‘The Gathering’ draws 35,000 to McLane Stadium for historic night of worship

Shortly after Baylor football broke in its new home on the Brazos River last fall, Drayton McLane Jr., BBA ’58, approached Waco pastor (and former Regent) Ramiro Peña, BA ’88, with another idea for filling the facility.

“Drayton had a vision of using McLane Stadium for more than football,” said Peña. “He asked me, ‘Would you help fill this stadium for a worship service?’”

Sunday, McLane’s dream came true. An estimated 35,000 people filled McLane Stadium for the largest worship service in Waco history. “The Gathering,” as it was called, attracted people of all ages, races, and denominations, many of whom came from outside Waco and even outside Texas for the event.

[MULTIMEDIA: Photos || Watch the entire event || Hear testimonies from Bryce Petty and Joanna Gaines]

Worship was led by Grammy Award-winner Israel Houghton and a choir of 900 voices from across the Waco community. Former Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty and “Fixer Upper” host Joanna Gaines each shared their testimonies via short videos, followed by a sermon from Dr. Tony Evans, a Dallas-area pastor and nationally syndicated radio voice.

[MEDIA COVERAGE: The Baptist Standard || Waco Tribune-Herald || The Baylor Lariat || KWTX]

More than 100 Waco-area churches partnered to organize the event — from Baptists to Catholics, from a 100-member Vietnamese church in Hewitt to the 10,000-member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas where Evans is senior pastor. Canned food donations were collected to benefit local food pantries. The entire event was televised locally on NewsChannel 25 and streamed online at KWTX.com, drawing viewers from 16 countries and more than 700 cities nationwide.

“We have one mission, and that’s to know God,” said Wayne Williams, an associate pastor at First Methodist Waco. “This is a way to celebrate that and invite others to know him.”

“It is awesome to see the body of Christ coming together,” added Peña. “Tonight, there is one church in Waco, Texas.”

Sic ’em, everyone who made The Gathering a reality!