“Big Lou” Martinez (1938 – 2008)

“By faith Abel was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks even though he is dead.” Hebrews 11:4

On Saturday July 12, 2008 was the Celebration-Memorial for the inspirational life of “Big Lou” Martinez! Over 400 family, friends and fellow disciples – from the Los Angeles International Church of Christ and the City of Angels International Christian Church – crammed into a sanctuary with seating for 300! Here we celebrated Big Lou, because he had done something no one in the entire room had done: our dear brother had made it gloriously to the other side!

Big Lou had several favorite expressions. One of them was, “Se acabó todo,” which – to use Big Lou’s phraseology – meant, “That’s all she wrote” or “That’s it!” In English this translates, “It is finished.” In one sense, he had persevered and had “finished the race” of the Christian life. Yet, like Abel, his blood “still speaks.” Big Lou was born in Kingman, Arizona on January 14, 1938. In this small town, he was raised by immigrant parents from Mexico. After high school, he enlisted in the Army and, in time, was stationed in San Francisco – destined to meet a beautiful, Polynesian woman soldier, Leilani Matautia. She was on leave in San Francisco from her base on the East Coast during the Thanksgiving holidays. San Francisco was as close as the Army could get her to her beloved Hawaii.

Leilani (someday to be Martinez) was in line at the mess hall, feeling homesick and depressed. No one talked to her, nor did she have any desire to interact with anyone. Then all of a sudden, she heard raucous laughter at the head of the line. It all centered around the soldier serving the mashed potatoes and gravy. When she first saw this soldier’s face her heart leaped for joy! She surmised that he must be Japanese-Hawaiian or Filipino-Hawaiian. As she was receiving her mashed potatoes and gravy – and sensing a kindred soul – Lani in her aloha spirit sweetly asked, “Are you from Hawaii?” The soldier, whom she thought was “extremely cute,” curtly replied, “Heck no! I’m Chicano!” Everyone laughed except Lani. She did not know what a “Chicano” was! Soon they fell in love and their song became, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco”.

Lou and Lani were married for 45 years! God blessed them with four incredible children. The first was Luis Joaquin born in 1964. Since there was now a second “Luis” in the family, Lou became “Big Lou” and his first son became “Lu Jack”, Jack being the English translation of Joaquin, and also the name of Big Lou’s dearest brother. Then in 1966, Lani had twins! Laura and, eight minutes later, Laurice – or, as Big Lou affectionately called them, “Laura-pie” and “Reecie”! Then in 1972, Big Lou and Lani were surprised with Laurence Manuel! Lu Jack, as the older brother, quickly tired of simply calling him “Larry” and nicknamed him “Lar’ the Brere Bear”. This nickname showed that, indeed, Lu Jack was a “prophet” and destined to be a preacher, as his “little brother” grew to be 6’3” and 250 lbs! Big Lou called him “El Oso,” which is Spanish for “Bear,” the name everyone calls him to this day!

While attending Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Lu Jack was baptized on December 12, 1986! From the first day he was baptized, he prayed that his whole family would become disciples. In the summer 1989, Lu Jack returned to Los Angeles on the LA Mission Team sent out from the Boston Church of Christ, and his mom, Lani was baptized that following November! In the 1990’s, Laura and Laurice were baptized as well as Bear and his wife Nicole. However, Big Lou – though always a father and friend to the many disciples that made the Martinez house a second home – did not respond.

In late 2005, Big Lou was suffering from a variety of health problems, including congestive heart failure, exacerbated by his diabetes. Big Lou, now conscious of his mortality, was being prepared by God to look to God’s Word for help – for hope. His daughter, Laura made a heartfelt appeal, “Dad, it’s time: you need to study the Bible!” Big Lou studied the Bible with Lu Jack, Bear and a few other brothers; and after 20 years of Lu Jack praying for his entire family to be born again, his father Big Lou was baptized on January 15, 2006!

In Hebrews 12 the Spirit says, “You have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church the first born, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men… to [Jesus’] sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse Him that speaks.” Big Lou had a second favorite phrase, “If it’s free, it’s for me!” Jesus’ blood spoke to Big Lou and said no matter how awesome your life or even your family, there is an emptiness in every man’s soul that can only be filled by a relationship with God. This very precious salvation, though requiring the surrender of one’s life, cannot be paid for… it is free! And Big Lou said, “That’s for me!”

Big Lou’s blood spoke to all who were at the Celebration-Memorial. To the lost he says, “If it’s free it’s not only for me, but for anyone who will humble themselves to the Lordship of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” To disciples his blood says, “Do not give up praying that your whole family will be saved through repentance, confession and baptism. Pray for five years, for ten years, for twenty years. Pray and do not give up. For when severe illnesses come to family members, God’s sovereignty and mercy are in effect.” In His infinite mercy, God wakes up an individual’s sense of mortality with life threatening conditions.

Surely, “thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly” surrounded the sanctuary as Big Lou’s blood also spoke to the two fellowships – the Los Angeles ICOC and the City of Angels Church. His blood echoes God’s Spirit, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, can not love God, whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20) Big Lou and Lani, though members in good standing in the LA ICOC, would come once a month to our service in the City of Angels Church. Big Lou took a gallant stand – at the risk of being disfellowshipped – to worship with fellow disciples, as their son, Lu Jack, leads the City of Angels Church services in song. Finally, the blood of Big Lou encourages all disciples everywhere, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and [God] will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)

Big Lou is my brother and dear friend. Big Lou, Lani, Elena and I would meet every couple of months for breakfast at Denny’s or an occasional lunch at Canter’s Deli. I will miss these times; but I so look forward to our heavenly feast! Let us “not refuse” to listen to the blood of Big Lou and “the better word… of Jesus’ blood.” And to God be the glory!

Kip McKean