For more information visit: 

https://mtw.org/missionaries/details/david-and-jill-martin

July 2025: To see pictures, click here to view pdf.

VBS planned for Brasov Romania
Our Ukrainian church families are taking the lead to plan for a VBS or day camp from August 6-9. The Romanian church where our Ukrainian church meets for Sunday worship has agreed to let us use their building. Thirty-five children, most of whom are unchurched, have already signed up. On the Sunday after camp, in a program at church, parents will have the opportunity to see what their children learned. A picnic is also scheduled the next week to meet and greet the parents. Day camps like this are very popular and typical in Ukraine. Please pray that God would use this outreach to help our Ukrainian church in Romania to grow in depth and in numbers.

We are now living in Montgomery, AL, with a home and car provided by our friends at Eastwood Presbyterian Church.

Home Ministry Assignment (HMA)
We will not be able to help with VBS because we are now in the USA for our HMA. We returned in early June and just finished a road trip of more than 5000 miles. We had the joy of seeing
many of our family, friends and partner churches along the way. Friends from Eastwood Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, AL, have helped us. One family let us borrow their Toyota Camry. The missions committee and a rental homeowner from the church prepared a house for us to use. We are very grateful for these amazing provisions! A major highlight of our time so far was seeing Jill’s mother in Michigan. She is doing well and had strength enough to attend a family wedding. Jill’s dad is still able to care for her in their apartment. Theycelebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary while we were there. Another highlight was the wedding of our former Anchor School student, Emily Burnham in Rock Hill, SC. We were not looking forward to the many miles of travel, but it turned out to be a really encouraging trip. We are now situated in Montgomery, AL and will continue our HMA from here.

Maurice and Jo Ann Sikes
Pastor Maurice Sikes
In 2022 we came to Romania to get away from Russia’s invasion, not to plant a church. The creation of the church was providential. God has also provided a pastor for this body. Maurice Sikes and his wife, Jo Ann, are missionaries with Reformed Evangelistic Fellowship. After a long career as a PCA pastor in the USA, he and Jo Ann came to Romania as missionaries. Even though he was already working with a Romanian church plant when we came to Brasov, Maurice gladly took our body under his wing. He and Jo Ann have also adopted four Romanian orphans, all sisters, into their home. One of these, Andreea, needs an expensive operation in the USA in October. Please thank the Lord with us for an experienced, caring pastor and pastor’s wife for our body of displaced Ukrainians in Brasov, Romania!

Giving Opportunities
Occasionally we are asked what ways people can give to help our work and the churches in Ukraine. Here are some ideas:
1) Humanitarian Aid in Odesa: Our church there needs ongoing financial support to continue ministering to the needs of internally displaced people. Please contact us by email if you would like to give for this.
2) Pastor Maurice Sikes’ daughter Andreea: Andreea needs a surgery that will cost around $77,000. This operation must be conducted in the USA, but she only has Romanian health insurance. You can give to this need by sending a check made out to Reformed Evangelistic Fellowship with “Sikes’ hospital expense” in the memo line to REF, P.O. Box 847, Bristol, TN. 37621.
3) The Martin’s Support: Our HMA is a time to invite new churches and individuals to partner with us financially. If you would be interested in giving, please use the giving link or mailing address at the bottom of this letter. If your church might be interested in supporting our work, please send us an email. Thank you!
4) Crates for Ukraine: The MTW team in L’viv brings humanitarian aid to locations all across Ukraine. If you would like to partner with them, go to https://www.cratesforukraine.com
5) Ukraine Church Crisis Fund: This special project with MTW provides for the general needs of our Presbyterian Churches in Ukraine. See https://mtw.org/ukraine-crisis

Prayer Requests – Please . . .
1. Pray for the preparation and success of the VBS day camp for Ukrainian children in Brasov from August 6-9.
2. Thank God with us for His provision of a vehicle, a house, and safe travels so far during this HMA
3. Pray for Pastor Maurice as he leads our Ukrainian congregation in Romania and as he and his wife Jo Ann parent four adopted Romanian daughters.
4. Pray for God’s provision for the needs listed under “Giving Opportunities.”
5. Pray for lasting peace in Ukraine.
6. Pray for our churches in Ukraine as they preach the truth and minister to many needs.
7. Pray for Jill’s mother’s health.

Thank you for your prayers and support!