Chip was out of town this week, so we were pleased to have guest speaker Kent Hutchison of C.J. Baxter Group join us from Nacogdoches, Texas! Kent lead a group of 80+ Charity Champions in Teamwork and Team Building. Check out all these great photos!
Randy Lane
Podcast EP 5: Christian Women’s Job Corps
Dale and Randy sit down with Executive Director Suzanne Hack from Christian Women’s Job Corps of McLennan County. CWJC helps women get the education and training they need to find quality jobs and realize their dreams.
Find them online at: cwjcwaco.org/
More about CWJC:
Since its formation in September of 2003, Christian Women’s Job Corps of McLennan County has helped equip women in Waco and surrounding areas with both job training and life skills. Through a six month long mentorship and an education program, we have encouraged women to be self-confident, self-sufficient, and productive while developing meaningful relationships.
Women who are alumni of the CWJC program are making a difference in McLennan County. Graduates are working in various fields such as office assistants, retail sales, medical, legal, mortuary, food service, call centers, apartment leasing, dog grooming, home health care, highway construction, warehouse, cleaning services, etc. Some examples of where CWJC alumni are employed are Veteran’s Administration, Waco Mortuary, MCC Adult Education, TSTC, Walgreen’s, Woofgang Bakery, EMSI, Baylor University, Cenikor, PCA, Baked Bliss, Cougar Paws, Aramark, Meadow Park Townhomes, Stoney Brook, and What-a-Burger. After completing the CWJC program, some women choose to continue their education at MCC or TSTC and have earned both associate degrees and bachelor degrees through the MCC/Tarleton program.
The ministry of CWJC makes a significant difference in the lives of women and McLennan County families. We have seen God work in many ways:
- Women are developing self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Women are becoming devoted mothers, loving wives, and dependable employees.
- Families and future generations are changing, and the community is improving.
- On a yearly basis volunteers contribute over 5,000 hours as teachers, mentors, lunch providers, prayer warriors, encouragers, community resources, and mock interviewers.
- People from more than 150 churches, businesses, and organizations throughout the community have participated in the success of our program.
Game Presentation: Shepherd’s Heart
Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry was recognized at Baylor Men’s Basketball game versus Texas Tech.
A little bit about Shepherd’s Heart:
Every Thursday at The Shepherd’s Heart Pantry from noon to 6:00pm we have a distribution of canned goods, boxed and dry staple items, meats, and fresh fruits and vegetables assisting 500 to 700 families each week. For added convenience, a drive-through is available for those who cannot stand in line. Last year, from our main pantry we provided food to just fewer than 29,000 families, 1.4 million lbs. of food. Included in those numbers are the 560 home-bound seniors we deliver groceries to twice each month.
Learn more at shepherdsheartpantry.org
Podcast EP 4: Jesus Said Love
Dale and Randy sit down with Brett and Emily Mills of Jesus Said Love to talk about their work with commercial sex workers in several Texas cities. Their mission is to share the revolutionary love of Christ with people in the commercial sex industry by awakening hope and empowering change. Jesus Said Love became a Charity Champion in 2017.
Jesus Said Love’s annual fundraiser, Wild Torch, is April 23rd. Wild Torch is more than a fundraiser. The event brings together food, art, music, and dance in the historic Hippodrome Theater in Downtown Waco. More info about the event here.
Jesus Said Love's Story
Founded in 2003 by worship leaders Brett & Emily Mills, the Mills led worship for a conference focused on ministry to sex workers. Overwhelmed by stories from former exotic entertainers, Emily became burdened for the marginalized in Waco, the Mills’ hometown. Within two weeks, the first Easter outreach extended the love of Jesus to women in the Waco sex industry. A small group of women ventured into two strip clubs, armed with gift bags filled with practical, high-quality gifts. The outreach was a success! In fact, each club manager extended an open invitation for JSL to return at any time. For the next few years, volunteers would return to the clubs bi-annually: at Christmas and Easter.
In 2007, the Mills made the decision to bring this new ministry under the administration of their already-established worship ministry and nonprofit organization: Bartimaeus Ministries, Inc. The name Jesus Said Love was then adopted for this specific outreach program to women in the commercial sex industry. The burden was for the marginalized: those whom the church was not reaching because of ignorance or negligence. What began as a bi-annual outreach in Waco has now grown into a full time ministry of monthly club outreaches, social work assistance, education, awareness, medical education, childcare and nutritional advocacy in Waco, Dallas, Bryan/College Station, San Antonio, Temple/Killeen, Houston, and (launching soon) Tyler.
This podcast is produced by 360 Solutions and Randy Lane.
Game Presentation: Christian Women’s Job Corps
Suzanne Hack and Susan Womack are on center court representing our CWJC of McLennan County. They could use laptop computers to fill computer training night classes. Can you help? Call 254-757-0416 or listen to our upcoming podcast to learn more. SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://bit.ly/charitychampionspodcast
Game Presentation: Jesus Said Love
Jesus Said Love offers a path out for women feeling trapped in the commercial sex industry by awakening hope and empowering change. This Charity Champion could use a four seat golf cart to help teach clients how to drive. Brett Mills and son Gus among others representing at the Baylor Lady Bears bastketball game. Can you help?
Find them online at jesussaidlove.com
Podcast EP 3: The Heart of Texas Veterans One Stop
Chip Wilson, Dale Smith, and Randy Lane sit down with Heart of Texas Veterans One Stop Director DeLisa Russell to talk about how the Veterans One Stop started, services they provide, and alarming statistics on veterans in Central Texas.
The mission of the Heart of Texas Veterans One Stop is to provide veterans and their families a facility where a variety of fundamental services can be accessed at one location. The purpose of the Veterans One Stop Center is to provide assistance, camaraderie, education and information to our veterans as well as their dependents.
Find them online at:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/HOTVeteransOneStopWacoMVPNChapter
Contact DeLisa Russell at: delisa.russell@hotrmhmr.org
Tanna’s Van: A Charity Champions Success Story
Former Care Net client Tanna Thomas was gifted a minivan on the same day she came into the Charity Champions studios to record a podcast.
Before she received the van, Tanna and her three children got around Waco either on foot or using public transportation. This was especially difficult because Tanna’s youngest is still in a baby carrier.
Thank you, Care Net, for all the great work you’re doing in the Waco community.
Find them online at:
Boys & Girls Club Recognized at First Charity Champions Baylor Basketball Presentation
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Waco were honored at the first Baylor Lady Bears basketball game. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Waco help children reach their full potential through after-school programs and mentoring.
Find them online at bgcwaco.org
Podcast EP 2: Building Trust
We recently kicked off our first Charity Champions Leadership Development Session of the new year. Chip Wilson, CEO of 360 Solutions, talks about Building Trust.