KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Job seekers filled the seats at Concord Fortress Church Sunday afternoon, but they weren't looking for just prayers.
"First of all I don't know nothing about no air brakes, trucks, anything like that. They give you a book to study," said James Baldwin.
Baldwin is one of hundreds who attended a free CDL workshop at the church.
Attendees wanted pointers on how to get their commercial driving license, hoping it could position them for employment in the near future.
A Call to Oneness, and MoDOT hosted the three-hour short course on how to study for the exam.
"There are some shovel ready jobs that are coming through with the stimulus package,” said United Believers Community Church Pastor Darron Edwards. “Not just with MoDOT but others who are ready to hire people with CDLs."
Edwards and many other faith leaders formed the "A Call to Oneness" organization to bring hope back to metro communities.
Sharon Taegel is with MoDOT. She says they are hiring, and their employees need to at least have their CDL permit.
"What we are doing is highlighting the things they need to study and what they need to know, and how to go about taking the test," said Taegel.
Attendees will still have to take the CDL exam on their own, but organizers are hopeful that this short course will get them better prepared.
The hope is to offer hope and possibility with so much hopelessness going on in our community, said Edwards.
Missouri is slated to receive $4 billion in federal stimulus money. The funds are slated for job training and infrastructure repair.
