LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Dr. Allen C. Martin upon the occasion
of his appointment as Pastor of Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life in
this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the faithful
concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their energies
and purpose to the ministry of others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to bring full recog-
nition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish themselves
and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and preeminence of
service; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Dr. Allen C.
Martin upon the occasion of his appointment as Pastor of Bethel Seventh
Day Adventist Church; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Allen C. Martin was born in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands,
USA; he was raised in New York City and accepted the Advent message as a
teenager; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Allen C. Martin attended Oakwood University in Hunts-
ville, Alabama, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology and
Biblical Languages; his graduate work started at Andrews University in
Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he received a Master of Divinity
degree; he has completed postgraduate studies at the renowned Post-Grad-
uate Center of Mental Health in psychology and counseling in New York
City; he is a graduate of the distinguished Hebrew Union College Insti-
tute of Jewish Religion with a doctorate in Pastoral Counseling; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Allen C. Martin has done further studies at
Rutgers University, in New Jersey, in the field of substance abuse coun-
seling; he is also the first Seventh Day Adventist clergy person to be
certified by the New York State Council of Churches as a Prison Chaplain
and is presently in the process of receiving certification as a mental
health facilities chaplain; he has also completed the required hours for
certification to be a substance abuse counselor for the State of New
York; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Martin has pastored 14 churches in the Northeastern
Conference and served as the Assistant to the President of Northeastern
Conference in Western New York; he has conducted several successful
evangelistic crusades, Revelation Seminars and Youth Counseling Forums;
he has conducted seminars on Rite of Passage Programs and Ministering to
At-Risk Youth for the Youth Department of the General Conference; he
plans to complete another graduate academic program in the fields of
mental health counseling and marriage and family therapy; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Allen C. Martin has been actively engaged in community
work throughout the course of his ministry; he served as a counselor and
Red Cross chaplain at Ground Zero after the World Trade Center tragedy;
he was instrumental in bringing therapeutic relief to grieving and
suffering families due to this historic unfortunate occurrence; in addi-
tion to his pastoral duties, he served as an intervention specialist for
the New York public school system; for three years he also counseled
at-risk youth including gang members and dysfunctional teenagers; as a
result of his work, a number of these troubled youth are now productive
and successful adults; and
WHEREAS, An exemplary leader, Dr. Allen C. Martin operated the first
city-funded senior citizen program among Seventh Day Adventists at the
Flatbush Seventh Day Adventist Church while serving as pastor; he
actively supports the elected officials in his district and has plans to
further his community involvement; he is particularly concerned about
the high incarceration and unemployment rate among African-American

young men in New York City; he is also concerned about economic empower-
ment for the people in the Brooklyn community; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his efforts of in-depth magnitude, Dr.
Allen C. Martin received the Good News Maker Award and was distinguished
as a 21st Century Trailblazing Religious Leader by the CHRISTIAN TIMES
newspaper; furthermore, he is a member of the advisory United Community
Development Committee and is currently serving as the President of the
Ministerial Association of the Northeastern Conference of Seventh Day
Adventists; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his wife, Dana, who feels privi-
leged to be a part of his life and rejoices in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Allen C. Martin has brought to his ministry an overwhelm-
ing spirit of charity and compassion, acting from vision and enlight-
enment in conducting his administrative and spiritual duties, while
always displaying the highest standards of personal and professional
integrity and dedication; and
WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God has always given enlightenment,
guidance and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and has adminis-
tered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of
all; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that indi-
vidual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Dr. Allen C. Martin upon the occasion of his appointment as
Pastor of Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church, noting his unremitting
and compassionate faith and his exemplary service to God, man and his
community, and extending to him the heartfelt best wishes of this Legis-
lative Body for a future of purposeful success and well-being; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Allen C. Martin.