Taylor Community Center ministry update

Taylor Community Center on the Texas/Mexico Border

Ministry Info

Taylor Community Center is a ministry of World Gospel Mission in McAllen, Texas. It is a multi-use facility that consists of an indoor gymnasium, a weight room, a kitchen, a cafeteria, a sewing room, locker rooms with showers, a chapel, and classrooms. Eventually, a shop will be added. TCC is currently finishing a soccer field less than a block away to be used for evangelism through soccer ministry. TCC is connected to Taylor Christian School, which uses the facility during the academic school year. The facility offers a safe haven for children and youth to hear the gospel as they participate in after-school and summer activities. Workers at the center believe that if children and youth are reached, there is a greater likelihood of reaching the entire family for Christ, which is the ultimate goal.

While WGM missionaries have been ministering to the people of McAllen, Texas, and Mexico since 1946, the idea for a community center was first introduced in the 1980s. During the Mexico Field planning meeting in 2000, the field staff committed to building this center.

The center’s official groundbreaking ceremony was held in March 2001 with construction on the facility beginning in November 2001. Although construction on the center continues in different phases, at this point the gym, chapel, cafeteria, kitchen, locker rooms and bathrooms on the ground floor, and several classrooms upstairs are useable. Quite a bit of room upstairs still needs to be developed and completed.

In addition to the primary focus of evangelizing local children and youth, TCC hopes to provide practical programs such as sports leagues, after-school programs, tutoring, English and Spanish classes, sewing and craft classes, adult Bible study classes and kid’s Bible club, as well as music, cooking, and computer classes. By meeting the needs of this primarily Hispanic community, we will be building relationships that will help us lead them to Christ and give us the opportunity to disciple them.

Impact

The evangelism of children and youth is extremely important on the Texas/Mexico border. In this area, about 60 percent of crimes are gang related, so TCC strives to take kids out of the path of gang violence and membership.

“Even though our target is the youth, our ultimate goal is to reach entire families. We estimate that within a quarter-mile radius of the center 1,000 families and approximately 3,000 children can be reached for Christ,” said Field Director Bill Allshouse.

TCC missionary Betsy Tejeda stated, “This is a brand-new ministry; the interest in the community, however, is great. We look forward to providing programs and activities that will reach the community for Christ.”

Act
The possibilities for evangelism and discipleship through TCC are endless. However, to make these possible, many needs still need to be met. Do you have sporting equipment or other materials that you would like to donate to TCC? Are you in the area and interested in giving some of your time to this ministry? If so, contact Betsy Tejeda at betsy.tejeda@wgm.org.