Jack Martens is a minister in San Francisco who marches to the beat of a different drummer. He is not ordained and doesn't preach from a pulpit, but Martens is a pastor nonetheless. Ask over 10,000 students who through the years have benefited from his ministry on the other side of his music stand.

You see, Jack Martens is a band teacher to 12-, 13-, and 14-year-olds in the inner city of San Francisco. For 33 years he has braved the challenges of less-than-ideal teaching conditions at Ben Franklin Middle School to courageously live out his faith. Over 50 percent of Martens' students are from broken homes, the same number are on welfare, nearly that number come from families where English is not the first language. To that score add the fact that funding for the arts has been all but cut off in Jack's school district.

Still the bearded band teacher shepherds his students through the less-than green pastures of life. "I love these kids," he admits. "And they love me. In me they can see my love for Jesus Christ."

Although Martens keeps a Bible and other Christian symbols on his desk, it is his interaction with the kids that gives his witness a melody line. He eats lunch with them to help them talk through their problems and stays after school to help with difficult fingerings. Through the mechanics of music he is able to show his students they are capable of something beautiful.

In light of the popularity of such films as Mr. Holland's Opus and Music of the Heart, how refreshing it is to know Jack Martens is not a fictitious character. He is a committed follower of Jesus who views his secular work as a sacred call.