THINGS LOOKING UP IN PINE COUNTRY
SPRING 2017
CONTENTS
05
WE CARE PALESTINE GO TELL teams up with local churches to provide leadership, vision, and resources to overcome these obstacles and give pastors and lay leaders the tools they need to win their communities for Christ.
04
*
06
GO TELL CRUSADE
THE HOPE STATION
GO TELL teams up with local churches to provide leadership, vision, and resources to overcome these obstacles and give pastors and lay leaders the tools they need to win their communities for Christ.
Someone is out there tonight needing your help. Have the courage, and faith, to make that difference.
10
12
13
the YMCA
KING’S REIN
UNITED WAY
Cindy Piersol, CEO of the Palestine YMCA, has worked tirelessly to acquire support. But the vision does not stop with the clearing of acreage for soccer.
The relationship between participants and their horses are the foundation for healing. This relationship helps participants overcome fears and develop trust.
Remember, every dime and bread slice given will stay in our community, so your efforts will make our society better. What we raise here, stays here.
2 | PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM
Thank you to Thrive Community Church for translating Beacon for our online Spanish readers. Gracias a Thrive Community Church por traducir Beacon a nuestros lectores Españoles en línea.
14
FLOOD REFLECTION Let us remind ourselves of where this community has come out of these last twelve months. The strength of a community can only be judged in moments of tribulation. No city can plan for the events that occurred a year ago.
MEDIA PARTNERS We are excited about partnering with our good friends at 93.5 KBPC. Pine Country 93.5 is the one station that listeners from East Texas, can count on for instant, up-to-date weather information...the latest SRN Network News at the top of the hour... and the biggest variety of Today’s Country Hits music
08 STUDENT WRITERS The Beacon has an exciting new program to watch out for… Our Student Writers Initiative. The young people in the community are getting out in the area and sharing their stories of service, as well as spotlighting different ministries and organizations in Pine Country and the surrounding areas.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
A special thank you to our local Whataburger locations who are passionate about our mission to deliver, hope, inspiration, and change to the Pine Country and surrounding areas. PUBLISHER
COMMUNITY MANAGER
Full Armor Foundation 501(c)(3) Organization
Blake Clifton blake@pinecountrybeacon.com
ADDRESS
ONLINE
PO BOX 591624 San Antonio, TX 78259
PineCountryBeacon.com @PineCountryBeacon
BEACON OFFICE
PUBLISHED
PH: (903) 724-2274
Quarterly
“This is your chance to get involved in the community” - Jackie
* Photos by www.blakeverdoorn.com including cover
PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM | 3
OUR COMMUNITY HENDERSON COUNTY’S
BLAKE CLIFTON BEACON STAFF
GO TELL’S CRUSADE UNITES CHURCHES IN A COMMUNITY WHO POOL THEIR RESOURCES TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR EVANGELISTIC CRUSADES TO BE HELD IN FOOTBALL STADIUMS, CIVIC CENTERS, AND COLISEUMS. THE NIGHTLY EVENT FEATURES VIDEO, POPULAR CHRISTIAN ARTISTS, TESTIMONIES OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION, AND A CLEAR GOSPEL MESSAGE.
The feats that unity can accomplish cannot be measured. A local example of this is Henderson County’s Go Tell Crusade. A variety of church families, citizens, and volunteers came together every evening from April 23rd-26th at the Athens High School football field. We spoke with Pastor Eric Graham about his experience with the crusade. Just on the first night, there were twenty-one salvations and twenty re-dedications. Eric’s favorite thing he saw was the cooperation from all the churches, who weren’t alike, but unified through love for one another as citizens of Athens. “The way I see it, our salvation is a call to service.” Go Tell Crusades is much larger than just our local counties, but its mission is exactly what happens on fields like ours. There is a desire to save souls, transform churches and revitalize communities. With over 300 counselors, serving as ush-
4 | PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM
ers, singers, counselors and more, everyone can get involved the next time Go Tell comes to town. The first evening was the lightest in attendance, but even then there was 1500 people that showed! Although our personal, political, and ideological views don’t always match up with the person next door, our ability to come together as one can prevail. Every person we know is better than us at something. Invest the time to find out what that is to implement that trait in ourselves. GO TELL teams up with local churches to provide leadership, vision, and resources to overcome these obstacles and give pastors and lay leaders the tools they need to win their communities for Christ. www.gotellministries.com
When Jesus calls for us to “love our neighbor as ourselves” is he really talking about that new family across the street with all those young children or the dour elderly man on the corner? Absolutely, says the Rev. Lynn Willhite, a retired Methodist minister.
RENEWING OUR CITY ONE NEIGHBOR AT A TIME Positive, caring relationships are the most important foundational unit of every healthy community, Willhite says. That’s why she has begun a movement to strengthen those ties to transform her hometown of Palestine. Willhite is the force behind WE CARE Palestine, a community renewal effort that calls for neighbors to get to know – and care for – each other. WE CARE facilitates residents coming together to turn their neighborhoods into safe havens of friendship. “Our vision is to help our city truly be a place where every child can grow up feeling safe and loved, where youth have strong mentors and the elderly are not living isolated and alone,” she says. When Willhite was growing up in this town of 18,000, it was a simpler time, where people sat on their front porches and kids played together on the street. “Today, most of us do not know our neighbors, and as a result, isolation, mistrust and crime increase.” The WE CARE initiative is based on Community Renewal, Intl. (CRI), which began in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1994. Over the past 20 years, Shreveport has seen major crime drop up to 45 percent in the targeted areas where CRI has been at work. Willhite first read about CRI when she was pastor at First United Methodist Church in Elkhart. “The ministry captured me because it was making a real difference in the community, not just putting Band-Aids on problems. By helping
people build relationships with their neighbors, they were fundamentally changing the culture of the community.” At the heart of WE CARE are three major initiatives. Everyone can become part of the WE CARE Renewal Team simply by committing to do one act of kindness in the community. “That’s all it takes to be part of the WE CARE movement,” Willhite says. The Haven House initiative takes that commitment a step further, with volunteers agreeing to reach out to the people on their block to forge relationships that are more than a passing wave or neighborly hello. “These citizens, called Haven House leaders, receive training and support to build friendships on their block. They join with other Haven House leaders on a regular basis to develop relationships with neighbors from across the city,” Willhite explains. Finally, the long-term goal of WE CARE is to build Friendship Houses in at-risk neighborhoods. The Friendship House serves as a community center for after-school programs for children and youth, life-skills training, family night gatherings and other activities, which offer residents a better quality of life. “Community coordinators and their families live in the Friendship House and become catalysts for rebuilding a safe, caring neighborhood where children are nurtured and can feel safe,” Willhite says. The new nonprofit organization is actively seeking Haven House leaders and volunteers for the WE CARE Renewal Team. Please contact Willhite at 903-922-6149 or email lynn@wecarepalestine.org.
“We want every citizen to be part of this movement to connect neighbors across the city through friendship and caring to radically change the future of Palestine.” PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM | 5
OUR COMMUNITY
FINDING A HOME BEACON STAFF
6 | PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM
Our winter edition shed light onto where The Hope Station has been and where it’s headed. This time, we sat down with an incredible couple who, previously homeless, has gone through Hope Station’s program. They are Joseph and Brandy, and are blessed to be the first couple to have given birth to a child while in Hope Station’s program. Their story is hard, but filled with hope. Trying, but filled with obedience. They share it to bring inspiration to your life. Although they were born in the same town three months apart and in the same hospital, Joseph and Brandy only met a couple years ago. They fell in love, made a great team, and began getting serious about their faith in the following months. The turmoil of their city, lack of work hours, and an eviction notice made them search elsewhere to live, seeking God to direct their next step. Joseph and Brandy chose to stay faithful, and God answered their obedience with a workfor-rent situation at a ranch. A cabin was their answer for a while, until they were forced to move on. With their remaining belongings in a vehicle and back on the road with Brandy thirty-eight weeks pregnant, the road of faithfulness is hard. Doors closed, and they found themselves with no home or
prospects. Imagine starting your marriage out by pitching a tent, bathing with a bucket of cold water, and not knowing where your next meal or tank of gas will come from. Your faith will either get very real… or very absent. “I was impatient sometimes, wondering what we were going to do, but I am firm believer that we were homeless for a reason,” Joseph said. Brandy learned the lesson of being submissive to her husband’s leadership. Joseph understood that sharing his emotions and lessons with his wife wasn’t a weakness. “We were broken and that’s ok. My question was never ‘why’, it was always ‘what’. What is all of this for?” Today, they know. With the baby coming any day, still living in their car, they were given the address of the Hope Station. “That was a pivotal moment.” Brandy recounted. Brandon Greene chimed in that their building was just given a nursery right before the couple showed up. Listening to the story these two shared
*
forces you to believe something to be true: the timing of the answers that came for their struggles was nothing less than divine. “I hope people read this and get an understanding that God is not up in the sky… he didn’t live two thousand years ago. He is alive. He is on the move. Put him on the front of your mind.” The joy of sharing that they have a healthy baby boy is overwhelming. We cannot help but ask this question: Where would this amazing family be right now if not for an answer to prayer like the Hope Station? Understanding that our mission field includes taking care of our own is vital. We are encouraged to see the good happening within the walls of the Hope Station, and implore all to take up their cross and turn their passion to action. Anyone can plug in to make a change in their community, our hope is reading Joseph and Brandy’s story will give a sense of urgency. Someone is out there tonight needing your help.
““I hope people read this and get an understanding that God is not up in the sky he didn’t live two thousand years ago. He is alive. He is on the move. Put him on the front of your mind.””
presented by EVANGELICAL TEMPLE PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM | 7
OUR COMMUNITY Life’s Hourglass
SHANNAH AVILA, 12TH GRADE PALESTINE HS
As I grow older, I began to realize that time seemed faster. Before, I was able to finish everything that I wanted to do in one day, but now it’s harder for me to just finish part of what I plan to do for the day. Weeks turn into days and hours into minutes. It wasn’t until Spring Break that I realized that spending time with family is very important. Soon, I’ll be graduating and going off to college, living on my own without my family. This Spring Break, my family and I went to Dinosaur Valley in Glen Rose, TX and visited the beauty of Downtown Dallas. During these moments, it felt like time didn’t exist. My family and I were too busy enjoying nature and having too much fun to even realize that time was going by. It was after Spring Break that I realized that
The Real Deal
CHARLEE COCKRELL, 12TH GRADE PALESTINE HS
As a graduating senior, there has never been a more important time in life. We now have decisions to make and paths to choose to determine our future, such as what college we attend, our majors, and the people that surround us. The fear of the unknown is real and terrifying. It is in this moment that authenticity is key. Authenticity, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is to be true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character. In a world influenced by reality television, social media, and a changing “millennial” era, it is not always easy to determine what is the “real deal”. With so much more at our disposal and more opportunities to become connected to the world, many argue people have
Peer Pressure
SHASTA CARWELL, 12TH GRADE WESTWOOD HS
Throughout my childhood and into my adolescence I have always heard people talk about peer pressure. In elementary, we went through different programs that taught us how to say “no” and make right decisions. As a child, I thought that peer pressure was overrated and irrelevant in our small town. It wasn’t until I started high school that I realized I was completely mistaken. Peer pressure is everywhere. Whether it’s giving your friends your test answers so you won’t be labeled as “selfish” or “stingy”, or finally letting your peers convince you to smoke with them. I never realized that peer pressure was so influential until I experienced it myself. Like most teenagers, I didn’t like the feeling of being left out. I love to have fun and enjoy time with my friends. When my friends started to do
life seemed to go by faster. It was also then that I realized that I would miss being with my family as I went on to continue my independent life. My eyes opened up to a whole new thought. Most of the time, I stay at home glued to my cell phone, wasting the day away. One time, I spent four or five hours watching the “Stranger Things” series on Netflix (sidenote: I finished 8 episodes in two days). When I look back at the amount of hours I’ve spent using my phone, I see all the hours that I’ve wasted in my life. Those hours could have been spent on doing something productive or spending time with my family. For me, it’s upsetting to know that part of my life has been wasted from doing useless things. If I could go back, I would change all those hours of spending time on my phone to spending time with my family. As we grow older, time begins to feel faster, making life a little shorter day by day. Spend as much time with your friends and family as much as you can before the time of life’s hourglass ends. become disconnected from what is important, such as values and opinions. This is where authenticity becomes essential. As teenagers becoming adults, it is imperative to understand ourselves, to recognize what our beliefs are. This also fuels intellectual rise, because we are finding out about different ideas, so we can decide where we are, and where we want to be. By not becoming our true selves, we become uncertain of what we accept as truth. Barbara Frederickson, psychologist, points out in her research that on average, authentic people generally make more emotional connections, leading to a greater quality of life and less overall health problems. This leads to better memories, more focus, and increased brainpower. This is logical because by not suppressing who we are, we lead happier and more fulfilling lives. Authenticity is the future because, ultimately, we can only be who we are, and that’s the real deal. things that weren’t commendable, I began to feel pressure of doing it with them. My friends never forced me to do anything that I didn’t want to do. It was the pressure of feeling left out that made me feel the need to join them. With my close relationship with God and my parents, I was adamant in my morals and I didn’t fall into temptation. Although I did not let my friends influence me -most kids aren’t so fortunate. Peer pressure has always been an important topic in today’s society. Nowadays, with the help of social media and the internet, it is much easier to be influenced by peers and follow the crowd. A simple post or tweet can affect a person’s life for better or worse. Living in a small town makes it difficult to stray away from the crowd and make good decisions. From my experience, I realized that the world is much bigger than my town. I learned that the choices you make today affects the world that you live in tomorrow. Make the right decision, because life’s too short to follow the wrong path.
STUDENT WRI TERS
presented by FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
8 | PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM
The Art of Being Intentional
LAUREN ROBERTSON , BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
“Are you happy? What makes you happy? If that object of happiness was robbed from you today, would you still be happy?” These questions make up Bare Handing- a simple survey volunteers from St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Waco, Texas ask Baylor students on a weekly basis. This community outreach challenges students to shake up their mundane train of thought. Missionary Sam White currently serves the Baylor community in this manner and notes the main objective is to trigger intentional conversations. Sam expresses, “I heard a quote once and it said ‘there are no boring people, just disinterested people’.” We have become disinterested in our immediate surroundings, taking for granted the countless interactions around us- a quality missionaries like Sam understand detract from creative, social beings. In this increasingly automated world, we are quick to resort to our phones, laptops, electronics, etc. in hopes of entertaining ourselves temporarily rather than engaging with those immediately surrounding us. Even as I walk to class on campus, countless interactions are missed because we are hiding behind screens checking emails, snapchatting friends, or entertaining ourselves in some form of social media. One Sunday, Sam invited me to breakfast at her house where we immersed ourselves in genuine fellowship and discussed life on a meaningful, spiritual level before mass. No phones were answered, emails checked, or T.V. on to divert our attention. Just two friends, coffee, and a home-
cooked breakfast. I felt energized, encouraged, and simply joyous after; but not because of the caffeine-latent dark roast coffee or sunny side up eggs. Sam had- and still doestake genuine interest in me. Souls desire to be pursued and intentionally invested in. This intentionality and pursuit of friendship is a lost art amongst millennials who are knee-deep in social media. “I think that in our generation we have forgotten how to communicate… We can stay surface level and superficial in conversation,” expressed Sam. “We often times, might even walk away from talking with another person an individual that has a soul made for eternity - which is a HUGE deal - and sometimes we feel empty or with a sense that they don’t really know who we are. We weren’t made for that type of interaction. We are social creatures, with such depth that we cannot even imagine.” People like Sam serve as catalysts encouraging the world to dive headfirst into worthwhile, deep relationships. Having one intentional conversation leads to another, and I can attest by experience you will feel more fulfillment and purpose in life when you invest time in genuinely pursuing relationships. When was the last time you checked if your close friends or even sibling are truly happy? And if they regurgitate the generic “I’m good” or “it’s great”, surprise them by countering those responses with “no really. How are you doing?”. Ultimately, Sam emphasizes that intentional versus surface level friendship fulfills our human desire to belong. Have you stopped to think if you are truly happy? If those around you are? If what makes you happy was taken from you today, would you have deep enough relationships with others to help carry you through?
*
The young people of our community are sharing their stories of service, as well as spotlighting different ministries and organizations in Pine Country and the surrounding areas. PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM | 9
OUR COMMUNITY
There is no better example of our community coming together than that of the YMCA Soccer Fields. What most of us know is how far the fields have come already. Many prominent business leaders, donors, citizens and organizations have come behind this campaign to create the beautiful fields we see off of Highway 19 and 287. Soccer is the fastest growing sport in the United States, and that includes East Texas. Known as the Alex Patel Soccer Complex, you can see over 500 young players participating in anywhere between 25-35 games every week. There are twelve fields that cover about fourteen acres of land… so far. What folks DON’T know is the amount of work that is still ahead to see this complex reach its potential. Cindy Piersol, CEO of the Palestine YMCA, has worked tirelessly to acquire the support to get this far. But the vision does not stop with the clearing of acreage for soccer. Plans of hiking, camp grounds, archery, and more are in the works. The property will offer something to anyone that wants to spend an afternoon outside. A pond is on site, and a mindset for stewardship is always present, to keep these fields beautiful and clean. A common message in the Beacon is to get involved with the community to make our home a better place. Improvements can only be made, however, if there is a voice to communicate what we can get behind. These fields, just like The Beacon, offer a way for everyone to get involved. There is no better feeling than enjoying the fruits of a personal labor, in this case, volunteering time or money in developing these 10 | PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM
fields and nature to enjoy with your friends and family in the near future. It is really exciting to see this property flourish into what we see today. Just last week our people took a tour of the area, including the parts that aren’t finished yet. I admire Cindy, the staff, the ground workers, the investors and the givers. But most of all, I admire the atmosphere that this area has created to make people believe that this project would be accepted and possible. Let us finish this race well and do our part to improve Pine Country. There is so much energy in Pine Country, let’s harness that energy even more so toward projects like these. If you want to learn more about the YMCA fields, and how to specifically get involved, swing by YMCA and talk to the awesome staff on what else can be done.
presented by HOMETOWN PHARMACY
*
PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM | 11
OUR COMMUNITY
HORSES, HEALING, HOPE
Located in the peaceful countryside of East Texas, The King’s Rein Equine Assisted Outreach is a place where individuals and families struggling to overcome traumatic life events find healing and hope. The King’s Rein uses the relationship between participants and their horses as the foundation for healing. The building of this relationship helps participants overcome fears and develop trust and discipline. “As participants take personal responsibility for the outcomes in their relationships with their horses, they begin to understand how their thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect all their other relationships.” explains Shannon DeCraene President of The King’s Rein. “The outreach is about experiencing healing through relationship. Horses are merely used as the conduit to connect human-to-human and heart-to-heart.” The King’s Rein program components include Equine Safety & Care, Natural Horsemanship Principals & Skills, Ground work, Riding, Crafts & Games, Fishing, Hiking Trails and Food & Fellowship. “The demand for the equine outreach therapy program as well as the number of participants continues to grow. We are currently working to establish financial sup-
The King’s Rein is an equine assisted outreach that helps people with emotional, mental and behavioral challenges due to traumatic life events. The program helps to restore people’s selfworth, confidence, trust, discipline and compassion. Through the horses and volunteers, the people who come to The King’s Rein experience healing and the transforming power of love through acceptance and encouragement, realizing they have hope and a future.
12 | PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM
port partners in the communities we serve and to increase our volunteer base so that we can maintain our program’s current level of service and scope and begin to expand our offering to additional individuals and organizations.” says DeCraene. The King’s Rein offers it’s current equine outreach and therapy program and services free of charge to the surrounding communities of Anderson, Henderson and Smith counties for youth that are at-risk, victims of domestic violence, underage victims of sex-trafficking and individuals in drug/alcohol rehabilitation programs. “We are constantly blessed to witness God’s goodness in the lives of those who are in need of healing and restoration.” says DeCraene. Tails of Triumph Norma Mullican , Executive Director, Refuge of Light Horse Therapy has proven to be an essential step in the healing process for the girls who reside at the Refuge Safehome. As a board member for the King’s Rein and an advocate for young girls victimized by the horrors of child sex trafficking I have personally witnessed the effectiveness of this ministry. The benefits are far-reaching. The scope of this program not only includes physical conditioning but mental well being, in the form of self worth, trust and discipline. Matt and Becky Porter, program participant’s parents Our daughter, Emily, has Bipolar Disorder, extreme depression and also struggles with major anxiety. 2 years ago, we found The King’s Rein Equine Assisted Outreach, and from the start, our daughter was welcomed, encouraged and made to feel very comfortable. The volunteers are a positive influence in the way they guide the kids and build trust between themselves, the kids and the horses. Our daughter has shown a notable improvement in her self-esteem and Confidence –Matt and I have seen a big difference in Emily and we are very thankful for The King’s Rein. Emily Porter, program participant “The Kings Rein Equine Outreach program has been a huge help for me in my life. I deal with clinical depression and anxiety, and it makes my daily life tough. Every week I always look forward to going to The King’s Rein because the horses relax me, and I can let go of all the struggles that are on my mind and focus on the horses. I have learned so much and I am always being uplifted and encouraged. I love going to The Kings Rein, and it is a blessing to me.” The King’s Rein program supports the surrounding communities by working with individuals and families to help them overcome their circumstances and transform their lives into healthy, stable and productive ones. The King’s Rein is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contact: Shannon DeCraene Ph: 903.714.0830 Email: info@thekingsrein.org Website: www.thekingsrein.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/thekingsrein
y a W d Unite ng Event
goals they have set. The hope is to package 66,000 servings in a two-hour period. To do so, 250 volunteers are needed for two hours, from 10:00am-12:30pm. The service doesn’t have to stop there, however. United Way is looking to raise $17,000 for their campaign to feed the community. They are over halfway there already. You can reach out to United Way to find out how to get involved on this specific dates, along with other days of service. You’ll see friendly competition between friends and businesses, trying to package more food than the other, amidst a joyful and uplifting environment. There are free t-shirts, kids are more than welcome, so get up, get moving, and help feed families and individuals in our own area. Remember, every dime and bread slice given will stay in our community, so your efforts will make our society better. What we raise here, stays here.
gi a k c a P 0 3 ood : F 2 : 1 t a 0 h W 10:0 d r 3 ol o e h n c u J S : n h e g Hi Wh r o i n u J 801 e 5 7 n i , t x s T e l e a in W here: P oop 256 Palest L 1600 S.
This June, United Way will put on its second Outreach Food Packaging Event. The inaugural event was a huge success, setting the bar high for this year. The leadership is in place for success, with Richard Jones leading the way in East Texas. Richard believes in embracing the idea of increasing communication between their people and others doing good in the area. Everyone has a primary focus with secondary passions. The trick is to find people and organizations whose primary focus is your secondary focus, and work together to compliment talents and resources. United Way is confident in the high
“The Food Packaging Event was developed to help offset the child food insecurity rate of 26.9% in Anderson County. By conducting this event in early June we will ensure that our local agencies have enough food to provide to their clients during the critical summer months! There is such a feeling of joy that comes from participating in this event and seeing how many volunteers are willing to come out and spend their time and energy on behalf of others.” Richard Jones, Executive Director
For more information, visit http:// www.unitedwayofeastcentraltexas.org
PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM | 13
OUR COMMUNITY
April 30th, 2016
Remembering Our History Let us remind ourselves of where this community has come out of these last twelve months. The strength of a community can only be judged in moments of tribulation. No city can
WHAT IS A TANGIBLE WAY YOU HAVE SEEN THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL?
14 | PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM
plan for the events that occurred a year ago. The Beacon team remembers the six lives we lost in the tragedy. Healing does not come by happenstance, it takes purposeful efforts to rebound fully. April 30th, 2016 has been quoted as the worst day in Palestine’s history. Seeing everyone do their part for the area was what made Palestine the town we see today. United Way raised $77,000 in the effort, just one example of an entity that found a way to give back. What came from a day and a half
that no one’s seen before, is the resilience and unity we see today. It would be difficult to find someone that wasn’t affected by the flooding. The fingerprints left from April 30th will not and cannot be forgotten. This is a part of our history. These six will be honored by the way we live. Our purpose is to deliver hope, inspiration and change to Pine Country, and the hope that this community has delivered to us is what inspired The Beacon to act on the good we see every day.
April 30, 2016. Worst day in Palestine’s history. Torrential rains, some 8 inches in less than hour resulted in the loss of six lives and millions in property damage. As I stated in my address to the city, we saw wonderful tributes to the love in people’s hearts, when I heard them say “I gave $10 or $20, I wish I could give more but it’s all I can afford.” There was such a show of strength and support to those who lost so much. - Former Mayor Herrington
Please join us for worship on Sundays 9 or 11am
PALESTINE HOMETOWN PHARMACY Layne Vannoy, R. PH - Lisa Parker, R. PH Most RX and TX Medicaid Accepted 8:30 - 7:00 p.m. M-F 9:00 - 2:00 p.m. Sat 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Most Sun Drive Thru 101 Medical Drive Palestine, TX 75801 (Behind Hospital) PINECOUNTRYBEACON.COM | 15
Full Armor Foundation PO Box 591624 San Antonio, TX 78259 Non Profit Org US Postage Paid Permit No 1416 San Antonio, TX
*********ECRWSSEDDM ********* Postal Customer
Online: www.PineCountryBeacon.com. Follow and like us on Facebook (/PineCountryBeacon)