Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, the largest Scripture translation organization in the world, welcomes Cheryl Martin to its board of directors. Martin, an author, speaker and radio host, begins her first three-year term on the board, which sets strategic direction for Wycliffe and provides accountability for its leadership.
“Cheryl is a true prayer warrior and is passionate about the power of God’s Word to change lives,” says Brady Anderson, chairman of the board. “She also has a heart for young people, who will play a key role in meeting Wycliffe’s ambitious goals. I have known Cheryl since we served together on the board of World Vision. She is a woman of deep faith and an unparalleled communicator. I am thankful she has been called to serve alongside thousands who are involved in Bible translation today.”
Martin is the host of the weekly radio broadcast Excellent Living, a program designed to enrich, empower and encourage listeners with practical and relevant principles for making wise choices and living with purpose. A former television reporter for the local NBC and ABC affiliate television stations in Washington, D.C., and former news anchor and moderator at Black Entertainment Television (BET), Martin is also an accomplished author and public speaker.
“I have experienced the life-transforming nature of the Word of God, and I can’t imagine being among the over 250 million people who still don’t have a translation of the Bible in their native tongue,” Martin said. “I consider it a privilege to partner with Wycliffe to make sure that the mission and vision of providing those translations continue.
“I see prayer as vital to the success of Wycliffe, or any ministry, because it’s in prayer that we hear the mind of God, that we know that He is intimately involved in every aspect,” Martin added. “It’s also in prayer that we empty ourselves of ourselves and always acknowledge an utter dependency on God for His wisdom, knowledge, the needed funds, and for creativity. We are to pray about everything, and I don’t think we can ever get away from that.”
Martin launched her journalism career at the NBC-owned station in Washington, D.C., before moving on to the local ABC affiliate and eventually BET. During her tenure at BET, Martin was a news anchor and host of Lead Story, a Sunday news analysis program. She also reported and produced several half-hour specials for the network: The Legacy: Dreaming and Living Success, an inspirational look at successful African-Americans and the parents who inspired them to excel; Mission in the Hood, a look at initiatives by black, inner-city churches to curb violence and strengthen the family; and Passage to Democracy, a chronicling of Martin’s visit to South Africa to cover the historic first all-race elections. Martin left her full-time career in journalism in 2002 to devote more time to speaking and writing.
