December 15, 2021 - Pineywoods Outreach Center celebrated its re-opening on Saturday, December 11th with community members, the Chamber of Commerce, and families.
Brenda Carrillo spoke praises and blessings for the center being open once again, "Welcome to the grand re-opening of the Pineywoods Outreach Center!" She gave thanks for all who have given so much to make the opening of the facility possible. Thanks were extended to Bishop W.C. Martin and First Lady Donna, Pastor Alvin and Vanessa Davis, Joe Knittig from the Global Orphan Project and who came all the way from Kansas to the re-opening, Rebekah Weigel who is also with the Global Orphan Project, and all the volunteers.
Live music was enjoyed while children played in bouncy houses, played games, took pictures with Santa, and enjoyed great food. A ribbon cutting was done to officially open the center.
Donna Cartwright Martin shared her story about how the Pineywoods Outreach Center got started. Back in 1997 after the loss of her mother, she felt God put it upon her heart for her to open up her heart to children and give them the love she had felt from her mother while growing up. After speaking with her husband, Bishop W.C. Martin, he shared this with the church and that was the beginning of the journey which included 77 children being adopted by a church and a community.
From left: Vanessa Davis, Donna Cartwright Martin, and Rebekah Weigel
Donna Martin shared about the re-opening, "It's a new beginning. Because through the adoptions, all the kids that we have served here along with the kids of the community, we provided after school tutoring for them. We nurtured these kids; we went into their homes. We were there on site if they needed something to help support their families. Many times we took the kids out shopping, we took them to movies, and just done things and then tried to build a relationship with their parents to let them know that we just want to come along side them." She continued, "So, all of our children are grown and have children and the children that we cared for at that time, and the ministry cared for, are grown and so now we are catching the children from the children that we've taken care of."
Vanessa Davis, wife of Pastor Alvin Davis, and Rebekah Weigel, a national ambassador for Care Portal and the Global Orphan Project, supported Martin in her description of the Pineywoods Outreach Center today. They all agreed when asked what brought the Center to re-opening, "Just God's timing."
Martin continued speaking about the center, "We were running it on how we always have - faith. Then Covid came and shut everything down. So, we kept praying and praying and praying and God sent some great supporters. The Global Orphan Project came in to back the re-opening of the Pineywoods Outreach Center."
"We are excited to play a small role and come in underneath them and let them fly," added Rebekah Weigel with the Global Orphan Project.
"So, we are just asking again that all who will and who care and have the heart for ministry, have the heart for children, have the heart for family, to come and walk beside us. We want partners; it's a whole new day. We still stand on the same foundation - this was founded upon love," expressed Mrs. Martin. "We know we are in a new phase; we know we are in a new time and we are on a new page but we stand on that same principle and foundation - one heart touching another, and helping these children to become everything that God wants them to be. So, we asked for the community, we ask for the pastors, we ask for those who have heart, who have a gift, to come and give back. I learned just through the Holy Spirit, through any pain or any discomfort that you may have, when you begin to give back what God has given to you, that's healing. I urge and encourage all, that whatever you have, what gift God has given to you, to give back and bring forth healing. So, we are excited about the new re-opening of Pineywoods and we continue to ask everyone to pray for us, to keep us undergirded, and come on over and help partner with us."
Weigel reinforced Martin in what she was saying, "We really want to see the community get involved, and other churches and businesses, to use their talents and their gifts, just to serve kids and that we can all come together to do that together. With so much division in the world right now, the one thing we can all agree on is we can all serve kids together, and to come together in unity for the sake of the kids and the families in our community that really need help."
Vanessa Davis summarized the Pineywoods Outreach Center's new beginning, "One of the things that Bishop Martin has always said is that 'Pineywoods Outreach, saving the generation.' Well, now it is 'Pineywoods Outreach, the next generation.'"
Weigel ended saying, "We are excited to just continue the legacy, and to continue building on from the past."
Currently, the Pineywoods Outreach Center will be open on Thursdays after school and Saturdays after noon. There will be tutoring for the kids for different classes. Be sure to visit pineywoodsoutreachcenter.org online in January for more information which includes a new schedule and new opportunities.
For questions or to volunteer to help at the Outreach Center, please contact us at pineywoodsoutreach@gmail.com or 936-332-6253. Pineywoods Outreach Center is located at 255 Haley Drive in Center, Texas off of Loop 500.
