FBC Missions - Witness 247
Love Waco. Love the World.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them. Ephesian 2:8-10
At FBC Waco we view missions as both a command and a privilege. As “new creations” in Christ, our whole lives are to bear witness to Him. This includes both proclamation and demonstration of God’s truths through our words and our lives as we seek to foster authentic relationships and engage in service, generosity, and hospitality to those around us. We believe this vision is to be both local and global.
We hope you join us as we join God in His ongoing work in Waco and beyond. Below are different ways you can plug in.
Bike Ministry
This summer, we began fixing up old bikes in the church basement to give away to international students and the homeless community. Baylor University has agreed to give us a portion of the bikes that are abandoned on campus each year. These bikes can be repurposed for those around us who need them most.
Opportunity: Are you handy? Our bike team meets seasonally to repair donated bikes, and we would love for you to join.
international Students
FBC works in coordination with the Baylor BSM to provide a biweekly Bible study on/near campus for international students. We seek to build relationships with students in a way that helps them feel more at home in Waco.
Opportunity: Help us connect with more students by providing connection and mentorship to an international student through Baylor's Global Friendship Program
Jail Ministry
FBC members visit the McLennan County Jail once a month to lead worship services for both male and female inmates. Each participant opts into the service, so expect a very worshipful environment where everyone involved is deeply seeking to learn and grow.
Opportunity: Team members are needed to guide discussion, lead worship and prayers, and connect with inmates.
Gospel Cafe
FBC has provided teams to serve lunch on the last Friday of every month.
Opportunity: Volunteer to serve lunches and donate food items (pasta, rice, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, boxed cake mix, and/or canned frosting can be brought to the church office)
meals on wheels
Each week, FBC members take meals to the doorsteps of families in our community in need. Many of our drivers have built long lasting relationships with these residents over years.
Opportunity: Volunteer to deliver meals MWF during lunchtime, or be a substitute driver.
Sports league
FBC members volunteer to coach and mentor young people in our neighborhood in soccer and basketball leagues.
Opportunity: Coach a basketball or soccer team, serve as a referee, bring snacks, or come to support and connect with parents of children
Bells hills elementary
FBC has developed a close relationship with the school and its leadership over the years. Church members are assigned to specific students as reading buddies. They visit classrooms once a week at a self-chosen time for an hour to read with children and offer tutoring and mentorship. Close relationships are often formed, and the students look forward to this time with anticipation. We also work with the school leadership to appreciate teachers, gather winter clothing, and meet family needs as they arise.
Opportunity: become a reading buddy and mentor for a student/classroom at Bells Hill Elementary
Furnishings at First
Each summer, we collect furniture from church members and the community in order to give it all away to graduate and international students.
Opportunity: We need truck drivers, people willing to move furniture, and people willing to greet students.
FREE Furniture pick-up for graduate and international students will be August 19, 2023 from 8:00am to 12:00pm at 211 Webster Ave. in Waco.
Dress and Bless
Our Dress and Bless Team works to provide school clothing and supplies for children at a local elementary school.
Opportunity: Clothing donations and prayers.
The ogburns
Grace and Aaron Ogburn serve with Pioneer Bible Translators based in Northern Italy, where they have lived for the last 3 years. Grace uses her training in linguistics to support translation work happening around the globe, primarily by assisting in the exegetical checking process. Aaron serves refugee and asylum-seeking peoples coming to Italy from across North Africa and the horn of Africa. He works to connect people with the transformational hope found in Scripture, while exploring the potential for Bible translation projects.
La PUerta
La Puerta is a partner of FBC Waco that seeks to connect the Hispanic / Latino community with the social, legal, mental health, and medical services they need. La Puerta operates on the second floor of our building, and is open five days a week to educate, accompany, and advocate for the Hispanic / Latino community. We offer a number of classes for Spanish speakers that seek to holistically care for the community's needs
mulenga chella
Mulenga Chella, a Truett Seminary graduate and partner to our church, is the pastor of Christ Life Church in Zambia. The church is flourishing, recently outgrowing its space. They have started discipleship ministries for every age group, marriage counseling, social ministries providing food and medical supplies to a nearby slum, a prison ministry, empowerment ministries providing occupational training, and a kindergarten.
cwjc
Christian Women’s Job Corps offices on the second floor of our building. CWJC provides 100% free Job Training and GED Classes that seek to empower women through a holistic approach that fosters spiritual, personal, and professional growth enabling women to transform themselves, their families, and their communities. Their classes include GED prep and testing, money management, entrepreneurship, computer classes, Bible study, personal relationship growth, resume writing, interview skills, communication skills.
21 wilberforce
21Wilberforce is a Christian human rights organization dedicated to defending the universal rights of religion, belief, and conscience for all people. They seek to empower people to collaboratively support persecuted communities, challenge repression, and expand freedom of religion and belief globally. FBC member Randel Everett founded the organization in 2014. Over the last year, 21Wilberforce has been involved in important religious freedom work in Myanmar, Iran, and around the globe.
Ecuadorian Baptists
FBC Waco partners with Convencion Bautista Ecuatoriana, Alianza Biblica Latinoamerica (ABEL) y Iglesia Bautista Kairos to serve the Shuar and Achuar population in the Amazon region in Ecuador since 2017. Over the years FBC Waco has helped built a multipurpose house in Tunaime to host the regional Bible Instituto and dental clinics. In 2019, FBC Waco supported with dental clinics and pastoral training. In 2020, FBC Waco, Convencion Bautista Ecuatoriana and ABEL supported CUNTEMI (a virtual Mission Conference for over 300 pastors), a jail ministry and the Instituto Biblico Bautista del Ecuador. In 2021, FBC Waco and Texas Baptist Men will be supporting ABEL with a water ministry and soap making projects in Puyo and Quito, Ecuador.
