Dallas is the 9th largest city by population in the United States. And if you add in the metropolitan areas, it becomes the 4th largest metropolitan area in the United States. What this means is that there is a lot of need and a lot of opportunity to love, learn and serve. There are an estimated 6,000-10,000 homeless and one of every five people lives in poverty. 23% of the south Dallas population lives below the poverty line. More than 60,000 people live in public housing.
Our partner ministries faithfully serve in Dallas through ministries such as after-school tutoring, Bible clubs, befriending individuals and families experiencing homelessness, Bible Studies for the elderly, school supply drives, and sports camps. We also have an incredible opportunity in Dallas to reach out to refugees from all over the world, who are here in our own backyard. We partner with ministries that reach out to the hundreds of men, women and children who have fled their home countries in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution. Our partner ministries serve in various ways including Bible Clubs for kids, food and clothes distribution, home visits and as language partners. Dallas has more churches per capita than any other American city, but it also has the worst overall crime rate for cities with more than 1 million people. We invite you to bring your group to come and serve alongside of us on an urban Dallas short term mission trip.
7:30 – 8:45 – Breakfast/Devotionals:
We provide breakfast for your team and give you the opportunity to either do devotionals as a group or for your students to do devotionals individually.
9:00 – 12:00 – Downtown Homeless Ministry:
Serve alongside one of our ministry partners that reaches the un-sheltered homeless all throughout the city of Dallas. This might include serving a meal, sorting and preparing hygiene kits or visiting with the homeless on the streets.
12:15 – 12:45 – Lunch at Kaleo Housing Location
12:45 – 1:45 – Bible Club preparation time
2:00 – 5:00 – Bible Club with a partner church in South Dallas.
Your group would have the opportunity to lead all aspects of the club including arts/crafts, Bible time, games, and a literacy/reading time.
6:00 – 6:30 – Dinner at Kaleo Housing Site
6:30 – 7:15 – Evening Debrief
*Please note this is a sample schedule and does not reflect specific times and ministry activities for your team.
Cost: $400 for a five night trip or $480 for a six night trip includes all of your housing, food (with the exception of one evening meal on your night off) and ministry expenses. The only additional cost to your group is the cost of transportation.
Housing: Our Kaleo teams stay at a partner church close by many of the ministries we serve with. The dorm area is separated for boys and girls and there are showers onsite. There is also a fenced in area for volleyball and basketball as well as a large meeting area downstairs. Teams will need to provide their own bedding
Parking: Parking is free and is available in the church parking lot
Transportation: You will need to have vehicles to transport each individual team and a space available in your van for one Kaleo staff member for each team.
Food: Our goal is to provide good and healthy food options for your team. Additionally, as part of our food service, we will provide your group with some meals that are unique to the local culture of Dallas (BBQ and Tacos). We provide fruit at all meals and have salad options during lunch and dinner. If members of your team have food allergies, please let our City Director know. We can make basic accommodations such as gluten free bread and lactose free milk and you are free to bring additional food if necessary.
Matt Wooster, Kaleo Dallas City Director
We are excited about the opportunity to partner with your group to serve our ministry partners and the people of Dallas. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact us, of if you are ready to register your team, click on the “register” button above.
