Martinez has been engaged in local church ministry and non-profit work all of his life since growing up at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Newark, Ohio. When his family relocated to Southern California, he continued to work in the church, directing choirs for his local church and singing with various Gospel artists throughout Southern California. After graduating from high school, Martinez went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley. While there, he was instrumental in establishing the Young Inspiration Gospel Choir, a 100 voice college Gospel choir. While continuing his studies, he founded the Louise Patterson African American Awards Ceremony to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the faculty, staff and students of color at the university. Martinez then continued to work with at-risk kids in inner-city Oakland by providing tutoring services and mentorship opportunities.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies (1990), Martinez returned to Southern California where he soon united with Friendship Baptist Church to serve as the director of the Voices of Triumph Youth Choir. Within a relatively short time, his Pastor extended him an offer to serve as the first full-time Children & Youth Director. Martinez quickly took on the task of building and revitalizing the youth ministry, bringing structure and programming to the existing infrastructure. He designed and planned many of the programs that have become stables of the youth ministry at Friendship Baptist Church even to this day, such as: Youth Retreats, Inductive Training, Prayer Breakfast, Black College Tours, to name a few. Martinez has traveled as a wellness coach to other ministries to help them to implement and train youth workers.
Martinez received his Masters Degree in Theological Studies (MTS) from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in May of 2007. Upon receiving his Maters in Theological Studies, Martinez began teaching as an Adjunct Professor at Apex Bible College in Los Angeles to striving ministry leaders in Christian education, youth ministry, and lay-ministry leadership. Martinez is the co-founder of the Urban Ministries Student Curriculum and is currently co-writing a four-part series on the Book of Romans, Second Timothy and a study on Abraham. Martinez serves as a contracted curriculum writer for Azusa Pacific University in their Urban Ministries Division of Christian Education.
His professional journey continued as the Program and Community Development Coordinator for Children’s Fund, a non-profit organization reaching to meet the emergent needs of at-risk children in San Bernardino County. There he collaborates with various County, Non-Profit, Educational and Faith Based Agencies to implement change and to minister hope to hurting families throughout the county. Likewise he has worked as a Lead Family and Behavioral Specialist with South Coast Community Services providing in-home wraparound services to youth through San Bernardino County who were at risk of losing their placement at home. This experience encouraged Martinez to further his education to receive his Masters in Counseling as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) at the University of Phoenix, Ontario, California.
Martinez served as the Executive Director with Operation New Hope, a non-profit for at-risk youth ages 16-24 desiring to receive their high school diploma and vocational training. Likewise, Martinez is the Program Coordinator for First-Fathers, a non-profit for expecting and new fathers designed to assist these fathers with their rights, roles, and responsibilities as a loving parent. While in this role, Martinez services as the Chair and one of the original organizers of the Inland Empire Father Involvement Coalition (IEFIC) for San Bernardino County, California. Martinez was a key planner in the inaugural county-wide Fatherhood Conference for San Bernardino County.
Martinez is currently the co-founder and CEO of MarSell Wellness Center and MHS, which includes therapy services, anger management services, domestic violence recovery, parenting coaching, and foster family services.
In an effort to dispel the negative notions about mental health services in communities of color, Martinez launched the Mental Health Matters with Marty Facebook Live Show in May of 2016. The platform continues to be that no one should “suffer in silence in the shadow of shame. But we have to speak up, speak out, and to LIVE! On May 20, 2020, Marty launched Mental Health Matters with Marty Podcast, available on Apple, iHeart Radio, Pandora, and other streaming platforms. AS the message of hope must be shared, the anticipation of Martinez’s first book – Stop the Stinking Thinking, is slated for release in the Fall of 2020.
However, his greatest joy is being the proud father to his three amazing children: Rayven, Christian, and Toni.
