Martha Hepker Stufflebeam

I was born and raised in a farm community in the southern part of Iowa. My parents were pastors of a small community church. At 11, we moved to Ottumwa. My father pioneered a new church, which he pastored for 50 years. I began preaching “youth revivals” at 16; at 18, I was married. We began traveling with my husband’s parents’ music ministry in a Greyhound bus. Five months after we were married, we started a tour to the West Coast. I discovered not long before leaving that I was expecting our first child, and while in California, I steadily grew more ill.

Through many, many miracles, God saved me and my precious little girl. Six years later we received another sweet little girl. I now have four grandchildren, two girls and two boys. Family is extremely important to me.

Later, my husband and I started traveling as evangelists. I believe this was the happiest time of his life; he was truly at home in this field of labor. The same week the Twin Towers were attacked, we accepted the pastorate of a church. A year later he nearly died of a mysterious illness and never fully recovered. He had struggled emotionally for years, and that coupled with the illness was more than he could handle. He was at his best--where he truly belonged--in the evangelistic ministry. It is extremely important that we stay where the Holy Spirit has designed us to be. On the rainy morning of October 11, 2006, I watched my husband of 40 years have his second complete nervous breakdown. I lost him to a tragic death.

I must tell you that I have walked through many dark valleys, and I know that MY GOD has never failed me. People will fail; they will forget, they will judge, they will say hurtful things, and they will turn their backs when you need them most, BUT JESUS HAS WALKED THERE BEFORE YOU AND HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU!

Remember, He feels your pain; He is there when everything else fails. I pray you will know today that I truly care about you and your pain. Let the Holy Spirit heal you and bring you forth in victory.

In His Care,
Martha