Our team seeks to identify, train, and resource urban disciple-makers to plant churches that evangelize, disciple, and engage in compassionate ministry to their community.

The Dallas ministry currently resources three church plants and is coaching many other church planters as they launch churches in urban areas within DFW. The Dallas ministry offers leadership training opportunities for urban Christian leaders through The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) of Dallas and The Instituto Ministerial Urbano (IMU) de Dallas.

Our Purpose: For over 40 years, nationally, and 19 years, in Dallas, World Impact has sought to honor and glorify God and to delight in Him in the inner cities by knowing God and making Him known.

The Need: Today, it is clear, what urban poor communities need the most, are trained Godly leaders who will advance God's Kingdom through the local church.

Our Work To identify, train, and resource urban disciple-makers to plant churches that evangelize, disciple, and engage in compassionate ministry to their community.

The Fruit we Seek: To see empowered urban poor advancing GOD's Kingdom through their own local churches.

David Estrada

David and Shaun Estrada are originally from Wichita, KS but have called Dallas, TX their home for over seventeen years. They have been happily married for twenty years and treasure their beautiful children.

With over 20 years in ministry, David and Shaun’s experience has resulted in a true passion to disciple others and to exemplify an open and honest relationship with God. Prior to full-time ministry, David’s career included positions in the aircraft manufacturing industry, mortgage finance and many years serving at non-profit organizations. Ordained in 2003, David has served in various ministry positions including Youth Pastor, Sunday School Superintendent, Small Group leader, Outreach Director, Pastor of Administration and Membership. Shaun was also Ordained in 2003, she has served in church finance for over 10 years for various ministries. Before coming on staff at World Impact she served as the Pastor of Women Ministry at Antioch Church and is regularly featured as a guest speaker at area women’s ministry events. The Estrada’s are now planting a new CTV church named Mosaic Life Church in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood of Dallas, TX.

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Jim and Becky Elam

Jim was born and raised in the country of Lincolnton, GA. While in college, Jim accepted the Lord. Shortly after becoming a Christian he began to serve in a weekend Bible Club ministry of World Impact in Wichita, KS. After Jim graduated from Tabor College he joined World Impact building a discipleship program for Morning Star Ranch in Florence, KS. Later he returned to Tabor College to serve as the men's resident director, assistant football coach, track coach, and assistant dean of students at Tabor College.

In April of 2011, the Elam’s moved to Dallas to serve with our Dallas ministry. Jim and Becky serve the Fair Park community of Dallas working with New Found Life Bible Church and other ministry partners to serve the community. Jim oversees missionary groups who serve with us each spring break and summer introducing short-term mission groups to life and ministry in the city.

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Juan Pablo and Sol Herrera

Juan Pablo was transferred to Dallas in 1998 by his employer of eleven years, Mercedes Benz. After the move to Dallas Juan Pablo served the company for nine more years. During those years he and Sol were heavily involved in an inner-city ministry through Irving Bible Church (IBC) and began to feel called to inner city missions. Juan Pablo joined the World Impact staff in 2007 shortly after planting Iglesia del Maestro.

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Rev. Ted Smith

Ted grew up in the inner-city of Baltimore, MD. Since giving his life to Christian service nearly three decades ago, he has served as a missionary to the Philippines and worked with churches in Oklahoma and Texas.

Ted joined World Impact in April of 2010, serving as the City Director of World Impact in Dallas, TX, shepherding missionary staff, church-planters, and volunteers in facilitating Bible clubs for children, youth ministries, church planting efforts, and leadership training for indigenous leaders.

Ted has served as Dean of The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) of Dallas since 2011, facilitating classes and managing TUMI partnerships in the Midwest. He has served as an adjunct professor at Dallas Christian College since 2004, teaching course in Bible, Preaching, and Practical Ministry.

In Feb 2018, Ted began serving as a Regional Director of Ministry, leading City Directors, ministry staff, ministry engagements, and advancement throughout the Midwest Region.

In Feb 2020, Ted joined The Urban Ministry Institute, serving as the Executive Assistant to the National Director Church Planting helping to identify, resource, certify, consult and inspire movement leaders and their efforts in light of World Impact's aim to plant healthy churches thriving in every community of poverty, both domestic and international.

Ted’s passion is to develop leaders for the urban context through classroom instruction, conferences, resourcing, coaching, and mentoring. Ted holds a BA in Ministry and Leadership from Dallas Christian College, an MA in New Testament and Preaching from Johnson University, and an MA in Global leadership from Dallas Baptist University.

He currently serves as Pastor of Southwood Christian Church in Greenville, TX. Ted and his wife live in Rowlett, TX. They have three adult children and nine grandchildren. And yes, he knows he does not look old enough to have nine grandchildren.

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World Impact was birthed out of the rubble of the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles, when Keith Phillips made a deal with six boys who attended that initial Bible club: he promised to tell them about Jesus if they would tell him about life in the city.

Forty years later, World Impact missionaries are still making friends in the city, sharing the love of Jesus as they go.  How we love our neighbors has changed over the years.  God guided us through four distinct seasons of ministry, each built on and complemented by the previous phase. Read More