Tharptown man leaves HealthSouth to preach

On the surface, life was good. Chip Martin was married, had a beautiful family and was on the fast track to success in an administrative position with HealthSouth corporation.
   
In fact, he was soon to be offered a big promotion, manager of the entire north Alabama market, with all the extra money and responsibility that goes with it.
   
But in the winter of 2000, a still, small voice beckoned in Martin’s heart. “I didn’t feel a deep sense of satisfaction with what I was doing,” Martin said. “I didn’t want to stand before God one day and give an account of my life, knowing I didn’t do what He had called me to do. So deep down, I knew I was being called to the ministry, but I didn’t know what to do or where to do it.”
   
Martin, 37, and his wife, Melanie, lead Tharptown Baptist Church and live with their three children, Matthew, 16; Allison, 11; and Davis, 7, just outside Russellville. How they got there is the real story.
   
Martin, who grew up in the church at Tharptown, graduated from Russellville High School and went to the University of Alabama where he met Melanie and received his undergraduate degree. He later graduated from UT Knoxville with a degree in exercise physiology. He got his degree in physical therapy from UT Chattanooga in 1995 and later landed at HealthSouth.
   
“As far as secular jobs go, it was a great job,” Martin said. “They were taking good care of me and my family, and things were going well financially.”
   
Around the first of 2001, Martin said he realized the cause of his dissatisfaction and surrendered his will to the Lord.
   
“I told the Lord that I would go preach where he led me,” Martin said. “In my mind, I figured I would end up filling a pulpit somewhere and start going to seminary part-time, but I figured I would continue working while I was doing this. But when I surrendered, it was amazing how quickly doors started to open.”
   
Tharptown needed a pastor and approached Martin about being a supply preacher. He agreed, and later they asked him to be the interim pastor. He said yes again, and in the summer, the final decision came.
    
“They asked me to pray about becoming full time,” Martin said. “I did, and I told them yes.” he said.
   
Although Martin said he tries not to focus on numbers, the church has seen numerical growth, going from an average of 150–160 in Sunday School when Martin arrived to a current average of 225. The church baptized nine people in 2001, 18 in 2002 and 12 so far this year. Martin said while no one questioned his decision openly, some eyebrows were raised.
   
“Nobody visibly said I was making a big mistake, but I have a hunch there were a few folks that rolled their eyes or wondered what was going on,” he said. “I gave it over to the Lord. Tharptown Baptist Church wasn’t even on the radar screen then. I just walked through doors He opened.”