If you come by Mission Arlington^® enough, you will start to notice some of the staff members look very much like each other. It could be from the years of being together as most of the staff have been working side by side for decades.  But in some cases, yes, your hunch is correct: they really are related.

Mariescha and Cassie’s parents began volunteering at Mission Arlington^® when Cassie was 5 and before Mariescha was even born, so the sisters have a combined 60 years of ministry experience.

When Mariescha and Cassie were old enough to make a choice about where to spend their Sunday mornings, they started teaching in the apartment ministries.  Mariescha still teaches where she started, at South Street Church, (now Parkview Fellowship), but she’s added several other ministry points in the past years.

Cassie ministers at an east Arlington apartment complex and makes home visits across the city, trying to connect people to a Bible Study near them.  She also works alongside her husband Matt, and her family, at Heritage Church, a Mission Arlington congregation in central Arlington. As Cassie and Mariescha finished school, they both took on responsibilities within the Mission office, helping things to run smoothly behind the scenes so that other Bible Study leaders can reach out effectively.

“When you grow up actively ministering in the community, you don’t know what else to do on Sundays, or any weekday for that matter,” Cassie says.  A few years ago, she had to spend a few months away for a medical concern and says it felt odd not teaching a Bible class somewhere.

Why did they stay?  Mariescha says it best, “Mission Arlington^® is both the safest and most challenging place I’ve ever been.  Challenging because we live missionally, and the parts of you that aren’t surrendered to Christ don’t stay that way for long.  Safest because you really are surrounded by a family that loves you as Jesus does.”

Originally Published September 2014.

Monday, April 07, 2014

“I wouldn’t recommend it…But I wouldn’t give up what I learned from it.“

That’s how Patti describes the relapse she went through a few years ago. After 19 years clean and sober, she found herself blacked out near the doors of Mission Arlington®.

She says Tillie and another staff member helped Patti back to her house and invited her to Bible Study the next Wednesday. Patti knew she wouldn’t remember the invitation, so she scribbled on a post it note immediately “Wednesday Bible Study, 7:30, Ms. Tillie” and she stuck it to a post outside her apartment.

On the next Wednesday night, Tillie came to pick Patti up.  Eventually, Patti started volunteering at Mission Arlington.  She remembers, “The empty hours on my days off from work were spent with godly people doing His work.  The more time I spent away from the alcohol and in the presence of God, the less I needed the bottle.“

Soon, she found her way to Celebrate Recovery, a Christ centered recovery group at Grace Street Fellowship.

In her 20’s, she had gone through a 12 step program with Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous and counts that as an important learning experience. But the second time, with Celebrate Recovery, she says, is so different. While AA was about what she was doing by herself to be sober, with CR, it’s about relying on God and getting as close to him as humanly possible.

Several years ago, Patti asked God to “Remove all barriers, anything between him and I.” Since then, God has been answering that prayer, one painful thing at a time. Now she says with a grin, “That was a prayer and a half. Don’t ever, ever, ever pray for something like that unless you are really prepared.“ Today, Patti works full time with Mission Arlington^®

Patti used to be prideful about her recovery, but now she boasts in Jesus Christ as her Lord. Instead of putting faith in the time she has clean, she puts her faith in God. We celebrate with her for how God has changed her life.

(Originally Published in April 2014.)

Here is today’s report!

1. Saturday, August 18– Teen Clinic at Dental Clinic- Ages 12-18- 8:00 am- 11:30 am! Vision 10:00
2. Rainbow Express^®– Attendance: 132; Salvations: 12
3. Children’s Gym Night– Parkview 6:30- See Deb for van
4. Youth Rally– 8/7/18- Pray & Invite your people!
5. Scripture–“If we confess our sins He is faithful to forgive our sins.” 1 John 1:9
6. Prayer circle– “Pray for Children’s Gym Night. This is a special time with children and workers being together and building relationships.”

Here is today’s report!

1. Saturday, August 18– Teen Clinic at Dental Clinic- Ages 12-18- 8:00 am- 11:30 am! Vision 10:00
2. Rainbow Express^®– Attendance: 68; Salvations: 0
3. Children’s Gym Night– Parkview 6:30- See Deb for van
4. Youth Rally– 8/17/18- Pray and invite your people!
5. Scripture– “The Lord will be your everlasting Light” Isaiah 60:20
6. Prayer circle– “Pray for the New Workers God is bringing to teach with us.”

Here is today’s report!

1. Wednesday Night Bible Study– 7:00 pm- Meet in the front room
2. Rainbow Express^®– Attendance: 68; Salvations:0
3. Children’s Gym Night– Parkview 6:30- See Deb for van
4. Youth Rally– 8/7/18- Pray & Invite your people!!
5. Scripture– “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
6. Prayer Circle– “Pray for workers to come and help in the after school time.”

Here is today’s report!

1. Ladies Monday Night Bible Study  is at 7:30, meet in Front Room
2. Pray for Rainbow Express
3. Children Gym Night is at Park View
4. Youth Rally is August 17th
5. Scripture: “Give and it shall be given to you.” – Luke 6:18
6. Prayer Circle: Continue to pray for The Rainbow Express groups. Last week there were 342 reported decisions to trust Christ through the ministry of Rainbow Express.

Here is today’s report!

1. Rainbow Express^® Praise Report– Attendance: 675; Salvations: 36
2. School Supplies– If you need help see TB
3. Youth Gym Night tonight; 6:30- Pray
4. Scripture–“Whoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
5. Prayer Circle– “Pray for the Mission Arlington workers as they make the follow up visits from decisions made at their churches.”

Here is today’s report!

1. Rainbow Express^® Report– Pray- Attendance: 507; Salvations: 28
2. Youth Gym Night– Friday at 6:30
3. School Supply list– If you need help, see TB
4. Scripture– “This is how we know what love is; Jesus laid down His Life for us.” 1st John 3:16
5. Prayer circle– “Pray for the start of New Work on the East side of our city. Our youth are wanting to start another congregation where they know there are so many their own age who do not know Christ.”

Here is today’s report!

1. 1. Rainbow Express^® Report– Pray- Attendance: 311; Salvations: 15
   2. God began Mission Arlington^®– 8/1/1986. Going into 32 years with God as our Leader. We praise His Name.
   3. Scripture– “God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son; whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting Life.” John 3:16
   4. Prayer circle– “Pray for the follow up of the Fuller Property after their Revival. Several adults made decisions to follow Christ.”

Here’s today’s news!

1. Ladies Monday Night Bible Study at 7:30 in Front Room
2. Pray for Rainbow Express which is in 9 locations
3. Scripture: “This is how we know what love is; Jesus gave His Life for us.” – 1 John 3:16
4. Prayer Circle: Pray as we continue to be in the community with Rainbow Express in 9 different locations this week.