Mission Waco: cultivating global revival through simple, local outreach
Story by: Kristy Volmert
Over the past decade, our world has seen a rapid spread of the Christian faith. Revivals are sweeping across cities, radiating into a number of states and making their way into nations. It’s easy to believe this is because of the work of large organizations like mega-churches and events such as the Passion conference, which play key roles in the outcome.
But don’t overlook your local nonprofits.
Mission Waco Mission World is a local, nonprofit organization that is contributing to some changes that impact global revival.
Mission Waco not only contributes to the spread of the Gospel, but also dedicates effort to help empower people whose situations have put them at a disadvantage. Mission Waco focuses on relationship-based programs that help tackle social injustice while restoring the hope and faith of those who have been negatively affected by it. It seeks also to encourage members of the community to engage with the poor or marginalized in ways that can help equip them with love, support, and the resources to overcome their individual situations.
Mission Waco focuses on three main principles that create an overview of their mission goals: Empower, Equip and Engage. Poverty is the main concern that the organization seeks to tackle, with these three goals serving as driving forces as they reach out to impoverished communities.
Volunteer director Bailie Rouse emphasizes the relationship-based foundations of Mission Waco, how their integration into all of their programs is both admirable and a large part of its success.
“One of my favorite things about Mission Waco is just the relational aspect and the genuine friendships and family that are built through it,” Rouse said. “It’s just a very sweet community to be a part of. I really love how supportive everyone is, both emotionally and with physical needs.”
Rouse also says that she admires how the people that work with Mission Waco are such good examples of what it means to live like Christ – sacrificially, putting others above their own needs in everything they do.
“I love seeing so many Christ-like people at Mission Waco, and being able to learn how to be more like Christ through our volunteers.”
Rouse says the Organization’s programs work in a variety of ways, and all of them are unique in how they impact the community that they are serving.
Jimmy Dorell, Mission Waco co-founder and president emeritus, and John Calaway, president and executive director break ground on Mission Waco’s Creekside Community tiny homes.
There are a number of programs that fall into five categories: children, youth, adult and family, social enterprise and mission world. Adult and family programs include creative arts, transitional housing – (The Gorman House and Lighthouse 512 Recovery House), My Brother’s Keeper Homeless Shelter, Friday Morning Breakfast, Empowerment Job Training, Health Clinic and Legal Services. Additional facilities managed and provided by Mission Waco for adults and families include the Christmas Toy Store, Meyer Center Social Services, Manna House, The Ark Apartments and The Jubilee Theater.
Mission world facilitates the global missions through the organization, hosting groups in Mexico, Haiti and India that help provide clean water, quality education, health services and more to those who need it— the Word of God being included in every aspect.
Children’s programs include Day Camp, creative arts, Barron’s Branch, Kid’s Cafe, After School Program and King’s Club.
King’s Club is a backyard Bible study for children living in low-income areas where they can come and learn about the gospel and stay to play games and simply have fun with Mission Waco volunteers. One of Baylor’s chapels, BSM Catalyst Chapel, has small groups that volunteer at the Kate Ross apartments every Wednesday evening to host King’s Club for the children living there.
Florence, Texas freshman Emily Threet is a member of the BSM Catalyst Chapel and said
“I love knowing how I make these kids excited for every Wednesday.” – BSM Volunteer Emily Threet
she thoroughly participating in King’s Club every week and seeing the impact that it makes on the kids and their families.
Mission Waco held a Creekside Community groundbreaking event on Oct. 8, 2024 to celebrate the start of the project.
“Each week, the kids come running up to us, and they’re really starting to build a genuine relationship with our group,” she said. “This alone has made King’s Club so rewarding. I love knowing how I make these kids excited for every Wednesday.”
The groups come over to the apartments and go door to door, introducing the program and asking if residents have any children who would like to attend. After the first few weeks at the beginning of the fall semester, kids tend to adapt to the routine and will be ready and waiting when college students arrive.
Aside from serving children and serving locally, Mission Waco extends to many other groups.
Recently, Mission Waco launched a new housing community called Creekside Community Village. This living community, still a work in progress, is built of tiny homes designed to provide homeless individuals and families a place to keep themselves safe and comfortable while they get back to work again.
With a vision of seeing poverty eliminated in Waco and throughout the world, this new community is just one of several that Mission Waco has brought to life in order to bring encouragement and empowerment to the impoverished.
Mission World has seven programs that have been built up in Mexico, India and Haiti that enact the same mission.
Every part of Mission Waco has the same goals — to empower the poor through Christian-based relationships and community, equip the wealthier members of the community to become more compassionately involved with the poor and engage with the issues of social injustice in ways that share the love of Christ. These goals go a long way, especially in bringing power to those who are marginalized by global social disparities. Those who are being served are first and foremost being introduced to God’s love and the truths of the Gospel.
“We serve people from all walks of life and backgrounds,” Rouse said. “There’s this beautiful aspect of people coming together from all walks of life, and this ability we have to actually be changed by the interactions you have with people who are different than you.”
Empowerment of the people that are most in need has been a driving source for Mission Waco ever since it was founded in 1978. While it was recognized that there was much need for this empowerment around the world, the founders realized that there was also great need right here in Waco.
“We serve people from all walks of life and backgrounds.” – Volunteer Director Bailie Rouse
“We want to empower those who have been marginalized or experienced poverty, but we don’t ever want to take away anyone’s independence,” Rouse said. “It’s really about lifting them up so that they can see their ability, their worth and their inherent value. We really want people to reach kind of their own goals, and so we walk alongside them in that process.”
The Baylor community has heavy involvement with Mission Waco, and students have numerous opportunities to work with them.
Participating in King’s Club sparked Threet’s interest in seeking out other ways to volunteer with Mission Waco, she said.
“Working with King’s Club has really opened my eyes and shown me how impactful mission Waco is and how much they really do for the community,” she said. “I’m definitely considering working with Mission Waco in other ways, and I’d strongly encourage others to as well.”
