This coming Sunday is the launch of a new church in Texas City. RESONATE, a Wesleyan church, has what might be called a Grand Opening, for lack of a better name, this coming Sunday. I say grand opening, because Jervie Windom and his wife Nilda, his associate Joshua Pritchett and his wife Mia (pronounced Maya) arrived in Texas City in August of 2018.
What took so long? “We came here to meet the community and find out what Resonate could bring to the city; what the community needed. And what we found was that there was a tremendous need to fill with the children. So many kids that end up in Atwater and DAEP, Disciplinary Alternate Education Program. There are so many parents that are overwhelmed and so many kids that feel worthless and we just want to offer ways to let them know they aren’t alone, and they do matter. Recidivism in both programs is so high, up to 90% so there are kids that literally have been in and out so much that they have been there for years. The teachers at DAEP do such a great job and what they do is so very hard.”
So, RESONATE is a place for families, for children, for becoming involved in the community. This pastor has found ways to touch those lives through adopting a school – Roosevelt Elementary and implementing programs like Kids Hope which is 1 school, 1 church, 1 child, 1 hour which is designed to be a small but long term commitment that gives troubled or challenged children a person who listens and cares – a surprisingly effective way to help young people get on a positive path. They do outreach with apartment communities like Pointe Ann, where three children lost their lives in a violent manner that really impacted the whole community there. Other points of engagement, Boy Scout Troop 204 in La Marque, a new Chapel in Oceanview Rehabilitation Center.
When I asked what makes RESONATE different, I got a surprising answer. “I try not to think about that. I don’t want to try to make RESONATE different. I want to invite the presence of the Lord into every interaction into every human heart expecting Him to bring transformation every time. I really just want RESONATE to look like Heaven.”
Jervie and his wife of 9 years Nilda, were both in the military for over 20 years. He said they are much like the Brady Bunch, each bringing three children to the marriage. Each brings a sense of joy and hope to their mission and their plans are to help these children experience real relationships, a person they can count on. “I one day hope to have a vibrant youth ministry. But as important as that is to me, more important to me is what happens out in the community. You really need both/and to do it right and truly meet the needs that are out there.”RESONATE begins officially this Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. right downtown on 6th Street.
So if you have a church home, go to church, go have lunch and then take a drive down 6th Street and come see what is a RESONATE Church. You may find yourself pleasantly inspired.
