Today we’d like to introduce you to Billy Rose.
Billy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My relationship with South Dallas began in high school when my parents and I would volunteer with The Dallas International Street Church, feeding and teaching the homeless. After graduating high school I went out of state for college and lived in NYC for a few years but came back to Dallas in 2010. Soon after being back I heard about a mentoring program called Champions of Hope, a faith-based organization that focused on the South Dallas/ Fair Park community, similar to Big Brothers/ Big Sisters. I started volunteering with them and soon came on staff and became the Director of Mentoring and moved into the community where I’ve lived since 2012.
I ended up working with them for six years. In that time I saw that I really enjoyed the aspects of my job that included spending time with families, teaching Bible studies, and overall care for people, which led me to pursue becoming a Pastor. I also love my community, with all its flaws. I quickly found the way our community is presented often in media was one-sided and that there is so much to celebrate here. So many gifted and loving people that I learn from more than I teach. Over a three year period, I got trained and began the work to start a new church that was community focused multiethnic and multicultural. In September of 2016, South Dallas Community Church was launched.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it hasn’t. South Dallas has over 140 churches, so one struggle was figuring out how we can fit into the fabric of the community in a way that makes sense and blesses our neighbors but doesn’t get in the way of what others are doing. Many of our core members have relocated to the community but as a church, we wanted to do that. Our partnership with the YMCA has allowed us to do that. We don’t have to create new programs but aim to help what they are already doing and support new initiatives as well.
Please tell us about South Dallas Community Church.
South Dallas Community Church is a new church in the South Dallas/ Fair Park Community with the mission to bring glory to God by making comprehensive disciples of Jesus Christ for the shalom of our neighborhood, city, and world. In one sense we do what churches have been doing for two thousand years.
We gather on Sunday for worship and then scatter throughout the week in our various jobs and homes to bring shalom (wholeness, peace) to our world. We do that through various ways including education, mentoring, the arts, medicine, homemaking, real estate, social justice, etc.. What sets us apart is that we have a commitment to the 75215 and 75210 zip codes. We want to see this historic community thrive in every way possible.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I think I would have taken more time to meet more pastors and churches in the neighborhood. I met a lot and continue to meet more but I would have done that. The relationships that are being built across different churches are great and I am excited about the work being done by the South Dallas/ Fair Park Faith Coalition.
Contact Info:
- Website: www. southdallascommunity.church
- Phone: (469) 608-1803
- Email: admin@southdallascommunity.church
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southdcc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southdcc/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/southdcc
Image Credit:
Emily McKinney, Rylan Oaks
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