Who is Walter Martin?

[Jill]

Biography

The Reverend Walter Martin held four earned degrees and received his education at Stony Brook School and Shelton College. He completed his Master's degree at New York University, and his Ph.D. at California Western University. He has authored 12 books, six booklets, and scores of articles. His tracts have been translated into a number of languages and circulated in the millions of copies around the world. He is a recognized authority on religions having their origins in the United States. The late Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, named by Billy Graham as one of the foremost Bible Teachers of the 20th Century, once wrote of Dr. Martin, "I know of no one who equals him in this field." He is widely accepted as the "father" of the Counter-Cult Movement.

The Kingdom of the Cults, Professor Martin's largest and most comprehensive text, was selected by both Christianity Today and Eternity magazines as "one of the best" of the year in 1965, and has since been revised and expanded. The July, 1985 edition of Newsweek Magazine listed the book as "one of the 10 best selling spiritual books in America." It has now sold more than 750,000 copies.

Professor Martin served for six years as an Associate of Biblical Studies at the King's College in Briarcliff Manor, New York, and has worked as Editorial Research Associate of Action Magazine, the official publication of the National Association of Evangelicals. He has contributed frequently to leading Christian magazines and has published articles in Christianity Today, Christian Life, Action, Eternity, and The Christian Reader. For five years he was a contributing editor to Eternity Magazine and served for ten years as an editor for the Zondervan Publishing House, heading up its Division of Cult Apologetics, which he founded in 1955.

Dr. Martin appeared for over ten years as a regular panel member on the largest night-time radio talk show in the nation. "The John Nebel Show" was heard in 43 states, six days a week over the NBC Radio Network. Professor Martin also appeared on "The Phil Donahue Show", "The 700 Club", "The John Ankerberg Show", Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Canadian Broadcasting Network, and many other syndicated radio and television programs. Dr. Billy Graham has said of him, "He is one of the most articulate spokesmen for evangelical Christianity that I know."

Walter Martin's radio ministry expanded in 1965 with the addition of "The Bible Answer Man" program, a two-hour live telephone talk show in which Professor Martin answers questions about the Bible and related subjects. The program was recognized by the National Religious Broadcasters as "one of the newest and most controversially stimulating programs in Christian radio!" "Dateline Eternity" was another radio program, developed by Dr. Martin, which included the best Bible questions and answers from the live "Bible Answer Man" program. He was the Founder and President of the Christian Research Ins***ute, located in Southern California.

Dr. Walter Martin was also featured in two syndicated film series, "Walter Martin Speaks Out on the Cults" and "The Kingdom of the Cults". A pioneer in the field of teaching by tape, Professor Martin, in cooperation with Vision House, has produced 12 albums and over 60 cassettes on the cults, the occult, and general apologetics. He has recorded more than 5,000 audio tapes on general biblical subjects.

Professor Martin has also successfully represented historical Christianity on three occasions against the noted atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, as well as atheistic philosophy professors, psychoanalysts, rabbis (orthodox, conservative, and reformed), skeptics, agnostics, liberal clergymen, non-Christian religionists, cultists, occultists, and the author of the best-selling attack on Christianity, The Passover Plot, Dr. Hugh J. Schonfield. Dr. Martin also debated the founder of the "God is Dead" movement, Thomas J. J. Altizer.

Walter Martin also pioneered the development of seminars dealing with cults and the problems of secularism in education. He was in great demand as a conference and seminar speaker, having lectured widely in colleges, seminaries, universities, and churches throughout the United States, Canada, and in more than 18 countries including Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Christianity Today has called Professor Martin "The most productive evangelical scholar writing in the field of the sects today." Time magazine gave special attention and recognition to Walter Martin's research abilities and characterized him as "a research polemicist who brought peace and not a sword."

Rev. Walter Martin was an ordained minister and a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. He maintained an active pulpit ministry and taught every Sunday at the Newport Mesa Christian Center in Costa Mesa, California.

Dr. Martin held membership in the American Academy of Religion, The Society of Biblical Literature, the Evangelical Theological Society, the National Association of Religious Broadcasters and the National Association of Evangelicals. He served for 15 years as a founding board member of the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, Massachusetts and was a Professor in the M.A. program at the Simon Greenleaf School of Law in Anaheim, California.

Articles on Walter Martin can be found in Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in Religion, The Dictionary of American Biography, Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans, The International Registry of Profiles, Men of Achievement, Who's Who in Intellectuals, The International Register of Biographies, and Community Leaders of the World.

Walter Martin's Religious InfoNet is dedicated to the continuation of this unique and valuable ministry.

[MacG]

Thanks for the bio of your father. I listened to him in my wood shop years ago. While some did not like his style because he sometimes came of brash I knew that his undergirding was the love of God for lost souls. I remember in one of his tapes recounting speaking in a Salt Lake venue and a Mormon was asking a question and your father wanted to know if anyone had a Book of Mormon so he could go direct to the source. A thoughtless christian threw one from the balcony and your father chided the guy right there for treating that man's holy book with such disrespect.

Your father possesed something that I lacked back then (probably still do), a certain humility with those who sought...then maybe that's the difference...being sensitive to the Spirit, he spoke to those who sought answers where as I (in the flesh) sought to interject answers where the questions weren't being asked.

Anyway I just wanted toshare a memory, say thanks and nice update to the site!

Blessings,

MacG

[Jill]

Thanks, MacG, for sharing that. It's nice to talk to someone who was there!

God bless,

Jill

[Corie]

Hi Jill (and all),

The first time I was introduced to your Dad (as a brand new Christian) was on a show broadcasted out of New Jersey called, "Let It Grow" with Pastor Charlie Rizzo. After hearing a recording of your father for the first time, I was "hooked" (parden the choice of words). After that first time, I couldn't wait for Pastor Rizzo to treat us, once again, with your father's recordings. He regarded him as the consummate authority on Christianity - and I couldn't help but think the same. Still do!

One of the things I loved about your father was his approachability and his "regular guy-ness". He could laugh it up with the rest of them (as demonstrated in his discussions on the Long John Nebel Show). He was self-depricating, at times, and could take ribbing amazingly well. But, at the same time, he was authoritative - he knew his stuff, and he commanded respect. I think that may be part of the reason why Long John (and so many of us) were and are drawn to him. His knowledge and his intellect were incredible and I am still floored by the way in which he was able to communicate it with such flawless grace. Most importantly, his undying love of Our Lord shone through it all and was the foundation for everything he said.

I really can't say enough about the impact your father has made on my life and on strengthening my faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for the website and making his communications available. They are timeless and he is as powerful as ever.

Glad to be here and God bless!

Corie

[Jill]

Corie--thank you so much for your wonderful words. My father was the same way at home as on the air. He loved people with a love that only God can give. At the same time, he wanted them to think and so he got a bit tough with them at times.

It's great to hear your story, and welcome!

[johnd]

I can think of no one individual who had a greater effect on my walk with Christ other than Christ himself. I mean that. On the BAM /CRI Dr. Martin's confidence in the word of God astounded me. He had a keen knowledge of the scripture and answers to give to all who challenged them as truth. Until my life was thus impacted by Walter, my interest in spiritual matters was on again off again. No less motivated by the boring, unauthoritative teachings from the pulpits I encountered. But Dr. Martin's was a voice in the wilderness giving solid answers, pointing out objective absolutes in truth, supplying scriptural evidence, and tearing down circular arguments that propped up theological discrepancies held by men and cults and religion. He took the guess work out of truth.

Sad to hear of his death in 1989, I rediscovered Walter's teachings aired every Friday on BAM and copied them off air to listen to over and over. Soon after that 1991 rediscovery, Walter's teachings were silenced by the new head of CRI, who also fired many employees Dr. Martin hand picked to run CRI after he was gone. It hasn't been the same CRI nor BAM since. Thank God for this ministry dedicated to the teaching of Dr. Walter Martin and the ongoing application of it based on the timeless truths of the Bible.

[Jude 3]

Biography

The Reverend Walter Martin held four earned degrees and received his education at Stony Brook School and Shelton College. He completed his Master's degree at New York University, and his Ph.D. at California Western University. He has authored 12 books, six booklets, and scores of articles. His tracts have been translated into a number of languages and circulated in the millions of copies around the world. He is a recognized authority on religions having their origins in the United States. The late Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, named by Billy Graham as one of the foremost Bible Teachers of the 20th Century, once wrote of Dr. Martin, "I know of no one who equals him in this field." He is widely accepted as the "father" of the Counter-Cult Movement.

The Kingdom of the Cults, Professor Martin's largest and most comprehensive text, was selected by both Christianity Today and Eternity magazines as "one of the best" of the year in 1965, and has since been revised and expanded. The July, 1985 edition of Newsweek Magazine listed the book as "one of the 10 best selling spiritual books in America." It has now sold more than 750,000 copies.

Professor Martin served for six years as an Associate of Biblical Studies at the King's College in Briarcliff Manor, New York, and has worked as Editorial Research Associate of Action Magazine, the official publication of the National Association of Evangelicals. He has contributed frequently to leading Christian magazines and has published articles in Christianity Today, Christian Life, Action, Eternity, and The Christian Reader. For five years he was a contributing editor to Eternity Magazine and served for ten years as an editor for the Zondervan Publishing House, heading up its Division of Cult Apologetics, which he founded in 1955.

Dr. Martin appeared for over ten years as a regular panel member on the largest night-time radio talk show in the nation. "The John Nebel Show" was heard in 43 states, six days a week over the NBC Radio Network. Professor Martin also appeared on "The Phil Donahue Show", "The 700 Club", "The John Ankerberg Show", Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Canadian Broadcasting Network, and many other syndicated radio and television programs. Dr. Billy Graham has said of him, "He is one of the most articulate spokesmen for evangelical Christianity that I know."

Walter Martin's radio ministry expanded in 1965 with the addition of "The Bible Answer Man" program, a two-hour live telephone talk show in which Professor Martin answers questions about the Bible and related subjects. The program was recognized by the National Religious Broadcasters as "one of the newest and most controversially stimulating programs in Christian radio!" "Dateline Eternity" was another radio program, developed by Dr. Martin, which included the best Bible questions and answers from the live "Bible Answer Man" program. He was the Founder and President of the Christian Research Ins***ute, located in Southern California.

Dr. Walter Martin was also featured in two syndicated film series, "Walter Martin Speaks Out on the Cults" and "The Kingdom of the Cults". A pioneer in the field of teaching by tape, Professor Martin, in cooperation with Vision House, has produced 12 albums and over 60 cassettes on the cults, the occult, and general apologetics. He has recorded more than 5,000 audio tapes on general biblical subjects.

Professor Martin has also successfully represented historical Christianity on three occasions against the noted atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, as well as atheistic philosophy professors, psychoanalysts, rabbis (orthodox, conservative, and reformed), skeptics, agnostics, liberal clergymen, non-Christian religionists, cultists, occultists, and the author of the best-selling attack on Christianity, The Passover Plot, Dr. Hugh J. Schonfield. Dr. Martin also debated the founder of the "God is Dead" movement, Thomas J. J. Altizer.

Walter Martin also pioneered the development of seminars dealing with cults and the problems of secularism in education. He was in great demand as a conference and seminar speaker, having lectured widely in colleges, seminaries, universities, and churches throughout the United States, Canada, and in more than 18 countries including Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Christianity Today has called Professor Martin "The most productive evangelical scholar writing in the field of the sects today." Time magazine gave special attention and recognition to Walter Martin's research abilities and characterized him as "a research polemicist who brought peace and not a sword."

Rev. Walter Martin was an ordained minister and a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. He maintained an active pulpit ministry and taught every Sunday at the Newport Mesa Christian Center in Costa Mesa, California.

Dr. Martin held membership in the American Academy of Religion, The Society of Biblical Literature, the Evangelical Theological Society, the National Association of Religious Broadcasters and the National Association of Evangelicals. He served for 15 years as a founding board member of the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, Massachusetts and was a Professor in the M.A. program at the Simon Greenleaf School of Law in Anaheim, California.

Articles on Walter Martin can be found in Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in Religion, The Dictionary of American Biography, Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans, The International Registry of Profiles, Men of Achievement, Who's Who in Intellectuals, The International Register of Biographies, and Community Leaders of the World.

Walter Martin's Religious InfoNet is dedicated to the continuation of this unique and valuable ministry.

Jill, nice bio of your dad's heart and life's work. Thanks.

I fondly recall your father's conversations with you on the radio program. You could always "hear" the smile in his voice when he conversed with you.

Dr. Martin lit a fire under me in my younger days that has never gone out!

In the early days of Dr. Martin's radio ministry, I lived in a hilly part of Los Angeles County and was unable to receive the program clearly on my radio. So I drove south on I-55 for about 10 miles every day just to to sit and listen to the program for two hours.

I'll never forget the first time I heard Dr. Martin's message, "Baptism of Boldness." To this day, Dr. Martin's words refresh me again and again.

Jude 3

[Jill]

Thank you, Jude, for sharing a few memories. You drove the 55 every day? Wow.

Great to have you here.

[Jill]

Thanks so much, John, for your wonderful words.

[dave52_47]

Jill,
Thank you so much for continuing Dr. Martin's ministry and providing all of these resources. I like the new format for discussion. I tried to get on several times over the past couple of years but was unable to get a password. Anyway, this is much better.

Dr. Martin has been the man to whom I am so indebted for inspiring me to learn my Bible and be a bold witness, especially to those caught up with the counterfeits, and to get involved with a cult ministry locally as a young Christian. I go back to 1974 with Dr. Martin's tapes, booklets, and of course The Kingdom of the Cults. Many of my jobs were over an hour away from my home and even though I didn't like that much driving I can't complain because I was able to listen to many, many tapes while on the road. Not only did he help me to learn what deceptions were out there, I can honestly say that through listening to his tapes and reading his literature and books I was able to get well grounded in Scripture. I would tell people that and they would look at me strange. They didn't understand how learning about cults could drive you deeper into the Word.

Again, thank you for this website and the discussion boards, and I'm sure I speak for thousands of others who were inspired by your Dad's ministry.
Dave

[ChrisLaRock]

I especially enjoy the sarcasm he used. Very similar to Martin Luther. Luther wrote something in his 95 thesis that went something like:

"There is no proof that a soul is intantly released from purgatory the moment the coin lands in the indulgance box."

[jean]

Biography

The Reverend Walter Martin held four earned degrees and received his education at Stony Brook School and Shelton College. He completed his Master's degree at New York University, and his Ph.D. at California Western University. He has authored 12 books, six booklets, and scores of articles. His tracts have been translated into a number of languages and circulated in the millions of copies around the world. He is a recognized authority on religions having their origins in the United States. The late Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, named by Billy Graham as one of the foremost Bible Teachers of the 20th Century, once wrote of Dr. Martin, "I know of no one who equals him in this field." He is widely accepted as the "father" of the Counter-Cult Movement.

The Kingdom of the Cults, Professor Martin's largest and most comprehensive text, was selected by both Christianity Today and Eternity magazines as "one of the best" of the year in 1965, and has since been revised and expanded. The July, 1985 edition of Newsweek Magazine listed the book as "one of the 10 best selling spiritual books in America." It has now sold more than 750,000 copies.

Professor Martin served for six years as an Associate of Biblical Studies at the King's College in Briarcliff Manor, New York, and has worked as Editorial Research Associate of Action Magazine, the official publication of the National Association of Evangelicals. He has contributed frequently to leading Christian magazines and has published articles in Christianity Today, Christian Life, Action, Eternity, and The Christian Reader. For five years he was a contributing editor to Eternity Magazine and served for ten years as an editor for the Zondervan Publishing House, heading up its Division of Cult Apologetics, which he founded in 1955.

Dr. Martin appeared for over ten years as a regular panel member on the largest night-time radio talk show in the nation. "The John Nebel Show" was heard in 43 states, six days a week over the NBC Radio Network. Professor Martin also appeared on "The Phil Donahue Show", "The 700 Club", "The John Ankerberg Show", Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Canadian Broadcasting Network, and many other syndicated radio and television programs. Dr. Billy Graham has said of him, "He is one of the most articulate spokesmen for evangelical Christianity that I know."

Walter Martin's radio ministry expanded in 1965 with the addition of "The Bible Answer Man" program, a two-hour live telephone talk show in which Professor Martin answers questions about the Bible and related subjects. The program was recognized by the National Religious Broadcasters as "one of the newest and most controversially stimulating programs in Christian radio!" "Dateline Eternity" was another radio program, developed by Dr. Martin, which included the best Bible questions and answers from the live "Bible Answer Man" program. He was the Founder and President of the Christian Research Ins***ute, located in Southern California.

Dr. Walter Martin was also featured in two syndicated film series, "Walter Martin Speaks Out on the Cults" and "The Kingdom of the Cults". A pioneer in the field of teaching by tape, Professor Martin, in cooperation with Vision House, has produced 12 albums and over 60 cassettes on the cults, the occult, and general apologetics. He has recorded more than 5,000 audio tapes on general biblical subjects.

Professor Martin has also successfully represented historical Christianity on three occasions against the noted atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, as well as atheistic philosophy professors, psychoanalysts, rabbis (orthodox, conservative, and reformed), skeptics, agnostics, liberal clergymen, non-Christian religionists, cultists, occultists, and the author of the best-selling attack on Christianity, The Passover Plot, Dr. Hugh J. Schonfield. Dr. Martin also debated the founder of the "God is Dead" movement, Thomas J. J. Altizer.

Walter Martin also pioneered the development of seminars dealing with cults and the problems of secularism in education. He was in great demand as a conference and seminar speaker, having lectured widely in colleges, seminaries, universities, and churches throughout the United States, Canada, and in more than 18 countries including Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Christianity Today has called Professor Martin "The most productive evangelical scholar writing in the field of the sects today." Time magazine gave special attention and recognition to Walter Martin's research abilities and characterized him as "a research polemicist who brought peace and not a sword."

Rev. Walter Martin was an ordained minister and a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. He maintained an active pulpit ministry and taught every Sunday at the Newport Mesa Christian Center in Costa Mesa, California.

Dr. Martin held membership in the American Academy of Religion, The Society of Biblical Literature, the Evangelical Theological Society, the National Association of Religious Broadcasters and the National Association of Evangelicals. He served for 15 years as a founding board member of the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, Massachusetts and was a Professor in the M.A. program at the Simon Greenleaf School of Law in Anaheim, California.

Articles on Walter Martin can be found in Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in Religion, The Dictionary of American Biography, Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans, The International Registry of Profiles, Men of Achievement, Who's Who in Intellectuals, The International Register of Biographies, and Community Leaders of the World.

Walter Martin's Religious InfoNet is dedicated to the continuation of this unique and valuable ministry.

I remember seeing Dr. Martin on the Ankerberg show. It was a debate with the Oneness Pentcostals. I still have a copy of the debate. It was informative and educational.

God bless you,
jean,p2

[Jill]

Thank you so much Dave, neldc, Chris, and Jean!

[michaelb]

I praise God that I found this great forum. I was born again in 1989 in Los Angeles and first heard Walter on the radio very shortly before his physical death and promotion to glory. Words can't describe the profound influence his teachings had on my early christian walk(by tape and broadcast) and still have today. I remember telling my wife after hearing Walter, "Guess what? I can be a Christian and still think!" Walter helped introduce me to the Jesus of the bible, and for that I'll always love him. The Lord bless you and keep you and make His glorious face to shine upon you. Michael

[Jill]

Michael--Welcome! Thank you for your wonderful words about my father. It's good to have you here.

[johnjeffrey]

I was a baby Christian in 1987. While driving home from work one day, I was dialing through the radio stations and I heard a voice that sounded remarkably like my own father's voice so I listened in. Right away I knew that I had to learn more about Scripture, so I wrote to your dad and recieved a warm, enthusiastic reply directing me to a well known Bible College. Five years later I graduated, and I am still grateful for the Lord's work through him and for the times I was blessed to see him in person. I still have a lot of his messages on tape that I listen to. I consider him to be my mentor and father in the faith, and I am thankful that you are able to continue working to advance the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Respectfully Yours with Love in Christ, John

[Jill]

johnjeffrey--

Your memories of my father are special and mean a great deal to us. Thank you for sharing this. I know he would be delighted that you graduated from Bible College.

A very warm welcome to the WM Ministries Board!

Jill

[johnd]

On your blog recently I sent a link about a certain nay sayer who claims to have been a friend for many years. I stumbled across that link having googled their name. What I may not have conveyed was my utter dismay and disgust over what that individual said... especially postmortem (which is the lowest form of cowardice). Walter obviously made an impact on this individual's life since he came across as trying to sound a lot like him on the radio.

It's amazing what we find when all the masks are removed.

Anyway, I m pretty sure you'll figure out the individual I mean and recall the link I sent... I just did not recall if I conveyed well my disdain for them...

Your father was (and is in heaven) a good man and has been a real gift to those whose faith needed more substantial evidence than the typical traditions of church and man.

[Jill]

Thank you, John. I know who you're talking about, and yes, it is hard when these things happen.

[Jean Chauvin]

Hello Jill,

I thank you for this site. I got into apologetics around the time your father passed in 1989. He has been one of my heroes in the defense of the Christian faith. Perhaps you could share a thing or two about your father that is not known about him. Perhaps personal experiences you had with him.

I've been to your fathers grave many years ago. For those who do not know, it says:

Jude 3
I Rest My Case

I have a picture I will share when I download from my computer. An awesome comment.

He was attacked regarding his degrees from the Browns as you know. Though it has been established that the Browns were using argumentum ad adhominem since they were LDS and could not answer the claims brought against them.

It would be nice Jill, if you sold your fathers tapes on your site. If you do, I must have missed it. Many of Walter's tapes are missing from existence. I don't know if this is due to Hank's jealously or what. Many are missing.

I had a chance to obtain hundreds of your fathers tape recordings from one of his top researchers, Bob Pasitino. I was at him home months before he died. He showed me 9 tall filing cabinets of information. He told me he had the original Wheel to Wheels of Walter and that I could have them If I came back. He died before I could come back.

I doubt that Gretchen would be as genius. Though perhaps she would since it was your father that married them in 1974 (date is a probable guess). If you are in Costa Mesa, perhaps you could ask Gretchen for these Wheel to Wheels for public distribution.

Upon Walter's death, the Christian Church has sunk to impotency. Though Walter at least woke the church up for a while, it fell back asleep soon after.

The only two apologists close to Walter (but not from a long shot) would be Dr. Robert Morey and Dr. James White. But these two are somewhat weak in comparison.

May God bring up another Walter via his boldness in presentation and representation of the truth.

I hope to purchase tapes if you have them.

Respectfully,

Jean Chauvin (Jude 3).

[kentuckypreacher]

Dear Jill,

I just came across this forum and registered. I am a long-time student of Walter Martin. The influence he had on my life, my studies of Scripture, and my interest in the world of the cults and comparative religions, is beyond my ability to adequately describe. I only regret I never had the opportunity to meet him, and that he was taken at such a young age.

My immediate question is this: has anyone proposed writing a full-length biography of Dr. Martin? Such needs to be done.

Take care, and I am looking forward to participating in this. Thanks for keeping Dr. Martin's memory alive.

kentuckypreacher

[johnd]

Hello Jill,

I thank you for this site. I got into apologetics around the time your father passed in 1989. He has been one of my heroes in the defense of the Christian faith. Perhaps you could share a thing or two about your father that is not known about him. Perhaps personal experiences you had with him.

I've been to your fathers grave many years ago. For those who do not know, it says:

Jude 3
I Rest My Case

I have a picture I will share when I download from my computer. An awesome comment.

He was attacked regarding his degrees from the Browns as you know. Though it has been established that the Browns were using argumentum ad adhominem since they were LDS and could not answer the claims brought against them.

It would be nice Jill, if you sold your fathers tapes on your site. If you do, I must have missed it. Many of Walter's tapes are missing from existence. I don't know if this is due to Hank's jealously or what. Many are missing.

I had a chance to obtain hundreds of your fathers tape recordings from one of his top researchers, Bob Pasitino. I was at him home months before he died. He showed me 9 tall filing cabinets of information. He told me he had the original Wheel to Wheels of Walter and that I could have them If I came back. He died before I could come back.

I doubt that Gretchen would be as genius. Though perhaps she would since it was your father that married them in 1974 (date is a probable guess). If you are in Costa Mesa, perhaps you could ask Gretchen for these Wheel to Wheels for public distribution.

Upon Walter's death, the Christian Church has sunk to impotency. Though Walter at least woke the church up for a while, it fell back asleep soon after.

The only two apologists close to Walter (but not from a long shot) would be Dr. Robert Morey and Dr. James White. But these two are somewhat weak in comparison.

May God bring up another Walter via his boldness in presentation and representation of the truth.

I hope to purchase tapes if you have them.

Respectfully,

Jean Chauvin (Jude 3).

An interesting observation, the condition of the Church since Walter's death. One may have something to do with the other. But Walter said on the John Ankerberg Show in 1985 that the Church was in a state of apostasy for 50 (24 years ago now). Also, I believe the popularity the Gospel had from about the mid-1960's until about 2002 was due to millennial madness. People feared and expected something to happen 2000 years after the birth of Christ.

When nothing happened in 2000 Church attendance over all plummeted. After 9-11-2001, it picked up again but only for a time.

Jan_Karel_Van_Baalen argued that "the cults are the unpaid bills of the church." he was right. Walter quoted him on occasion. The feminist movement was another unpaid bill of the Church. I'll say that. The fact that free nations on earth got away from the mandate of Christian principles being lived out in society (whether or not one believed and was a Christian) is an unpaid bill of the Church.

I believe the Lord blessed the generation that was born from the late 1880's to the 1920's since they endured so much (two World Wars and one global depression). Now that the last of them are dying off, all the bills are coming due in the selfish, perverted, apathetic generations born since.

And the state of the church is (aside from the temporary influx of millennial madness and 9-11 reprise) is more or less God's withholding judgment until the last of Tom Brokaw's Greatest Generation dies off.

[johnd]

I don't know about James White. But Morey... {sigh}... what can I say about Doctor Bob that he hasn't already bragged on about himself? Yeah he was right about the true Islamic dogmas. But he is so into promoting self that the truth he dabbles in gets pushed to the side. And on at least one occasion he was caught off guard and spoke his true (unkind) feelings about a man who he at least claimed was his friend for 3 decades... yet after his death, he belittled him, told lies about him, all to make himself (Doctor Bob) look better.

Pretty low. As is my opinion of Doctor Bob.

[johnd]

I don't know why Ravi Zacharias took the hand of Mormonism, or why Frank Beckwith went scurrying back to Roman Catholicism... but aside from their style being a little on the boring side, all else about their apologetic ministries I have no qualm with.

[Jean Chauvin]

Hello,

I don't know about James White. But Morey... {sigh}... what can I say about Doctor Bob that he hasn't already bragged on about himself? Yeah he was right about the true Islamic dogmas. But he is so into promoting self that the truth he dabbles in gets pushed to the side. And on at least one occasion he was caught off guard and spoke his true (unkind) feelings about a man who he at least claimed was his friend for 3 decades... yet after his death, he belittled him, told lies about him, all to make himself (Doctor Bob) look better.

Pretty low. As is my opinion of Doctor Bob.

Dr. Robert Morey personally told me that Dr. Walter Martin had coherently "picked" or chose the next "Bible Answer Man" to be him (Dr. Robert Morey). Hank snuck in their via the letter read at Martin's funeral.

Robert Morey also told me that 2 weeks before Walter died, he had indicated to him that the Seventh Day Adventist religion was indeed a cult and that he had changed his mind.

Morey indicated to me that he confronted Hank, but Hank said "I'm the Bible Answer man, not you."

Though Ron Carlson also indicated to me that he was asked to be the next Bible Answer Man, but he turned Walter down since he said that his staff would not be able to handle him. He mentions Ron Carlson is mentioned in his "Baptism of Boldness" lecture as one of his best students. This was as of 1981. Morey has claimed his best student after the fact.

Whether these things are true according to Morey no one knows I suppose. It's certainly not a debate about Hank's spiritual sewage via his actions of sabotaging the CRI ministry.

Morey has also personally indicated to me that if Walter was alive in the 21st century that he would not have been as successful since the debate turned from religions cults to philosophical heresy. He was there at the right time during and after the cult revolution of the after effects of the 60's sex generation.

Who knows if he's right regarding all of the above.

What I do know is that Walter was there at the right time and equipped in the right way for the defense of the faith.

It should also be added that after and before Walter's death, there was a rise of apologetics ministries. The Tanners for example were influenced by Walter along with Decker, Larson, etc.

Though Larson has a big qualification.

After Walter's death, there was also the Cult Directory of 1991/93 and 1996 by Tolbert and Perment. Most on there affected by Walter.

However, Ed Decker along with the apologetists influenced by Walter lost "air" evidently. Though he was drugged twice he claims by Masons which caused two seizures.

We need another Walter equipped for the challenges of today to give confidence for the saints in the Body of Christ today.

Respectfully,

Jean Chauvin (Jude 3).