News flash • The Texas pastor who inspired the movement, new film

Gastonia, N.C. – A Texas pastor who started a movement to end the foster care crisis in his town and inspired the upcoming film, The Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, arrives in Gaston County.

Bishop WC Martin will be the guest speaker at a special event on Saturday, July 20 at 9:00 a.m. at the Legacy Event Center (207 S. Chestnut St., Gastonia). The event is hosted by the Gaston County Department of Health and Human Services and the Guardian ad Litem office.

The film, which hits theaters on July 4^this one of the most anticipated films of the summer and is inspired by the true story of Bishop Martin and Donna Martin and their church in East Texas, where 22 families adopted 77 children from the local foster system, sparking a movement to help vulnerable children everywhere.

Community partners and faith-based community leaders from DHHS-Social Services of Gaston County are invited to have breakfast with Bishop Martin and the Foster Care staff, then learn how Bishop Martin and his congregation of Bennett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church ended the foster care crisis in Possum Trot, Texas.

The event is free to the public but registration is required. To register, visit the End the Foster Care Crisis page on Eventbrite or call 704-862-7987 to register by phone. If you have any questions, email Konecka Drakeford.

###