COMMUNITY
field) to drive home the message that self-discipline — or the
lack of it — determines life’s outcomes. To be victorious, you
must get in the ring.
Locally, church leaders accompany youth on outreaches
to the homeless in Fort Pierce, members pack “Blessings in a
Bag” lunches for students in public schools, and volunteers
brought about 100 stuffed school backpacks and uniform
polo shirts to families in Indiantown for the new school year.
The urgency of the Gospel compels Martinez to motivate a
generation of leaders, making the most of every opportunity.
“The powerful transformation seen in the lives of our young
people is evident in their dedication to walk with integrity
and give back,” he states. To that end, a group that included
young adult men traveled to the poverty-stricken Dominican
Republic in July to minister to the people there.
Partnering with Capellan Lives Mission, the church
prepared months in advance. Costs were partially covered
by their mission fund; individuals raised the remainder. As
donations of toys, clothing, food, medical and school supplies
mounted, volunteers packed the items. A total of 200 boxes,
including those given from other groups affiliated with the
church, were sent in advance of the team’s arrival.
A COUNTRY OF EXTREMES
Bávaro, La Altagracia province, in the Dominican Republic
is a coastal region located at the eastern end of the island of
Hispaniola (Haiti on the west shares the island). It is developed
as a resort area of neighboring Punta Cana where
pockets of prosperity rim the coast. “All the tourists visit
there, but it’s like building a Walmart in the middle of the
poor area, pushing them out,” Martinez says. “Around the
resorts there is a lot of poverty. We began noticing this — it
brought my wife to tears seeing the malnutrition and lack of
basic needs like food and shelter.”
Understanding the disparities, the Dominican Republic is
not considered a “Third World” country but rather a developing
country characterized by a lack of substantial levels of
per-capita income, sluggish industrialization, minimal investment
to spur economic growth, poor infrastructure, underdeveloped
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22 Port St. Lucie Magazine
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PORT ST. LUCIE - (772) 344-5229
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Laida Ramirez leads in song and dance during children’s church.
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