Martin Weber

Born near New York City, Martin Weber survived an abusive childhood, baptized in secret against his father’s wishes. After college, he became a volunteer pastor to hippies and coal miners in Appalachia. Following ordination to lifetime ministry, he moved with his wife, Darlene, and two toddlers to Orange County, California. While pastoring a church near Disneyland, he began volunteer chaplaincy for a business professionals’ group.

Martin next became a scriptwriter for It Is Written telecast and co-produced with Soviet National Television a documentary on religion in America. Following that, he became an associate editor of Ministry magazine and mentored pastors on six continents. His book God Was There: true stories of a police chaplain, describes subsequent experiences serving 12 law enforcement agencies from local to federal level.

Three times in Martin’s pastoral ministry, his predecessor committed clergy sexual misconduct. He witnessed firsthand the devastation upon victims and their spouses. His Doctor of Ministry supervisor (who earned her own doctorate at Princeton University working with victims of religious sexual abuse) mentored him in facilitating healing for these victims, their spouses, and churches.

After reporting his doctoral research to a group of pastors, Martin was approached by Steve and Samantha Nelson, who invited him to join The Hope of Survivors team. Weber has volunteered with THOS since 2008, assisting with Hope and Healing Weekends and conducting integrity seminars for pastors.

After retiring from pastoring, Martin continued chaplaincy with hospices, hospitals, and support for first responders in liaison with law enforcement. When the pandemic struck, Martin focused his chaplaincy upon Covid patients and their nurses. Now fully retired at age 70, Martin devotes his entire ministry to being chairman and president of The Hope of Survivors. He lives in the Mississippi Valley of Missouri with his wife of 47 years and two rescue cats (one of whom is purring on his lap as he composes this autobiography of service).