Episode 17: Thriving In Seasons Of Change with Jeff Martin

Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today we're talking to Jeff Martin, Lead Pastor of Rock Creek Church, about the difference between relational and organizational problems, making big changes the simple way, ministering in a transient community, being a flexible leader, what the world needs in a hyper partisan environment, how to combat the one-way sermon, attracting the younger generation, being a majority leader in a diverse community, developing a replace yourself mentality and more!

Jeff Martin grew up in northern New Jersey and attended Miami University (OH) where God changed his life’s ambitions through the ministry of Cru. He joined Cru staff where he met Mary, and they served for 23 years together. Seven of those years were spent in Bulgaria helping to launch collegiate ministries. Back in the States, Jeff served as the Regional Director for Cru in the Mid-Atlantic. In addition to his RD role, Jeff had the privilege of training hundreds of Cru staff members in Christ-centered preaching, through the Institute for Biblical Studies. Jeff has an MDIV from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Since 2013, Jeff has served as the Lead Pastor of Rock Creek Church in Rockville, Maryland. His love for ministry leaders has recently led him to pursue certification with the Society of Church Consultants. In July of 2024, he launched JTM Ministry Coaching with the vision of helping leaders build healthy, gospel-centered ministries.

Jeff loves sports, intense conversations, making people laugh, and creating boating videos on his YouTube channel. He and Mary have been married for 33 years and have two daughters, two sons-in-law, one son, and one grandson. They currently reside in Olney, Maryland.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE