About Me
I was born in Redwood City, California but lived in southern California most of my life. I began working in 1997 while still in high school. I was a waitress at Marie Callender's Restaurant. I earned my associate's degree in 1984 while working for Wells Fargo Bank. I began as a teller and 12 years later was an operations officer. I resigned in 1991 after I had my first son Corey. I opted for a job where I could spend more time with my child and began working as an office assistant for Carlson Plumbing in Glendale. In 1992, I had my second son Kurtis. In mid-1993, I accepted a job in Costa Mesa as an office manager for a private company. I worked there until it closed in 1996. I worked for temporary agencies between 1996 and 1999 when Mesa Consolidated Water District hired me as the Finance Manager's assistant. In 2004, another move took us to Yucaipa, where I began working for Bechtel Construction as the project site secretary for building the Mountain View Power Plant in Redlands. As construction was completed in 2006, Matich Construction hired me as administrative assistant/project costing. This project involved tearing down Norton AFB and building the Stater Bros Grocery Distribution Center in San Bernardo. Also, during this time, I managed the automotive repair shop that we owned. I left Matich in 2007 because God had other plans for us. HE led us to move to Tennessee, where my husband and I were blessed to work for Bridgestone/Firestone Lebanon Distribution Center. We worked together for almost 14 years. I had various duties, including working alongside my husband in his position as the facilities maintenance coordinator. While working at Bridgestone, I earned my bachelor's degree in Business Leadership.
But really…all this experience is irrelevant because God orchestrated the need here at NBBC and for me to be here in this place at this time. "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord" (Proverbs 21.30).
I am the oldest of five girls; we did not grow up going to church, and no one in my family attended church regularly. However, two of my sisters and I would occasionally walk a couple of blocks to a church and go to their children's program. At age eleven, I accepted the Lord; I knew the name of Jesus but did not understand for a long time that He was my Savior. In 1995 I met Randy, who would become my husband in 2002. He reintroduced me to the Lord when in January 1996, he gave me a Bible and encouraged me to take my children to church. We began attending the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa and have attended many other churches throughout our journey together.
Fast forward to 2023, both my sons are Marine Corps Veterans. Corey lives in Burbank, California, and Kurtis in Spring Hill, Tennessee. I also have three stepdaughters, through which I have eight grandchildren. Randy went to be with the Lord in August 2020, which led me to move to New Braunfels in October 2021. My sister lives here. In November 2021, I began attending NBBC.
Many events in life have drawn me closer to God and His Word. Through all the trials and joys that life brings, I began recognizing that Jesus has walked alongside me even before I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. My trust and faith are in the Lord Jesus Christ in all circumstances. This verse has very personal meaning for me in my life. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust'" (Psalms 91:1-2).
Helen Martinez
Church Administrator