Couple with Florida ties to serve with IMB in Peru

Rick and Kelly Webb Martinez were among 95 people appointed Nov. 3 by the International Mission Board during a service at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. After orientation in January, the Martinezes will go to Peru to fill diverse job assignments that range from starting churches to using sports, education and music as tools of ministry.

Although the couple are members of Elysian Fields Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, La., they consider Harvest Church in Miami and Lucy Baptist Church in Millington, Tenn., influential churches in their lives.

While in Peru, the Martinezes will minister among the Aymara people. He will conduct evangelism, leadership training and church-planting; she will conduct outreach through church and home. Kelly previously served in Peru with the Journeyman program, a missions program for recent college graduates through the International Mission Board.

Martinez was born in Hollywood, Calif., to Francisco and Olivia Martinez, now of Miami. He received the bachelor of arts degree from Trinity International University in Miami.

Kelly Martinez was born in Memphis, Tenn., to Johnny and Karen Webb, now of Millington. She received the bachelor of arts degree from Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

The couple has two children: Elijah Joaquin, born in 2001, and Olivia Rose, born in 2002.

The couple have joined more than 5,400 Southern Baptist International Mission Board workers sharing Christ among 1,497 people groups.

In 2001, International Mission Board missionaries and their overseas partners baptized 395,773 new believers. They started 5,775 churches and reported more than 5.8 million members in 61,569 churches overseas.

The SBC is the largest evangelical denomination in the U.S.; its IMB is the largest evangelical missionary-sending entity. (IMB)