by: Martin L. Dornan, Sr.
Martin Dornan was born at Mercy Hospital on the south side of Chicago. His parents sent him
and his older siblings to church, though they never attended themselves. However, his mother
began attending church in her late 60s. In his younger years, Martin attended Chicago's Ashland
Christian Church but took a break during his teenage years, attending sporadically until late in
his nine-year military career. It was during this time that his older brother introduced him to Mr.
Herbert Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God. Martin remained a member of this church
for over 30 years, enduring a period of extreme legalism and witnessing a major doctrinal change
to Christ-centered worship. For the past two years, he has been a member of Mesa First Church
of the Nazarene. Pastor Ira Brown and the congregation are very warm and loving, making it
Martin's second home. His two favorite hymns are "Oh, How I Love Jesus" and "To God Be the
Glory." He presently lives in Mesa, Arizona, and his daily goal is to live according to God's will
and follow His path.
Martin L. Dornan, Sr., a distinguished veteran and dedicated professional, brings a wealth of
experience to his literary pursuits. Born in Chicago, he excelled academically at Lindblom High
School, making the Honor Society and Dean’s List in 1963-64. Serving honorably in the U.S.
Army Finance Corps from 1964 to 1973, he earned the Army Commendation Medal while
serving as the Finance Liaison for the U.S. Army Fifth Recruiting District Headquarters, with
postings in Vietnam and West Germany.
In 1980, Martin graduated with high honors from Richard J. Daley College, earning an A.A.S. in
Accounting. His career at Progressive Insurance saw him rise to Senior Representative in Sales
and Customer Service. In 2013, he published his first book of poetry, "Poetry in Emotion – a
Christian’s Perspective," showcasing fifty years of his writings and Christian faith. Despite
battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, he worked full-time from 2015 to 2022, demonstrating
remarkable resilience.
Currently, Martin works part-time as a van driver for Lexington, LLC, an Adult Day Care
facility, finding fulfillment in serving disabled young adults. His rich life experiences, dedication
to service, and poetic insights make him a compelling and inspiring author.