Oswaldo Martínez, the World Traveling Preacher

He has graduated to be with his Lord in glory.
June 11, 1924-January 9, 2008
(a paper I wrote about him in 2001)
To the average person on the streets Oswaldo Martínez seems very simple and humble carrying on with his daily routines; however, when you hear about the paths of life he has worn, you realize his life has been anything but routine. Here he was dressed in his guaybera sipping his Cuban cafécito bustling around his house looking for his list of telephone numbers as he told about the trip he was taking to Cuba Wednesday to deliver 200 pounds of medicine.
It was hard to imagine that this young man from Cuba, knowing very broken English, came to the U.S.. He not only learned English in 6 months, but eventually became an active member in his community. Although he lived the American dream living a very comfortable life with a beautiful family three daughters, seven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren., this 76 year old has never forgot his humble beginnings. In fact, he was driven to help others realize those same dreams. “I did not see a chance to improve my life in Cuba, so I left for a better life and opportunities.”
After retiring in 1986, the he took every opportunity to preach in churches all over Miami, the U.S., and in over 45 countries. Everywhere he traveled he shared his dream of financially helping Cuban pastors. He said, “About six years ago I envisioned an organization that would support pastors in Cuba who make $10 a month. Everywhere I travel I share with people about this ministry that I named El Buen Samaritano. Now we are able to double the salaries of many pastors with support internationally.”
EARLY TRAVELS AND ADVENTURES
He was born June 11th, 1924 in Quemado de Güines, Cuba the youngest of five children.
At the age of 17, he became a Christian through the message of missionaries in his small town. Shortly after, he felt the calling of the Lord to become a missionary. He eventually went to Seminario Evangélico Los Pinos Nuevos where he studied to be a minister for five years.
Oswaldo always had a heart for helping those in need, no matter the time and effort it took. Coming to the U.S. with a very limited income in 1948, his only desire was to preach and minister. “It was very hard and difficult knowing few words in English. I even failed the English exam at a Bible college in Philadelphia.”However, with merely the clothes on his back and a $20 bus ticket to Cincinnati, Ohio Oswaldo left for another Bible school where he had received a welcome invitation. Here this 24 year old studied English for two intensive years with the help and encouragement of friends.
Excitement and uncertainty overwhelmed this young man when he was offered a summer missionary job in Minnesota to work with the Mexican migrants in 1949. Four churches supported him at $50 per week with a car. “The hardest part really wasn’t the ministry; it was learning stick shift, but I got my American license in 4 weeks.” He returned a second summer after which he returned to Cuba to marry Amanda Martin in 1950.
Returning to the states with his new bride was never even given a second thought. He had already tasted the opportunities that this great nation held. “We were able to get her papers to stay in the U.S. through the Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Texas. Amanda taught classes on Escuela Dominical (Sunday School), and I was an evangelist. At the end of the school year we went back to Minnesota during the hot summer. We stayed in the farm country with the migrants in the summer and moved to Minneapolis during the winter. This first year was very difficult, especially for my wife who knew no English.”
Oswaldo had never been one to stay in one place very long. From South Texas to Minnesota, this minister found himself closer to his homeland in Florida. “In October, 1952, I had an urge to come to Tampa, Florida to start a Spanish work in Ybor City. I put Amanda and the baby (Adriana) in the car, and we drove all the way to Florida. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I knew we had a purpose for being there. We found an apartment for $9 per week, and an American missionary asked if I would like to take over a Spanish mission. So I did – renting a storefront at $25 per month to hold church.”
Rev. Martinez’s deep vision and ambition saw to it that in 1956 the church would have its own building. Eventually he and Amanda became fully supported by the Conservative Baptist Missionary Board as ministers to Hispanics. This year also marked the naturalization of the couple as United States citizens. Additionally, they welcomed the birth of their two younger daughters, Anna and Debbie while in Tampa.
In 1961, following the take over of communism in Cuba, Oswaldo moved his family to Miami to assist countless numbers of refugees find shelter, food, clothes, and jobs. He started Templo Biblico Bautista in Northwest Miami as a base for this ministry. He would literally drive up and down the streets of Miami looking for people who desired help, and then take them back to his makeshift warehouse, his home. “We had to use our small two bedroom home to store boxes of clothes and food until the church had its own building. Eventually, we bought a building and would open the church twice a week to the refugees.”
Rev. Martinez started another church in Miami in 1975, Iglesia Bautista Slyvania, where he remained until his retirement. “As I think about all the moving we did before coming to Miami, I believe God prepared us to come at the right time to minister and meet the needs of the influx of Cubans. I knew all too well the pains of leaving the homeland, and the desire to have a better life in an unknown land.”
RETIREMENT – TRAVELING THE WORLD
Most people retire to rest and relax, but those two words were foreign to this die-hard evangelist. He preached in over 45 countries including all of Central and South America, parts of Europe and even Russia. Working with the mission board all of those years, provided him with a network of contacts. When asked what his favorite place to visit, he wasted no time in answering, Cuba. “I feel at home when I’m there. I feel honored to preach there and help support the ministries over there. I am humbled by the gratitude those in Cuba have for what little we are able to give them.”
A BOY FROM CUBA
As the first in his family to live in the U.S., this boy from Cuba dared to live the American dream while reaching out towards others. “I hoped to be remembered as a man with a heart for people helping them to avoid oppression and to avoid defeat and to think of other people first. Then God will bless you.”