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Rep. Nathaniel Moran introduces resolution honoring East Texas church that adopted 77 children
CBS19
November 27, 2024
By Zak Wellerman

U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran recently introduced a resolution honoring the East Texas church that adopted 77 children.

Moran announced House Resolution 1572 honors Bishop W.C. Martin, First Lady Donna Martin, and the Bennett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church of Possum Trot for their selfless acts of adoption, fostering and love during National Adoption Awareness Month, which is November. The Possum Trot community is a small, unincorporated community in southeastern Shelby County. 

“Nearly three decades ago, Bishop Martin and his wife, Donna, who already had two biological children, adopted another four, starting a movement of 22 families within the Possum Trot community to adopt or foster children without a home,” Moran said.

The story of the adoptions also inspired the movie, “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot," that was produced by Angel Studios and came out earlier this year.

The resolution also honors all families across America who strive to foster, adopt, and better the lives of vulnerable children in the foster care system.

Moran said Mrs. Martin was inspired to adopt after the death of her mother who raised 18 children.

“She stated, ‘And the Holy Spirit said, “Think about those other children out there that do not have what you had with your mother.” I was overcome with such warmness. I walked back into the house, picked up the Yellow Pages and called an adoption agency.’ That’s how it began. It concluded with 77 children finding loving homes in a community that simply decided that they would do what they could and give all that they had for the benefit of the most vulnerable and needy among them," Moran said.

The resolution also supports the enactment of the Foster Care Adoption Oversight and Support Act. This law would collect data on adoptions from the foster care system to improve outcomes for adopted children and their families and to identify discrepancies in resources and services to families and children, Moran said.

To watch Moran's remarks on the U.S. House floor, click HERE.

Read the story from CBS19 here.