Lara Martin

Lara Martin is a musician, songwriter and former worship pastor of the Christian Abundant Life Church in Bradford, England. Lara moved away from the church, for personal reasons, in 2008 to Romania to help with disadvantaged street children. She is now based in Northampton at Elim Christian Centre.

Her songs are featured on some of the church's albums, DVDs, music books and television programmes. The albums and DVDs are distributed in the UK by the Christian label Kingsway Music. The albums Higher, Divine Exchange, God Is Here, Sing, How Loved and Send Me all feature tracks written by her. She also led worship and sang on Let the World See Jesus.

Some of Martin's more popular songs have been included on Christian compilation albums such as Virgin's The Best Worship Songs... Ever! and are frequently covered live by other artists.

Lara Martin was born as Lara Hughes in Belfast but relocated to Bradford with her parents in the 1970s.^[1] Prior to becoming worship pastor, she worked in a jewellers and then became a receptionist at the church. The leaders became aware of her music skills as she would often sing around the office. When the previous worship leader left the church in 1999, Paul Scanlon, the senior pastor, offered her the job of Worship Pastor.^[2]

Martin is a mezzo-soprano singer and guitarist. She is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

She is married with two sons.

Albums

• Higher (2000)
• Divine Exchange (2002)
• God Is Here (2003)
• How Loved (2004)
• Sing (2004)
• Let the World See Jesus (2005)
• Send Me (2007)

Songs

• "Always"
• "As for Me/I Have Decided", co-written with Mark Stevens
• "Best Thing", co-written with Jock James
• "Blessed to Be a Blessing"
• "Forever Faithful", co-written with Dan Brummitt
• "God is Here"
• "He's Real", co-written with Dan Brummitt
• "How Amazing"
• "How Loved Am I"
• "Incredible"
• "I Trust in You"
• "Joined by Angels"
• "Miracle of Life"
• "More of You"
• "My Inspiration"
• "On Earth As in Heaven"
• "Peace", co-written with Mark Stevens
• "The Voice of Hope"
• "We Crown You Now", co-written with Mark Stevens
• "You Are My God"
• "You Are There"
• "You Never Fail Me"
• "You Take Up All of Me"
• "Your Grace Covers Me"

References

1. Martin, Lara. "My Space – Lara Martin", "MySpace", 2 October 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008
2. McCabe, Helen (May 2002). "Abundant Worship – Abundant Life". Cross Rhythms (68).