THE KEY: Isaiah 22:22 and the Legacy of the Willie Mae Mitchell Community Center.

 

THE KEY: Isaiah 22:22 and the Legacy of the Willie Mae Mitchell Community Center. https://universitystar.com/29689/life-and-arts/community-celebrates-30th-anniversary-of-mitchell-center/

“I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” Isaiah 22:22

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS, Some moments are more than mere ceremonies; they are divine affirmations of purpose, vision, and the power of doors opened by faith. As Pastor Kyev Tatum returned to San Marvelous, Texas to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Willie Mae Mitchell Community Opportunity Center, he was met with a profound and humbling honor, a Key to the City, symbolizing not only recognition from the community but also a spiritual confirmation of the journey that began decades ago.

Like the promise in Isaiah 22:22, which speaks of doors divinely opened and shut by God’s will, Pastor Tatum’s return to San Marcos was more than a reunion; it was a testament to the unwavering faith that brought the Mitchell Center to life. On September 15, 1995, this center opened its doors, ushering in a new era of hope, empowerment, and opportunity for a city in need. It was a door that no one could shut, a space where lives were transformed, and the seeds of progress were planted in the hearts of a community.

Now, three decades later, the City of San Marcos and the Calaboose Board of Directors are opening another door, expanding the center into an African American Museum that will preserve and elevate the city’s rich Black history. The handoff of this sacred space is not just a transition; it is the fulfillment of a promise, a continuation of a legacy that began with a vision and remains guided by faith.

Pastor Tatum, reflecting on the impact of his time in San Marcos, shared his gratitude: “I wanted to come back to San Marcos to say thank you for the lessons and blessings I received in this incredible community.”

In a touching moment, Mayor Jane Hughson, who once taught computer classes at the Mitchell Center, responded simply: “Thank you.”

Then came a moment of divine confirmation. Calaboose Vice President Michelle Burleson stepped forward and presented Pastor Tatum and his wife with a Key to the City lapel pin, a symbol of honor, gratitude, and trust. Overcome with emotion, Pastor Tatum acknowledged the kindness and generosity of the people of San Marcos: “We are truly blown away by the love and hospitality from the beautiful souls in San Marvelous, Texas.”

The spirit of the gathering was electric, alive with the renewed hope that this rekindled connection would breathe new life into the Mitchell Center’s mission. Pastor Tatum, ever the visionary, encouraged those present with words of faith: “If you can conceive it, you can believe it, and when you believe it, you can achieve it.”

Like the key in Isaiah 22:22, which represents access to doors only God can open, this moment was a reminder that the work Pastor Tatum began in San Marcos was never his alone, it was always a divine assignment. And as the city steps boldly into this next chapter, the door to its future stands wide open, full of possibility, purpose, and the promise that what has been built in faith will endure for generations to come.