WACO—Churches in Waco are planning The Gathering, a community-wide multi-denominational worship service on Palm Sunday evening, April 9, in Baylor University’s McLane Stadium.
The Gathering will echo a similar event held in 2015, which attracted 35,000 people to the stadium for prayer, worship and collection of 19,000 tons of canned food for needy families and individuals.
The 2017 edition of The Gathering is expected to attract the same-sized crowd and generate “the same enthusiasm,” predicted John Durham, pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Waco and lead administrator for the event.
Miles McPherson, a former star with the San Diego Chargers football team and pastor of 15,000-member Rock Church in San Diego, will be the keynote preacher.
Scott Drew, head coach of the Baylor men’s basketball team, will present his Christian testimony.
Summer Luna, a former club dancer who became a Christian, and Jorge Ramos, a former convicted felon who now leads a ministry to ex-convicts, also will present testimonies.
The event also will feature a 1,000-voice choir and local worship leaders.
As with the previous Gathering, participants are encouraged to bring at least two canned goods per person. The food will supplement the Waco Caritas and Shepherd’s House food pantries.
McLane Stadium gates will open at 4:15 p.m., and pre-service music and interviews will begin at 6 p.m. Admission is free but limited to the first 45,000 participants.
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The Gathering will begin at 6:30 and continue until 8:30.
The event will be streamed live at www.KWTX.com.
For more information, visit The Gathering website by clicking here..
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