In the center of the largest housing project in Nashville stands the Martha O’Bryan Center. It serves local families, the majority of whom live in extreme poverty as defined by the federal government. The average annual income is less than $5,000. The O’Bryan Center is active in many areas that improve the lives of residents, but the ministry that East Brentwood Presbyterian Church partners with is the reading program for elementary-age children. Sixty-five percent of children in the nearby elementary school, Kirkwood, read below grade level. Every day more than one hundred children from the school walk across the street to the Martha O’Bryan Center to get help with their reading.

When East Brentwood Church was preparing to receive the Pentecost Offering, members asked Martha O’Bryan staff member Betsy Gunselman to specify a need that Offering funds could address. Her immediate request was for funds to purchase Woodcock Reading Mastery tests, specialized reading diagnostic tests for elementary-age children. These tests not only help identify where children are struggling in their literacy skills, but they also help the reading center create an individualized curriculum that the school can use to help strengthen weaknesses. Betsy responds, “We are thrilled that we will be able to offer this testing service. It will greatly increase our effectiveness at helping these children.” Pentecost Offering funds will make this testing program possible.

Service and Outreach Committee
East Brentwood Presbyterian Church
Brentwood, Tennessee
(615) 370-4227
email