The homeless, the addicted and people with mental illness need help, and a conference coming to Waco will give church leaders information about effectively providing it.

Titled “No Need Among You,” the series of workshops and field trips around Waco will be held from Thursday through Sept. 18.

Crestview Church of Christ, 7129 Delhi Road, will serve as home base.

Jimmy Dorrell, pastor of Church Under The Bridge and executive director of Mission Waco, holds a copy of his new book,“Dead Church Walking,” while standing near an abandoned house of worship on North 12th Street.
Rod Aydelotte / Waco Tribune-Herald

The conference will focus on “including the excluded,” event leaders said. Speakers will offer advice not only for churches, but also businesses and agencies that get involved in helping the needy.

Workshops will include case studies, exercises and discussions of specific solutions. Payment options are available to attend all or part of the conference.

On Sept. 18, participants will be able to join Mission Waco’s ninth annual “Walk for the Homeless.” Many walkers will be given new shoes at the beginning of the trek around Waco. The tour will include stops at ministries and organizations that serve the needy to learn what each group offers.

“It’s a powerful time of learning and motivation to help some of Waco’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Jimmy Dorrell, pastor of Church Under The Bridge and executive director of Mission Waco.

The public is invited to take part in the walk. Residents are asked to bring toothpaste, soap, disposable razors and shampoo to share with those who may need grooming items. Walkers also may need socks.

Scott Talley, a minister at Crestview Church of Christ, said he expects the conference to attract 200 people from around the state, though other organizers said they hope it brings up to 350 to Waco.

“Mission Waco and the Baptist General Convention of Texas always get involved in sponsoring the event, but this year we also have World Vision and Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio as partners, so I do expect attendance from all over, though we know a lot of local people will take part,” Talley said.

Dorrell said a program that started with Mission Waco alone has grown to nine partners, including Baylor University’s Center for Family and Community Ministries, Buckner International and Mission Cy-Fair.

The goal of the program, Talley said, “is to help church leaders, civic leaders and agency people to understand, especially from a Christian perspective, how to minister to the marginalized in our society with the goal of moving from relief to empowerment.”

“If you’re hungry, you need food right now,” Talley said. “If you’re sick, you need medical attention. That’s relief. But the goal should be to provide people with resources to escape poverty.”

He said speakers will cover such topics as human trafficking, the legal needs of the poor, community gardening and how to become effective advocates.

Dorrell said he believes the church, the body of Christ, is the primary tool for transforming lives.

“Yet the Western church is in trouble in a growing postmodern age, and significant numbers of American congregations are closing their doors or fighting to sustain their corporate life,” he said.

“Just doing church is not working anymore. We need meaning, something to make it worth getting out of bed.”

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

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