if it wasn’t for my dad. Outside of being my father, he has been the most steady example of faithful ministry I’ve ever seen. He cares for people and models what it means to be a pastor. His expertise in connecting with the congregation stems from his passion for the Church itself; loving and protecting the bride of Christ.
He is a well of knowledge and experience in all things worship; having worked with countless churches, pastors, students, and leaders across all ages and backgrounds. He understands the grind of ministry and its relationship to his role as a husband, father, and leader of the family. He loves the Lord and truly allows the Spirit to guide his decision making in all aspects of life.
His leadership is backed by decades of successful worship ministry in several churches and his impact of Christ-first discipleship will last for years to come.”
— Matt Martin
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