Martin Moves to Heaven

Martin and me in 2014

It’s sad when friends of ours die but it’s also a time of rejoicing if they knew the Lord. We will see them again in heaven.

Martin Wishnatsky was born on July 13, 1944 and raised in a conservative Jewish family. Originally from New Jersey, Martin graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and then earned a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University. During that time, his professors taught him to believe that God wasn’t real. A turning point happened in 1977 while in Hawaii. A gypsy woman ministered the gospel to Martin. He soon bought a Bible and became a completed Jew.

After a few years working as a stockbroker and computer programmer on Wall Street, Martin moved to my birthplace of Fargo, North Dakota in 1991. He joined the Lambs of Christ, a pro-life group that peacefully protested in front of the state’s only abortion mill and saved the lives of many unborn children. (Ironically, I gave my life to the Lord in 1991 at my sister’s house located just three blocks from that abortion mill.)

Martin and I didn’t meet until 2006. During a temporary return to Fargo, I attended a church where Martin occasionally played his saxophone during worship services. Both of us started Christian radio stations that year (his terrestrial - mine over the Internet). We exchanged CDs to help expand the playlists of our respective stations. Martin hired me a couple of times to do voiceover work for his station.

The following year while back in Fargo for another season, I recorded an interview with Martin. He had just initiated legal action to prevent the removal of a Ten Commandments monument near Fargo City Hall. Perhaps that inspired Martin to attend law school. In 2009, he moved to Lynchburg, Virginia to enroll at Liberty University. While traveling up and down the east coast the following year, I made stopovers in Lynchburg to see Martin. One time he invited me to sit in a Constitutional Law class with him.

After completing his studies, Martin plus two of his Liberty classmates landed jobs with the Alabama Supreme Court in Montgomery. In 2014, I stayed with Martin for a couple of weeks. During which, I taught an evangelism seminar for his church group and also got to meet his employer. Chief Justice Roy Moore had previously lost his job for taking a stand for the Ten Commandments. That later happened again after refusing to acknowledge same-sex marriages in Alabama. Martin then worked for the Foundation for Moral Law founded by Roy and his wife.

Over a year ago, I stopped to see Martin three more times while traveling in between Florida and Texas. He informed me of having health issues but appeared to be doing better after receiving prayer. Then this past Wednesday, one of Martin’s co-workers posted funeral information on Facebook. That’s when I found out Martin passed away the day before. He was 75 years old.

Martin never married nor had any children. However, I’m sure there are young people in heaven thanking him for trying to save their lives on earth. I’m thankful for Martin standing up for righteousness and supporting my ministry. Rewards are waiting for him at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” - Matthew 25:21