November 18, 2002

A CHILD PLAYS on a jungle gym at Four Seasons Apartments in Waco after getting his face painted like a tiger during a block party sponsored by Waco Baptist Association, Brazos Meadows Baptist Church and the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The event was part of Wake Up Waco, a pre-convention evangelistic and ministry emphasis.

Wake Up Waco wields wide
witness before BGCT's business begins
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___WACO--Spiritual lives blossomed on a clear fall afternoon as a result of a Nov. 9 block party held in conjunction with the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session.
___The party was one aspect of Wake Up Waco, an evangelistic outreach coordinated by Waco Baptist Association.
___Brazos Meadows Baptist Church held a block party for the residents of Four Seasons Apartments, where the church has ministered for four years.
___"We had talked about having a block party and prayed about it, but the time wasn't right," said Helen Mercer, a church member who leads the apartment ministry. "Now the timing was right with Wake Up Waco."
___The volunteers hoped to continue their positive influence in the community, where a manager told Mercer she has seen a decrease in crime and juvenile problems. The church is reaching people and fostering disciples through the efforts of a largely collegiate volunteer base, said Clark Elliston, a Baylor University student who has worked with the apartment ministry for three years.
___"I live in this community, and this is an area that has not been reached," said Stephanie Dean, a junior at Baylor University. "We

C. J. OLIVER, pastor of Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Waco, prays with a group of residents at Four Seasons Apartments in Waco during the Wake Up Waco block party.

would like to show them we care for them."
___Church volunteers made new contacts with adults who brought their children to the party in the complex's parking lot. Families bonded as they ate free meals, participated in cakewalks and entered a raffle to win one of several turkeys. Children's games, basketball, face painting and a performance by the church band also were offered.
___"When you get to the children, that's great," said Billy Edwards, pastor of Brazos Meadows Baptist Church and coordinator of Wake-Up Waco. "But when you get into the home, that's even better."
___The event at the multiracial complex was a large effort from many church members and "complete support" from complex management, Mercer said.
___"In my 74 years, I don't know if I've seen anything like this, and I've seen God work in saving my life," said Mercer, who lives in the complex. "I don't think I've seen anything as miraculous as this.
___"It has been such a God thing that everything is falling into place."
___Volunteers from 41 churches distributed about 750 New Testaments, 500 "Jesus" videos and 20,000 tracts before Wake Up Waco activities.
___The efforts resulted in 227 recorded faith professions with several events still to occur, according to Wayne Shuffield of the BGCT Center for Strategic Evangelism.
___

The Baptist Standard



News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook