Podcast Points: Mission Waco Leaders Share Legacy of Service, Commitment

Baylor University’s 2024 Pro Ecclesia Medal of Service recipients Jimmy and Janet Dorrell are no strangers to the Baylor community. As founders of Mission Waco-Mission World and Church Under the Bridge, the Dorrells’ work has not only transformed the lives of thousands of individuals but also instilled a spirit of service in generations of Baylor students.

The Dorrells joined the weekly Baylor Connections podcast for a conversation with host Derek Smith about the heart behind their commitment to the poor and marginalized locally and around the world.

Podcast Points with Jimmy and Janet Dorrell

A Journey Rooted in Faith and Compassion

• Jimmy and Janet Dorrell, both Baylor graduates, have dedicated their lives to living and working among the poor. Their journey began when they moved into a North Waco neighborhood, which would eventually lead to the creation of Mission Waco. 

A Life Committed to Relational Ministry

• The Dorrell's approach to service is personal. "We didn't move into the neighborhood to start Mission Waco," Jimmy Dorrell said on Baylor Connections. "We moved to become neighbors, and it was the relationships that changed us." 
• This “bottom-up” mindset has guided their efforts, from building a basketball court for local children in their front yard to creating job training programs and addiction recovery services based on community needs.

Global Outreach and Local Roots

• Mission World, an extension of Mission Waco, focuses on global issues, providing education and empowerment to women in impoverished countries. Janet Dorrell’s work has highlighted the interconnectedness of local and global poverty, bringing lessons learned from international service back to the Waco community.
• Janet speaks of women she has met around the world – and in her own neighborhood – and how these encounters have deepened her compassion and resolve. "Seeing life through their eyes keeps me from being bored with life," she said on Baylor Connections. "To be around someone who has very little to give and see them give more is powerful for me."

Looking Ahead

• Today, Jimmy Dorrell serves as President Emeritus of Mission Waco and is pastor at Church Under the Bridge. Janet Dorrell serves as Director of Mission World. As they continue their mission, the Dorrells remain dedicated to training and empowering the next generation of leaders who will carry forward their vision of a just and compassionate world. 

LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION

• Listen to the full conversation with Jimmy and Janet Dorrell on the Baylor Connections podcast.

About Baylor Connections

Baylor Connections with host Derek Smith goes in depth each week with Baylor leaders, professors and more, discussing important topics in higher education, research and student life. Baylor Connections airs on Fridays at 11 a.m. CT on KWBU 103.3FM in Waco. The podcast also is available online or by subscribing to Baylor Connections on iTunes.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.