Bob Burgin, pastor,  teaches adults in a Wednesday evening Bible study at the Parkview congregation in Arlington.

One of the first apartment complexes to invite Mission Arlington to start a Bible Study in the late 80’s was Westwood Village near UTA. The message was well received, and the residents quickly began to see the apartment clubhouse as their church building, neighbors as church members, and the bi-vocational leader, Bob, as their pastor. For the first few years, as people moved away, many drove back to the apartment complex each Sunday to continue attending their church.

In fact, so many people were driving back that the clubhouse couldn’t hold them all. There was not enough parking. The church needed a bigger space.

Mission Arlington had acquired one building nearby that was being used for donated furniture. After a little cleaning, the warehouse space became the church’s new meeting place.

The church has moved a couple of times since then for a variety of reasons, and many of the members have changed, but the heart of the church stays the same. They want everyone to know Christ. Every Sunday, before services, the church holds an English as a Second Language class. Throughout the week, groups from out of town stay in their building while serving at Mission Arlington. The church is a light to their community.

Victor, and his son, make visits for the Lord through the Parkview congregation.

Victor, who teaches the adult Spanish class, and his family have been in the congregation for at least 7 years. Victor and his young son, named after his father, make visits in the surrounding neighborhood. The younger Victor remembered a story he had heard about Pastor Bob knocking on the same woman’s door for years until she finally came to church and now is on staff at Mission Arlington. When asked if that’s Victor’s story too, the 12-year-old replied, “Not yet, but it will be!” They are excited about seeing people come to Christ.

What about the apartment complex where it all began? Since then, Westwood Village changed names and has new residents. The manager invited Mission Arlington to start a new Bible Study. Again, it has become a thriving church. And the Word goes on.