About 30 years ago, in a tiny community in east Texas, the pastor of a small Baptist church mobilized his congregation in a powerful way that changed the lives of the children in the local foster care system forever. Members of Bennett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church learned that dozens of children in the surrounding area needed families, and they ultimately adopted 77 children.
This true story is at the center of the newly-released “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot.” There wasn’t a single child left in their area waiting to be adopted, and this church succeeded because they tackled this issue together. The families of Possum Trot exemplified the power or community and embodied the adage “it takes a village.”
These families rallied together to help children exit the foster system for good. Spoiler alert: Not one Possum Trot adoptee was returned to the state’s custody and care. The community rallied around each family to raise every child.
There is strength in numbers. Power in community. Hope for the future.
I love and am inspired by the community of Possum Trot. As an adoptive parent myself, I was deeply moved by seeing a reflection of the struggle, the pain, the challenge, and the victory portrayed in the film. It mirrored the battles that I had to fight for my children, and I was reminded that I didn’t do it alone.
There are hurting children all around us who come from families who need us. We have to do something and a way to do that is to imagine how you can impact your community and transform the lives of children and families.
The families of Bennett Chapel had a special calling to adopt some of the hardest to place and longest waiting children in the state foster care system. Every family is not called to adopt, but we all have a part to play, a biblical mandate to “love our neighbors and we love ourselves.”
What would that love look like in action? I believe that love would move us to support vulnerable children and families before a crisis occurred that would necessitate a child’s removal from their family, extended family, and community.
Poverty related issues are associated with over 60% of the involuntary separations of children from their families. Being poor should never be the primary reason children can’t stay with their families of origin. As Susan said in the film, neglect, not abuse, is responsible for over 70% of child removals; these children could have safely remained home if somebody just did something to help their families facing a crisis.
Far too many parents and families are facing the harsh realities of life with little to no supports. They have no village, no safety net. They need community supports and those of us who are willing to not only care about the needs of others, but to be willing to roll up our sleeves and care for the needs of others.
At Bethany, we encourage and empower individuals, communities, and churches to provide tangible supports to families through the following meaningful ways: mentorship, clothing drives, back to school events, and meal trains. Churches have organized clothing closets, utility assistance programs, and furniture and housing supports. We have sought after private foundation dollars to fund family resource centers, parent cafes, and other parenting programs.
