Reference from Jim Martin
Church Planting Strategist

For Rev. Victor Robert Farrell

Date :- 2007

To Whom It may Concern,

My name is James Martin, and it is my pleasure to submit this letter of recommendation to you for Robert Farrell.

I have known Robert and his wife Bridget since 2002 when they began their studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. At that time I was Director of the Church Planting Center at Southern Seminary. I supervised the Farrell’s funded church planting internships as approved missionaries through the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. They fulfilled every aspect of their internship with an incredibly high degree of enthusiasm, creativity, and professionalism which created impressive results for their church start.

In the fall of 2004 as a result of my position as Church Planting Strategist for the Florida Baptist Convention, I recruited Robert to lead a church start in the very eclectic urban setting of Hollywood, FL. Robert and Bridgett immediately immersed themselves into the community, demonstrating their compassion for people and their desire to introduce Jesus to everyone they met. These successful initiatives included conducting Bible studies in their home, sponsoring poetry readings in public settings, implementing city-wide basketball tournaments, building relationships at several coffee houses and a local boxing/fitness center, hosting block parties, organizing numerous community projects, and Bridget’s volunteering in a pregnancy crisis center. Robert was also a frequent keynote speaker at Frontline, an evangelical high school outreach program and was a Teen Advisor advocating sexual purity.

Anyone who meets Robert quickly realizes that he is a visionary that seeks to help everyone reach their God-given potential. What I find unique in Robert–different from many idealistic dreamers–is that he has well-thought-out strategies to support his Spirit-inspired plans. He is wonderfully gifted at communicating Biblical truths in a wide variety of methods. This is evident in Robert’s ability to reach his community for Christ using an assortment of skills including speaking one on one or to the multitudes, thespian arts, writing, his website, and any emerging technological tool. He takes to heart Paul’s own admonition, “…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1Cor. 9:22)

If I was to choose a simple description for Robert’s personality and character it would have to be genuine. What you see is what you get. Time spent surfing through his website illustrates the magnitude of his interests, passions and talents. However, Robert’s motivation is derived from his faith in God’s word. He lives his life with a high degree of expectation that God will reveal His plans and purpose in an intimate manner.

Robert brings to life Peter’s instruction: to … “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Pe 1:5-8) Being effective and productive in knowing and sharing Jesus is the steam that drives Robert’s engine.

If you are looking for a Senior Pastor who reflects the Christian radicalism, then I truly believe you have found him in Robert Farrell. If I can assist any further in your search, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Blessing in Christ,

James Martin

dejimartin@aol.com

239-542-7620

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