Wild torch is an experience of light and love, truth and beauty through the arts existing to benefit the efforts of Jesus Said Love, a ministry aiding women within the commercial sex industry.

Thank you for joining us at the first annual Wild Torch event benefiting the work of Jesus Said Love. What a night! Over 350 people packed the Hippodrome for a night of celebrating the arts and what God is doing in the lives of women in the commercial sex industry.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of our sponsors. Please check them out here and if you see them around town, thank them for carrying fire with us.

Make sure if you're in New York, that you look up Elizabeth Davis and go see her perform. 

We will announce next Tuesday the final amount raised at Wild Torch that will go to help us remodel our new building at 1500 Columbus. If you wanted to give, but in the whirlwind of the evening didn't get a chance, we're still accepting donations until next Monday. You can donate by:

  1. Texting a dollar amount + LOVE WILDTORCH to 45777
  2. Donate online right here
  3. Send a check to Jesus Said Love PO Box 523 Waco, TX 76703 Memo: Wild Torch

We are excited to learn from the first experience and look forward to next year! In the mean time, enjoy the photos from Kathryn Krueger Photography. 

And remember, what is YOUR wild torch to carry?


Featured Artists

 

Elizabeth Davis

Elizabeth is a Tony Nominated actor in NYC. 

She is currently starring in Rogers and Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, direction by Tony Award winner, John Doyle. Earlier this year, Elizabeth was seen in the rarely produced Bernard Shaw play, THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE, and the US Premiere of Tierney-Keogh's FOUR LAST THINGS on 46th St's American Globe Theatre. Look for Elizabeth in the forthcoming BLUR CIRCLE film and newly acquired NBC show TAXI BROOKLYN, as well as the 3-Song EP release form FAIR PLAY.

Other notable credits include helming Brecht's CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE at Obie Award winning Classic Stage Company alongside 3-time Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd, and Tony & Grammy winner Duncan Sheik.  Prior, Elizabeth sang, danced, played and acted in the Tony & Grammy winning ONCE the Musical, where she received her Tony nominationoriginating her role at American Repertory Theatre & New York Theatre Workshop. Tony Winner John Tiffany directed.

For more about Elizabeth, click here.


Brett & Emily Mills

Brett and Emily are worship leaders and singer-songwriters who love God and love people.

They met singing in 1997 at Baylor University. Their passions for music and justice took them in front of thousands all over the country, but it wasn’t until they heard the plight of women stuck in the commercial sex industry that their calling took a different path. In 2003, they began visiting Waco strip clubs, bringing gift bags and asking for honest relationships. Soon after, a movement of loving women outside of the church walls was born. They called it "Jesus Said Love." Their heart for loving others has changed the way they lead worship and write songs. Their passion lies in giving a voice to the voiceless.

For more about Brett & Emily, click here.


Exhibition featuring the work of Kermit Oliver

Kermit Oliver grew up in small-town Refugio, TX, inspired by the rural landscape and culture. Later, this Texas heritage influence would combine with his knowledge of mythology, religion, and history to produce world-renown works. Oliver studied with Elaine de Kooning at Rice University, and received his BS/BFA at TSU. Although he possessed both immense talent and formal artistic training, he spent most of his adult life working as a postal worker in East Waco. When Hermes discovered this remarkable man and his work in the 1980’s, Oliver was immediately commissioned, and his designs have been coveted ever since. Despite his success, Oliver claims, "My needs are very simple. Give me a room with good northern light, my books, my art supplies and a bed...and I'm the happiest man in the world."

For more about Kermit, click here.


The Union Revival

The Union Revival is the husband and wife songwriting duo of Aaron & Amanda Konzelman. They have been performing and writing together for 11 years, creating a blend of haunting melodies, and true to life storytelling.

Their music is a convergence of classic Americana and Modern Folk music.

For more about Aaron & Amanda, click here.


Chris Hansen

Chris Hansen is an independent filmmaker, and he runs the film & digital media program at Baylor University.  His feature films include The Proper Care & Feeding of an American Messiah, Endings, and Where We Started, all of which are available on various video-on-demand platforms. He is the editor of Ruminations, Peregrinations, and Regenerations: A Critical Approach to Doctor Who and has contributed chapters to Halos and Avatars: Playing Video Games with God and Too Bold for the Box Office: The Mockumentary from Big Screen to Small. He is a deacon at Highland Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Sherry, their four daughters, and their mutt, Doc. 

For more about Chris, click here.


Cash Teague

Cash Teague attended Abilene Christian University where he received a degree in Youth and Family Ministry with a minor in Art.  He is now working as high school art teacher at Rappoport Academy in East Waco.  He has been painting live for audiences for the last 10 years and hopes to one day get Masters in Fine Arts and teach at the college level.

For more about Cash, click here.


Baylor Dance Company

Baylor Dance Company provides a semi-professional dance atmosphere while promoting higher awareness of dance in the Baylor community. BDC performs at Baylor events, in the Waco community and at our annual Spring Showcase. The company hosts guests choreographers, from around Texas and participates in the American Dance and Drill competition.

For more information about Baylor Dance Company, click here.


Out On a Limb Dance Company

Out On a Limb Dance Company collaborates with artists all over the nation. They are interested in collaborations across state lines and artist interested in interdisciplinary, collaborative, gritty, experimental work.  As dance-makers, they seek to create original dance languages that explore ideas about the nature of human experience and how the dance process can then create change or maneuver our own life experience. Out On a Limb Dance Company founded the {254}Dance-Fest in collaboration with the Waco Cultural Arts Fest. OoLD has created two branches of companies: Out On a Limb Dot Vines (a Waco based pre-professional dance company), and Out On a Limb Dot Buds (creative dance class ages 3-6). OoLD is interested in bringing artists together at every age. They value the explorative life experience in the studio as much as the products on stage. OoLD finds that the creative minds and bodies at every age are intuitive, communicative, healing, and worth sharing with others. Therefore, they aim to redefine the body in motion as a life story and offer a new model for dance in the community.

For more info: www.outonalimbdance.com


Jonathan Martin

Jonathan Martin graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Studio Arts. He is married to his wife Sara, and has 3 children, Jack, Claire and Carter. Ceramics, and three dimensional design has always intrigued him and he has found that creating functional ceramic pieces is a perfect place to explore both form and function.  He currently is the owner/founder of Black Oak Art, where he focuses on mainly wholesale custom orders, but is also starting to expand into retail pieces online, and pottery lessons in his studio.  He is currently the artist in residence at the Art Center of Waco, and is looking forward to securing a permanent studio and store front in Dichotomy Coffee's new Apex Coffee Roasting Building on 6th street in Downtown Waco.

For more informatino, visit Blackoakart.com


Kindred Event Studios

Parties  +  Weddings  +  Galas  +  Intimate Affairs  +  Blowout Bashes   =   we do them all. This is our niche. We create timeless events:

Weddings that are soulful and rich in meaning. Parties that throw down: the ones guests want to come to and don't want to leave.

Style for miles.Woven details that are thoughtful and memorable.

Beauty.  Meaning.  Riotous fun.

For more information, click here.


Genevieve Peel, Hole In The Roof

Hole in the Roof is the connection between life and design. We blur the lines between everyday work and our love for creativity. We design for design's sake and are creative for creativity's sake. We work because we love what we do. We strive to find joy in the day-to-day life because it inspires us to be great. Our goal is to humbly do the best of our artistic ability, establish lasting relationships with our customers, and to give back to the community as much as we can. Hole in the Roof is talent on loan.

For more information, click here.



Corey McEntyre, Chef

After growing up in Georgia and living in Arkansas and Nashville, Chef Corey is well-versed in the art of southern food. As Chef/Kitchen Manager at the Waco Hippodrome, his goal is to create an environment that allows people to escape the ordinary. He loves sharing family recipes and introducing customers to something new presented in a unique way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon Collier & Julie Hays, Auctioneers

Gordon:

He moved to Waco in 1989 after accepting a position at KWTX-TV as a consumer reporter and weekend weather anchor. His coverage of the Branch Davidian standoff caught the eye of an Oklahoma news director and Gordon moved to Tulsa, OK in 1993 where he worked as a reporter for KOTV. He rejoined the News 10 team in 1996 and now anchors the Six and Ten O'clock Newscasts. He is the proud father of daughter Ryan, son Dalton, and twin boys Mason and Brady. When he's not reporting the news he is often playing with his band the Gordon's hobbies are hunting, fishing and raising kids.

Julie:

During her time at Channel 10, Julie Hays has worn several hats. She started her career at KWTX-TV as an overnight producer. Julie went on to handle responsibilities of weekend producer, reporter, and morning and noon anchor before moving to the evening newscasts alongside Gordon Collier. Julie has spent many days covering the President's comings and goings in his adopted hometown of Crawford. That included an exclusive one-on-one with the President's late Press Secretary Tony Snow. She and Snow formed a friendship that eventually included a personal invitation for Julie and her husband to the President's Christmas party at the White House. When not on the clock, Julie spends countless hours volunteering in the community. She has served as a volunteer youth volleyball coach, and speaks often to community organizations around Central Texas.