Wes Martin Bio

(Inevitably, the question comes up early about the many pictures of me in a clerical collar, "Are you a high church closet Anglican or a Roman Catholic Priest?" The answer is: the collar has been the right thing for the contexts I've been in. I am sensitive to the fact that it might not be right in all ministry contexts, and while I'll always have some in my closet, it's not something I must wear. The collar is actually a Presbyterian tradition the Roman Catholics borrowed from us. Then we quit wearing them. There was a time in the 20th century most Protestants wore them. I know that in the PCA in particular, there has come to be an association with liberal Protestants wearing clerical collars, but that's not actually how people outside the PCA or even in all other denominations receive them. It's like a police uniform or a doctor's coat. It just tells people why I'm there, which has been useful in some of my ministry contexts.)

Wesley Dean Martin grew up on a small farm outside Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Wes was completely unchurched and thought he knew everything, and so was an angry atheist by 18. Wes went to the University of Oklahoma where he received a Bachelors and Masters of Music; but, more importantly, after a story that involves playing trumpet on cruise ships, C.S. Lewis, multiple hernias, and RUF (Reformed University Fellowship, a college ministry of the PCA) Summer Conference, Wes met Jesus and became a Christian through OURUF when he was 21. Wes also met Kaitlin through OURUF, and after a very rocky start (and a story worth telling), they married in May 2010. Wes and Kaitlin have five kids: Abigail (August 2011), Jerram (February 2013), Ezri (Halloween 2014), and twins Lorelai and Killian (April 2016). While in seminary, Wes worked for the #1 DJ company in St. Louis, Rockstar DJs, while still playing trumpet and serving as the chaplain of the Tower Grove Manor retirement community. Wes graduated cum laude in May of 2015 and is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Wes has served as the RUF Campus Minister at the University of Utah, a solo pastor in Canada, and as a chaplain/counselor for a Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center working with those in need of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, teaching and counseling; while also serving City Presbyterian Church (City Pres, PCA) of Oklahoma City.

Wes currently serves as Assistant Pastor of Heritage Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Oklahoma City, OK, and as the Stated Clerk of Hills and Plains Presbytery (PCA).

Wes loves playing complex board games, watching good characters in good stories, reading, and playing trumpet whenever possible.