Member Spotlight: Colleen Martin

Member Spotlight is a new feature on the CCC Worship and Production Team blog. Didn't you always want to know more about those awesome people that you serve with every Sunday? YES! I knew it! Your wish is our command...


What's your full name? Colleen Alanna Martin

What ministry are you a part of at CCC? I am a part of the Production (boss everyone around under the guise of being helpful) Team

How long have you been coming to CCC and how did you originally hear about it? Since February of 2001. It had been a long time coming. Harrison Wilder had been trying to put me to work for months, and finally I went to church at “CCC” and never looked back.
As a first time guest at my parents home the fall of my Senior year of high school, Harrison literally sat me down at my dad’s computer and wouldn’t let me leave until I had written my college application essay to GWU. At orientation he found out where I was staying and made sure to cast my vision larger than campus, and about a year and 5 months of trying to coax me, I finally went.

What do you do on an average Sunday morning? (besides be AWESOME)
I do my best to help all of the other Sunday morning teams hammer out details, and coordinate all of the detail items that fall in the shady space between other team responsibilities. I also do miscellaneous things that Pastor wants done to create an atmosphere as free from distraction as possible, in hopes that nothing would hinder people from entering into His courts with thanksgiving and praise.

What's the most interesting trip you've ever taken and why? Israel, I found my home in Jerusalem. I would try to describe it, but I would butcher the experience with words. If you only ever have one chance to go abroad and travel internationally…choose Israel. Like I said, I found my home, and God’s heart.

What's your favorite sport? Team? Why? (no seriously why? sports? I just don't get it?) To Play – Volleyball. I played for 4 years in Middle school and High school, and it is difficult not to love a game you are pretty good at. I was a setter for our Championship team my freshman year of high school. I loved volleyball. Hannah – it can be a very similar experience for some as what you experience with the praise and worship team…camaraderie, shared goals and passion. Community built around a shared passion, where each member brings their individual role and talent to the court/stage/field to create a rhythmic/melodic sequence of events to create music or win a game. For most sports teams it is all of that, you just have the additional, incomparable privilege of having those things working toward giving an Awesome God glory.

Who's that hot guy we see you sitting with every Sunday? Pastor Dennis? HANNAH!!!!! *

Oh, you meant my husband Robert Martin. He is one of the most talented and deliberate people I have ever met. I cherish my life with him, and am a better me being his wife.

What was your childhood ambition? Be in charge…I know it is a sad story, and I could fight it and pretend that it wasn’t but that would make me a liar. I have 2 older siblings and was the youngest child in our neighborhood, but I could often be found organizing the games, and telling the other kids what role they were going to play. My freshman year of high school in a Spanish class exercise we were supposed to tell the teacher in Spanish what we wanted to be when we were older, and the only thing I could think of was to ask, “How do you say CEO in Spanish?” I used to get so mad when people would say I needed to be in charge…I have discovered that it is less a need, and more just a good fit. I am glad God has taught me and is still teaching me how to serve in my leadership roles.

What does worship mean to you? Finding out what part of Christ’s body I am, and being that with EVERYTHING I have. Celebrating the moments in life when I get to minister to God and can approach the throne simply to be in Him and meditate on the fact that He is in me. For me, Romans 12 sums up my idea of my spiritual act of worship.

What's your favorite thing about living in DC? This is going to sound so spiritual…it is and it isn’t though, so stick with me while I try to explain a little. My favorite thing about living in DC is being in the will of God. I have gotten in the habit of not getting too attached to anything. When I get attached to things I begin to build expectations around them. When I build expectations they are more often than not built around my human understanding and/or desires. When that happens, more often than not what God asks and requires of me butts heads with those expectations I have built and then I begin a not so holy tug of war with an Infinite God. BAD IDEA! Without argument I am bound to ALWAYS be the loser in that scenario.
Early in my college career I left DC for a summer and for a Christmas vacation, and both times found myself in precarious situations, some worse and more regrettable than others. That is when I realized by a gracious revelation from the Holy Spirit that stepping away from where God’s will would have you positioned will always bring trouble and heartache. I brought back a tattoo from one of the excursions…I don’t regret it, but I know it wouldn’t have happened at that time in my life if I had stayed in DC. ;) I love God’s will. No doubt about it.

* I would like to clarify... I was referring to Robert.