BY REV. JIM MARTIN

How often have you said, as you looked at a disabled person, “I am not half thankful enough?”

Some time ago I was visiting in the home of a profoundly disabled boy and I was appalled at the strain this boy’s disability was putting on the whole household. The stress was most apparent in the mother, who was at breaking point, both mentally and physically.

For years she had ministered to her son. Her’s was a 24 hour day vocation and now the burden was becoming too much.

What was she to do? With unbelievable reluctance she was forced to concede that in the long term, she would be unable to keep her son at home.

Where would he go? Did anyone care? In all of Newtownabbey there was not a place where someone, with his degree of disability, could be adequately loved and cared for.

I left that loving, caring mother and went to my own home and prayed. Then I called the mother and asked her, “What would you like for your son?” She replied, “A nice little homely place in the centre of our community where he and people like him could be loved and cared for.” I replied, “I will build it for you,” and under God I meant it.

So the concept of ‘The Martin Residential Trust for the loving care of people with profound learning disabilities’ was born.

The dream became a reality and in January 1988, 14 profoundly disabled moved into a beautiful new residence.

In 1994 we completed a lovely new extension, which along with its many other amenities, houses another four residents, which means our family now numbers eighteen.

The Martin Trust Home is a loving and caring place and we love to see visitors. If you are ever in the Glengormley area, please feel free to call in and see us. We can promise you a warm welcome and if we can help you with information or advice regarding learning disabilities a member of staff would be more than pleased to assist.

Finally, let me say a personal and very sincere word of thanks to all the very generous people who have supported us over the years. The goodness of people never ceases to amaze me and I am more than grateful to you all.

Humanly speaking without your help we could not have achieved anything, and every time I see our residents enjoying the beautiful building and the amenities in it, I know that everything we have achieved is due to the Grace of God who has moved people like you to help us.