TransFORM - a missional community formation network

John Martinez
  • Albany, NY
  • United States
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Latest Activity

John Martinez commented on Callid Keefe-Perry's group U.S. Northeast
"Geez Jeremy, I just saw your comment here after like 3 months!  There will always be a next time man.  And now for something different:  ANYONE got a lead on a church my son could go to in Springfield, MA?  Something where young…"
Sep 18, 2011
Callid Keefe-Perry and John Martinez are now friends
Aug 18, 2011
John Martinez liked John Martinez's event TransFORM Network Northeast mini-Gathering
Apr 30, 2011
John Martinez's event was featured
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TransFORM Network Northeast mini-Gathering at The Cohoes Vineyard Community Church

April 29, 2011 at 1:30pm to April 30, 2011 at 6pm
This is a network conference being held in Cohoes, NY for those folks that are not going to the Inhabit conference in Seattle this year.  The theme will be all things missional and incarnational when it comes to faith communities.  There will be a nice diverse group of speakers that are covering topics like the current age of the church, activism local and global, children's and youth ministries, the theology of heresy, and many other subjects, all of which will share their stories and subject…See More
Apr 9, 2011
Nelson Costa is attending John Martinez's event
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TransFORM Network Northeast mini-Gathering at The Cohoes Vineyard Community Church

April 29, 2011 at 1:30pm to April 30, 2011 at 6pm
This is a network conference being held in Cohoes, NY for those folks that are not going to the Inhabit conference in Seattle this year.  The theme will be all things missional and incarnational when it comes to faith communities.  There will be a nice diverse group of speakers that are covering topics like the current age of the church, activism local and global, children's and youth ministries, the theology of heresy, and many other subjects, all of which will share their stories and subject…See More
Mar 28, 2011
Gustavo K-fé Frederico might attend John Martinez's event
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TransFORM Network Northeast mini-Gathering at The Cohoes Vineyard Community Church

April 29, 2011 at 1:30pm to April 30, 2011 at 6pm
This is a network conference being held in Cohoes, NY for those folks that are not going to the Inhabit conference in Seattle this year.  The theme will be all things missional and incarnational when it comes to faith communities.  There will be a nice diverse group of speakers that are covering topics like the current age of the church, activism local and global, children's and youth ministries, the theology of heresy, and many other subjects, all of which will share their stories and subject…See More
Mar 26, 2011
John Martinez commented on Callid Keefe-Perry's group U.S. Northeast
"Hey folks, Don't forget to pre-register for the TransFORM Northeast mini-Gathering in Cohoes (Upstate), NY on April 29 and 30th.  We have some terrific speakers lined up including Doug Pagitt, Don Heatley, Katie Jo Suddaby, Nelson Costa…"
Mar 24, 2011
John Martinez posted an event
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TransFORM Network Northeast mini-Gathering at The Cohoes Vineyard Community Church

April 29, 2011 at 1:30pm to April 30, 2011 at 6pm
This is a network conference being held in Cohoes, NY for those folks that are not going to the Inhabit conference in Seattle this year.  The theme will be all things missional and incarnational when it comes to faith communities.  There will be a nice diverse group of speakers that are covering topics like the current age of the church, activism local and global, children's and youth ministries, the theology of heresy, and many other subjects, all of which will share their stories and subject…See More
Mar 5, 2011
John Martinez commented on Amy Moffitt's group Visual Artists, Musicians, Creative Writers, etc.
"Hey Folks, Just wanted to introduce myself to the group.  Been experimenting with worshipful type music stuff since I was a teenager.  Play guitar, drums and sing. Spent most of my adult life leading worship in one church or another.…"
Mar 2, 2011
John Martinez joined Amy Moffitt's group
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Visual Artists, Musicians, Creative Writers, etc.

One of my operating assumptions about missional communities is that they allow space for creative types to breathe... or to allow the Spirit's breathing through them. This group is for all self-identified artists to connect, & maybe collaborate.See More
Mar 2, 2011
Nate Preisinger replied to John Martinez's discussion Northeast Gathering ??? in the group U.S. Northeast
"I'm in Buffalo, and would also be interested in an Northeastern Gathering.  I have dozens of contacts in the Lutheran church throughout Upstate NY, and could possibly find an old, large, Lutheran congregation that might be willing to host…"
Feb 7, 2011
Jimmy Reader replied to John Martinez's discussion Northeast Gathering ??? in the group U.S. Northeast
"Great idea. I'm in Rochester. I agree with Alan - not NYC. Albany would be fine if there are several of you there. I could help Alan coordinate something in Rochester."
Jan 27, 2011
John Martinez replied to John Martinez's discussion Northeast Gathering ??? in the group U.S. Northeast
"I was bummed that you missed too.  :)  Hope to see ya at the next one wherever it may be.  :)"
Dec 14, 2010
John Martinez joined Neil Christopher's group
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Youth

A group for those of us in this missional community who are passionate about, working with, or wanting to work with youth.
Sep 15, 2010
John Martinez commented on Eliacin Rosario-Cruz's group U.S. Pacific Northwest
"Thanks Kerlin for the reference."
Jun 6, 2010
John Martinez commented on Eliacin Rosario-Cruz's group U.S. Pacific Northwest
"Alright, here is the skinny. Since we received two invites from this wonderful group we will be visiting both Kerlin and Mark. By the way we are copastors of The Distillery Church in Albany, NY on a cross country road trip. Tammy and I will be at…"
Jun 5, 2010

Profile Information

Are you part of an existing church/faith community?
Yes
If yes, what is the name/website of your church/faith community?
The Distillery Church / http://thedistillerychurch.org
Website/Blog URL?
http://indiefaith.org
Twitter Username?
JayMarzian

Comment Wall (8 comments)

At 12:09am on April 22, 2010, Steve K. said…
hey John, welcome to TransFORM! Thanks for joining and for creating a group for other "accidental" pastors such as yourself. Any chance you can make it to D.C. next week for the East Coast gathering??
At 7:58am on April 22, 2010, John Martinez said…
Hey Steve,

I am actually in the process of trying to figure out how to stay out there for the conference, but I am very interested. Trying to get my co-pastor to come with. So, so far I am saying yes. I will be there. Just got to work out the logistics is all.
At 10:33am on April 23, 2010, Alan G Newton said…
John,

It is good to know that kindred spirits are nearby. I was intrigued by your comment about mostly being misunderstood. When you get time tell me more about this.

Alan
At 11:16am on April 23, 2010, John Martinez said…
Hey Alan,
Yes, Rochester is a stone's throw away to be sure. Thanks for the inquiry. I actually hail from the great country/continent known as Texas and it was there that I got my experience and training in church stuff. So when I started talking to a fellow pastor at a Vineyard church out there about the crazy idea I had for a church, he was completely enthused and thought that a whole lot of folks could identify with the direction I wanted to go.

Of course that was in Texas. lol. Fast forward a few years later and I end up in Albany, NY for work. On our house hunting trip my wife and I both felt like this was to be the place that we would plant the church. It was definitely a God thing - you know the way we ended up out there.

However we noticed a stark difference between the Vineyard out here and the Vineyard in Texas. Amazingly enough they were more conservative in Albany than in Houston. So we were a little leery about planting a Vineyard church in this region, and as luck would have it they were more than leery about us planting a Vineyard, so we parted ways on a good note and launched out to do what it is I felt that God was calling us to do with about 10 other folks.

So, now it has been three years. We have a facility (storefront) in the downtown Albany area and are doing a lot of good things. Our values have not changed much since the beginning. Mainly we decidedly agreed that we wanted to plant the church differently then the big Launch method (the current trend) that seemed a bit inorganic and non-relational to us at the time.
At 11:16am on April 23, 2010, John Martinez said…
So we set out to grow our church by building relationships with others and eventually inviting them in. Most folks in Albany that go to church are either pretty traditional folks that stick closely to their Catholic heritage. These folks pretty much see it as a Sunday thing (the Eucharist) and are unconcerned about community matters, and don't really get why anyone would want to hang out with church folk any other time. Or they are the folks on the conservative right that have aligned themselves with churches that are politically active for seemingly me to me, all of the wrong reasons.

So when they see a church like ours with the irreverent name of "The Distillery" a lot of folks are turned off instantly. Then when they do come and find us all to be rather close and unconcerned with appearances and more interested in a good conversation than trying to prove some kind of point, it throws them off.

And of course we get labeled as liberals, or heretics for asking hard questions and maybe not answering them all with the expected scripture references.

Its hard to imagine that people would not want what we have in our community, but it would seem that we are misunderstood by more than a few folks out here. So, our original values of slow, relational and organic growth have produced exactly what we thought -- a few good friends gathering together on Sundays and playing together during the week, serving the folks in the local area and worshiping God together.

Of course, I love it.
At 11:17am on April 23, 2010, John Martinez said…
heh, sorry to post this twice...
At 11:29am on April 23, 2010, Alan G Newton said…
Glad to hear about you and your journey. And I like the name "The Distillery." Folks likley would confuse you for a pub I suppose. I share your belief in the organic slow and relational process. Better to lay a foundation for authenticity. How do you support yourselves as you continue this work?

I also believe that the core of church and discipleship includes serving with the folks in the community. I will try to check you out next time I am in Albany. I was there a few weeks ago for Loppy Day for the Hunger Action Network.
At 11:30am on April 23, 2010, Alan G Newton said…
Sorry, I meant lobby day -

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