Rural Church Inspires Nation to Care for Most Vulnerable

The pastor of a small, rural Texas church that remarkably adopted dozens of children has been instrumental in helping Assemblies of God congregations in the state develop foster care ministries.

Bishop W.C. Martin, his wife, Donna, and Bennett Chapel in Possum Trot, Texas, made national news when they adopted “the most difficult-to-place children” in foster care in the late 1990s.

Their story inspired the film "Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot," which was released in July and chronicles how 22 local families adopted 77 foster children in need.

“The movie has helped raise awareness of the body of Christ's responsibility to care for kids in foster care,” explains Martin, 77, who was ordained as an AG minister in 2013.

Bennett Chapel, which has approximately 80 members, is an independent Missionary Baptist church. Martin is also the pastor of Piney Woods Assembly of God Church in Center, Texas.

“There is more awareness now than back in 1998 when we first started adopting because it is more than a movie,” adds Martin, who was first approached 10 years ago about turning his church's story into a movie. “It is a movement that has been ordained by God.”

Gaylan Claunch, superintendent for the North Texas District of the Assemblies of God, has known Martin for more than 12 years and calls him “the real deal.''

“Bishop Martin and his story at Possum Trot was one of the catalysts for the North Texas District's development of our foster care ministry called Family First,” he says. “His ministry is a credible ministry, which we supported for some time. We decided to redirect our support to our initiative.

“Over the time we have engaged in foster care,” Claunch continues. “At this time, we have over 70 churches actively engaged at some level with 25 Champion Churches who give $5,000 per year. Our network is continuing to grow annually in numbers of participating churches.”

Claunch notes that he has encouraged Martin to speak at AG churches about caring for foster care children. He also presented at the Assemblies of God Foster Care Network’s conference in Texas last year.

“He is one of the best voices for foster care in North Texas,” he says. “Obviously, their story is incredible and truly illustrates what a church can do to meet the needs of children and youth in need of loving, caring and godly homes.

“Bishop Martin is truly a man of God,” Claunch adds. “He pastors in a region of much poverty, but he has done an outstanding work for God. Bishop Martin’s need for support is significant and constant due to the poverty of his area. His work is real and genuine.”

Dating back more than two decades, Martin has appeared on “Oprah,” “Dateline,” “Good Morning America,” “48 hours” and “The 700 Club” to share his church's story.

Aaron Blake, who oversees Greater Faith Community Church, an AG congregation with three locations in Brownwood, Texas, has known the Martins for more than 20 years.

“Their heart and passion to care for vulnerable children and families is as strong today as it was the day I met them,” he says. “I call Bishop Martin the Godfather of adoption.

“When you look at their church of less than 200 people, we saw them adopt 77 children from the foster care system without one disruption,” continues Blake, who along with his wife, Mary, took in six young men from the foster care system in the early 2000s. “Their story has given all of us an example to share with other churches and challenged us to do more.”

He has seen "Sound of Hope" and calls it accurate.

“But Hollywood could not cover the entire power, passion, and miracle of sacrificial love and care given to the children by each family,” says Blake, who is also the founder of Harvest Family Life Ministries, a nonprofit ministry that seeks to defend, care for, and support abused, abandoned and neglected children. “The need broke my heart, but the response of this man and woman of God to lead their church inspired me to do more.

“The movie helps change the way the foster care system views the church being a major player in child welfare,” he adds. “If this could be done in a small church in a small town, it could be done anywhere.”

Blake notes that Martin travels across the country “sharing the message of love, hope and care.”

“He has become a voice for them,” he says. “May their story become an inspiration for all of us. Everyone is not called to foster or adopt, but we all are called to do something.”

Bennett Chapel member Jewel M. Williams, an adoptive parent, 70, was inspired by the Martins. The couple adopted four children in total, adding to the two biological children they had.

"God used Bennett Chapel to reach out to the children and the community,” she says. “It allowed us to teach the gospel to the children and teach them in the way that they should go."

Ricky R. Cartwright, another Bennett Chapel member and adoptive parent, 60, echoes her sentiment.

"God used us to help children in need,” he says. “He gave us the strength, courage, and faith to help foster and adopt children. Our church family and community got to share the love of Jesus Christ with the most vulnerable in our world."