Vigil highlights awareness of child abuse, sex assault
editor@wood.cm
The annual candlelight vigil returned to the pavilion at Jim Hogg City Park in Quitman to remind citizens April is Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Prevention Month.
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Vigil highlights awareness of child abuse, sex assault
The annual candlelight vigil returned to the pavilion at Jim Hogg City Park in Quitman to remind citizens April is Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Prevention Month.
The evening began with free hot dogs, chips and drinks and exploring the information and opportunities at the various booths set up around the park pavilion.
Participating in the program were local Boy Scouts who presented the colors and Pledge of Allegiance followed by the story of the blue ribbon told by Quitman senior Brooklyn Marcee.
The Mineola Middle School Choir and the Hawkins First Baptist Church youth choir each performed. They sang “Way Maker” and “Never Too Far Gone.”
The speaker was Mike Jeter, pastor of Pine Street Baptist Church and a foster parent. Jeter spoke about his family’s involvement in foster care.
“We got a call and they said there was a placement and she has a one-month old baby. She’s from a family of seven. CPS asked if we knew any foster parents living close to you,” Jeter explained. “They said she had three sisters and told them we would take them all. We go from empty nesters to five girls ages 16, 13, 10, three and one-month. Those girls changed our lives.”
Jeter added, “Being a foster parent is not a choice every person can make. We have to constantly remind ourselves this is not about us. This is all about God. If you’re considering being a foster parent you need more than love. You need love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Love is just a part of being a foster parent, but they need so much more than love. To be a foster parent is truly a calling and being a parent is truly the hardest job in the world.”
To those who might be considering being foster parents, he said, “If you are considering fostering, really pray about it knowing God has to be in it. The training prepared us, but there is nothing like the experience. Being a foster parent is an investment, but like anything else, the dividends are out of this world. It really does pay off.”
After Scott Parton gave the closing prayer, the young people took part in the candle lighting ceremony, and the CASA for kids of East Texas led a bubble release.
