A Call To Ministry •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• There’s little about Martha Becker’s outward appearance that causes her to stand out in a crowd. Among the amazing things distinguishing her from her peers are her advanced age of 101 and her deeply moving devotion to the Christian ministry call she began sensing more than 95 years ago. “I was five,” Martha remembers. “I sat on the lap of a missionary invited by my parents to stay at our home. He talked to me about little boys and girls in China who didn’t know Jesus. At that age, that was stunning news to me. He could have said the children were in Freeman. It would have had the same impact on me. I knew all about Jesus and thought someone should tell those children about him, too.” Martha’s parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Becker, made a decision to pattern their life after the teachings of the Bible shortly after they were married. Their commitment often led them to invite missionaries visiting their church to stay at their home near Silver Lake, outside Marion, SD. Martha remembers well that her parents were actively involved in activities at Evangelical Mennonite Brotherhood (EMB), the family’s home church. It’s likely that Jacob and Elizabeth had little MINISTRY continued on page 18 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• At age 101, Martha Becker, resident at Freeman's Salem Mennonite Home, still actively ministers to her peers. She recently completed writing about her life's work as a missionary to Ecuador. Healthcare for Newborn thru Adult •Illness & Injury •Vaccines•Preventative Care •Sports & School Physicals•Women’s Health It’s Flu Season! Jeffrey Johnson, MD By Appointment or Walk-ins Welcome Monday-Friday 9am-5pm After Hours Care Saturday 9am-Noon Brandi Pravecek, CNP Seasonal vaccine now available. By appointment or walk-ins welcome. Call 605.260.2100 Lewis & Clark Medical Plaza, 2525 Fox Run Parkway, Suite 200, Yankton Brad Adams, PA-C www.lewisandclarkfamilymedicine.com Affiliated with Lewis & Clark Specialty Hospital HERVOICE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 v 17