The story behind my favorite Martin

For some reason (that will become obvious by the time you've finished reading this), October finds me thinking about impactful individuals named Martin.

The first Martin I ever encountered was a fictional one. Uncle Martin (played by Ray Ralston) was a character on "My Favorite Martian." It was one of my favorite television shows when I was in elementary school.

Long before I knew about Mr. Spock from Star Trek or Mork from Ork, it was Uncle Martin, the alien from outer space, who made me laugh.

Another Martin was Dr. Albert Martin, who was our family dentist when I served a congregation in Northern California. His compassion was almost pastoral. From my first visit, it was obvious his interest in my life was not limited to my teeth.

Then there was Martin Koll. Shortly after he began attending our church, I discovered he loved playing golf as much as I did. On the links and in his home, a friendship developed.

When his faith began to blossom, he asked me to baptize him. His request surprised me. He didn't want to be baptized at the front of the church, but on the 9th hole of the local country club. It's the only time I've officiated a baptism in a water hazard.

Martin Hampton, another congregant, inspired me with his faith and courage in the midst of adversity. When his daughter was born with spina bifida, Martin modeled a "can-do" attitude that inspired our congregation. This young dad's trust in his Heavenly Father helped motivate his little girl to become an overcomer.

This month, I'm also mindful of Martin Rozboril. This Martin was my personal cheerleader when I faced a challenging season in pastoral ministry. He refused to let me sink into depression. He continues to encourage me 20 years later.

And then there's Martin O'Donnell. I met Martin when we moved to Chicagoland. He wrote and performed original music for my installation at Naperville Covenant Church.

This talented musician (who wrote the advertising jingle for Flintstone Kids vitamins) went on to enjoy a career writing soundtracks for video games. His creativity continues to inspire me.

But, in all honesty, my favorite Martin was a Catholic priest to whom I was introduced to 40 years ago when I entered seminary. This Martin was quite a character. Although he came from a different faith tradition than the one in which I was raised, I found myself attracted to his free-spirited perspective.

Father Martin (as he was known) enjoyed discussing theology while drinking beer in a pub. Having been reared in a teetotaler home, I initially found his routine off-putting. But, as I gave myself permission to sip a pint while plodding through a passage of Scripture with classmates, I discovered why Martin found it meaningful.

The more I got to know Martin's perspectives, the more I liked him. He objected to the way singing in church on Sundays was limited to a few folks up-front. He felt the entire congregation should be engaged in worship and not just the performers. To that end, he wrote original hymns for Sunday Mass.

Martin also was an advocate for using a translation of the Bible in contemporary vernacular so average churchgoers could understand. He was known to translate the Hebrew and Greek texts himself.

As you might guess, Martin was a popular preacher. His homilies were both inspiring and earthy.

But what really inspired me about Martin was his propensity to protest ecclesiastical activity that he viewed as unbiblical. He wasn't afraid to express his opinion even though his was a minority voice.

I remember hearing about a time when the church leaders downplayed a central doctrine of the church in order to raise funds for a building project in Rome. Father Martin disputed the initiative from his pulpit.

Although he was rebuffed by church officials, Martin refused to be silent. His published his opinions through social media. And they went viral.

Yes, my favorite Martin is none other than Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation. This month is the 500th anniversary of Luther's posting of his 95 theses calling for renewal in the Church. This protesting priest has made both Protestants and Catholics more thoughtful in the practice of their faith. And I, for one, am grateful.

• The Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos is a former Naperville resident who writes regularly about faith and family.