Encouraging Women

Proverbs 31: 30-31 reminds us that a “woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” She is also to be honored “for all that her hands have done” (vs. 32).  We know that blessing anyone tends to multiply into blessings for others. It seemed especially right, on the Friday prior to Mother’s Day, to honor the ladies in our lives, leading to the encouragement of many others in their paths.

Moving Worship & An Encouraging Message

This past Friday night, Mission Arlington hosted a “Ladies’ Night” event in central Arlington. Ladies who attend our Bible studies were especially invited, as were many others. Over three hundred (300) ladies gathered for worship & Bible study, starting at 7:00 p.m.

The worship time, powered by the Lord and lifted by the voices of 300 women, was deeply moving.  When Bible study leader/pastor Regina Grissom stepped to the Mic., hearts were open & ready. Regina shared from the book of Daniel about staying strong in the Lord, despite the lions which may be roaring ravenously around you.

1 Corinthians 15:58 states: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  Regina encouraged the ladies to stay strong – not in their own strength, but in the Lord’s.   She also illustrated the value & beauty of their work, reminding them that work done for the Lord is never in vain.  People were moved and encouraged by the message.

A Delicious Meal

After the worship service, a caravan of cars drove the half-mile to another one of Mission Arlington’s congregations in central Arlington, where a delicious meal was waiting for the ladies.  Those enjoying this event were doubly blessed.  Not only was the meal fulfilling, but the ladies enjoying the meal did not have to prepare it, nor did they have to clean up afterwards (though many pitched in to help clear the tables).

Childcare Provided

Many husbands took care of the children at home, so that the ladies could enjoy their time away. For those who didn’t have childcare arrangements (for a variety of reasons), men from other Mission Arlington Bible studies offered to take care of the kids.   It was so much fun.  Of course, all of this was “FREE OF CHARGE.”

 The smiles on so many faces made it worth it all.  We are already looking forward to next year. 

From One to Three

For years, Mission Arlington^® has had so much fun sponsoring what we lovingly call the “World’s Largest” Easter egg hunt.   This family-friendly event included free food (freshly cooked hot dogs, chips, and a drink), bouncy houses, and six (6) lanes of open field scattered with plastic, candy-filled Easter eggs, and outdoor fun with the family.  This year, for the first time, we were able to spread out into three (3) different locations, with all the same amenities.  It took about 110,000 plastic eggs, filled with candy, to have enough for the day. (That’s a lot of eggs.)

Rain Didn’t Stop the Fun

On the Saturday before Easter, April 19th, early in the morning, rain began to fall across the city.  Each of our three locations this year had a “rain plan,” so we were able to host the Egg Hunts indoors.  We expected lower attendance, but by 10:00 a.m. the rain had stopped, and people began to pour into these creative, energizing events.  By the time it was over, nearly three thousand (2,967) children & youth – with their families – had enjoyed these beautiful events.

Families – of all shapes and sizes – came together to play, and to enjoy each other’s company.  Parents were smiling, children were laughing, and friends & neighbors were enjoying each other’s company.  It was a day away from the phones, the internet, social media, and all the other attendant noises of our day.  Each child left with a bag full of multi-colored eggs, filled with candy.  All in all, it was such a sweet experience.

The Story that Changed Everything

The best part of the day involved a moment to sit and listen to the true story of Easter.  Easter eggs are great family fun, of course, but it’s the love expressed in and through the Easter story that changes everything.  Volunteers shared the account of Jesus’ death & resurrection, a story precious to believers all over the world.  Each listener was reminded that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) and offered an opportunity to respond.

Thank you for your Constant Support

Because you pray, give, and help, we can be a part of sharing God’s love in such beautiful ways across our community.  We are truly so grateful for you!

More than seven (7) thousand (7,373) children & youth attended Rainbow Express^® over Spring Break.

When was it?

Spring Break Rainbow Express^® began March 3^rd and continued through the first week of April.  Since Spring Break is typically only one week-long, people often wonder why Mission Arlington’s Spring Break happens over so many weeks.

The reason is that Spring Breaks happen on different weeks around the country, across the state, and even in the DFW area.   So, we host Spring Break groups whenever they can come to town.  If it happens to land in a time when our own students are still in school, then the Rainbow Express experience will happen after school lets out for the day.

What is it?

Rainbow Express^® is a four-day (Monday-Thursday), 21/2-hour experience for the children & youth in our community.  It is an out-door experience, with fun, running games, creative crafts, tasty snacks, and stories straight from the Bible.   It is so much fun for everyone involved.

What Happened?

Forty-one (41) church youth groups of various sizes came to Texas from nine (9) different states (Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tennessee) and fourteen (14) Texas cities outside of Arlington (Beaumont, Big Springs, Frisco, La Vernia, Lewisville, Lumberton, Nacogdoches, Nederland, Port Neches, Rusk, Stephenville, Tyler, Wylie).  Several churches in Arlington also joined this important work too.

Altogether, over twelve hundred (1,202) junior high & high school students, and leaders led Rainbow Express^® in ninety-one (91) different locations. Altogether, more than seven thousand young people (7,373) experienced these four-day events.

Spiritual Results?

The sharing of God’s love through His word, the Scriptures, are an integral part of each day of Rainbow Express^®.  We believe that whenever and wherever the Bible is shared, it never returns “void,” but in fact, always accomplishes God’s purposes (Isaiah 55:11).  We also believe that whenever people learn God’s Word, they begin to flourish (Psalm 1).   Everyone who participates in Rainbow Express will be exposed to teaching from the Bible. One of the beautiful results from our Spring Break Rainbow Express is that 121 people accepted Christ.

Our Gratitude

We are truly grateful for your constant, faithful support.  We are able to be here, and Rainbow Express^® can happen here, because you make it possible. We are truly grateful.

Rainbow Express^®

If you are new to the Mission Arlington^® experience, you may not be familiar with what we call “Rainbow Express^®”.  Rainbow Express^® is our version of a backyard Bible club with crafts, snacks, fun songs, outdoor games, and Bible stories.  Church youth & college groups come in from multiple cities across Texas, and several states outside of Texas to share God’s love with the children of our community through Rainbow

Express^®.  If you are not new to the “Rainbow Experience,” you know that just the mention of the phrase brings excitement to children who have been, because the whole experience is so much fun.

Has started again.

Rainbow Express started with an early group last week, but has picked up with multiple groups this week, since Spring Break is happening at different times for different districts.  Student groups who are here this week do work projects with us through the morning, then lead afternoon and evening Rainbow Express experiences.

Next week, during Arlington ISD’s Spring Break, many more student groups will be in town to lead these outreach Bible study experiences at least twice a day, and sometimes in the evening to.

The best way to provide support is to pray for the student groups as they travel to and from home, and also throughout this city.  Pray for parents as they support their children’s presence & attendance at these 4-day events.  Please pray that the children will be blessed through the outdoor fun, and that they will hear clearly about God’s love for them.

Thank you so much for your constant support.

John & Stephie have been married for many years. On the Friday before Valentine’s Day, they enjoyed a “Ladies’ Night Out” hosted by one of Mission Arlington’s congregations in central Arlington.

Taking Church to the People

When Mission Arlington^® began in August of 1986, the idea was to help people find their way back into church. We subsequently discovered that many people felt disconnected from the church in general.

It’s not that churches weren’t friendly or inviting, but that there seemed to be some a barrier in the minds and hearts of people, making it difficult for them to connect. We decided then that if people couldn’t come to the church, for whatever reason, we would take the church to them.

Today people of all ages gather each week to hear the Bible taught in multiple languages in 360 locations in Arlington and the larger Dallas/Fort Worth region. We meet in neighborhood homes, apartment club houses, mobile home parks and in any other location where people can gather together to hear God’s Word.

A dinner in one of our central Arlington congregations on the Sunday before Valentines Day. Everyone had so much fun.

The Importance of Fellowship

Acts 2:42 teaches us that the early disciples were “devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.”  This verse highlights the foundational practices for the early church, and it forms a kind of guide to “best practices” for all congregations.

The word “fellowship” has more than one meaning, but in a church setting, it becomes a fun activity sponsored by a congregation which helps people grow closer to each other and to the Lord.

Fun in February

One fun focus for fellowships in February is Valentine’s Day. Our churches have been having dinners, and creative get-togethers, to deepen the bonds of community. The men of one congregation hosted a dinner for the ladies of the church.  Last Friday night, they served Italian food, did some silly skits, and dances, and everyone had a great time.  Another church’s way of celebrating the month was to have a large dinner after church on Sunday.  The picture to the left is of that common meal.

True Love

The people in our Bible studies & congregations are able to express their love for each other, because God has first loved us.  He didn’t just talk about love, but he demonstrated that love, in that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” on a cross.  Then, God raised Him from the dead.  We have great reason to have so much joy in this Valentine’s season, and really, all year long.

Thank you for your prayers & support.

A bitterly cold morning didn’t stop hundreds of volunteers from showing up to serve on this special day honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Community service on this holiday has become a tradition for many individuals, families, and other volunteers from all walks of life.  It has also become one of the Mission Arlington^® family’s favorite days.  It

isn’t just that people work hard and get so much done, but that there is a spirit to the day, evident in the spirit & the service of the people who show up to help.

For the past several years, we have had the privilege of serving with the Arlington MLK Committee who, among many other events involved with this weekend, sponsors the Zeb Strong Day of Service. The Committee provided t-shirts, bottles of water, and plenty of encouragement, as volunteers made their way out across the community to serve.

485 people stayed to work with Mission Arlington.^® Volunteers sorted clothes, organized food, distributed bikes, and so much more. One of our biggest projects for this day was delivering food to families in need across our community. Food was loaded into people’s cars, and they delivered that food out to individual families all across Arlington. Altogether, over 1,000 families received food that day. The families who received were so blessed, but so too were that volunteers who were delivering the food.

When these volunteer teams were handing the food to families, the reception was so warm and welcoming, that somehow it just didn’t seem cold anymore.

We are so grateful for the privilege we have of serving the Lord together in & through this space.

The ending of one day at Mission Arlington, leads to the start of new one. So, we turn the corner into a brand-new year.

As one day leads to the next, so we have “turned the corner” into a New Year. As we look to the future, we want to express our gratitude to each of you for your support through every day of 2024. None of us know what lies ahead, of course, but we take great comfort in knowing that we will be making the journey with you. We are excited about 2025.

Here are some of the things we accomplished together last year:

1. Camps – 932 students attended 1 of 6 free summer camps.
2. Congregations & Bible studies – 360 locations, averaging 4,300 per week, a total of 8,600.
3. Christmas – 8,080 families (34,307 people) received Christmas help.  4,000 children received bikes. 324 adults accepted Christ, and 791 rededicated their life to the Lord.
4. Dental Clinic – 36 dentists treated 1,310 patients 3,310 times.
5. Emergency Assistance – an average of 695 people/day. People received food, clothes, household items, furniture, and emergency financial assistance.
   1. # of Families Helped – 55,128 families were helped. This is an average of 191 families/day.
   2. # of People helped – 200,318 people – received support.  Open six days a week, 695 people a day, received the help you provided.
6. Medical Clinic – Our volunteer medical teams (10 medical specialties) treated 3,793 people 10,552 times.
7. Rainbow Express^® – 22,201 children & youth attended Rainbow Express^® in 334 locations across our community.
8. Thanksgiving – 7,124 families (29,495 people) received a Thanksgiving meal, delivered by more than 5,000 volunteers from 49 cities across Texas.  More people received Thanksgiving help than ever before.

A New Year Begins

December 31st had been full & fun, because so many of you dropped by, not just with donations, but with encouragement: “Thank you for all you do!” and “Happy New Year!” were common refrains.

Towards the end of the day, about 7:00 p.m., Mission Arlington^® staff, Bible study leaders and volunteers gathered to pray.   There wasn’t a planned program, nor any prepared music.  Each of us found a spot in our gathering place, and we prayed. Even though these were silent prayers, it’s easy to know what the substance of those prayers were: 1) We thanked the Lord for the year behind us.  2) We asked for God to lead us in and through the new year, and 3) we thanked Him for you.  Proverbs 3:5-6 asks believers to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” That is our hope and our heart for the new year.

On the Wings of Prayer

Our Director, Tillie Burgin, reminds us constantly that “Mission Arlington^® moves on the prayers of the people.”  Would you join us?  Would you keep us in your prayers through 2025?  As we have said from the beginning, this ministry doesn’t belong to us, but to God.  We are simple stewards of His trust, and yours, as we serve Him together. We are so grateful for your constant support.  Come join us, won’t you?

 C hristmas Day was 3-days ago. The dinner was served, and gifts exchanged. Perhaps you took in a movie, or spent time with family, or caught up on some of the chores you’ve put off for a while. This article is being written on a rainy Saturday morning, the first Saturday after Christmas.  There weren’t many cars on the road coming into Mission Arlington^® this morning, and volunteers have slept-in a bit (well-deserved), and donors have been slow to trickle in.  By the afternoon, when the rain is projected to end, that will all change. The normal hustle and bustle of Mission Arlington will be back.  So, is Christmas over?

Christmas Ministries Conclude

Our Christmas store closed Monday night, December 23rd, two days before Christmas. More than 7,000 volunteers from all across DFW, and from several states across the continent, came to lend a hand.  8,080 families, representing 34,307 people, came through the Christmas store for help, more than ever before. So many of you dropped off gifts that it seemed like a never-ending stream of people and gifts. It was an extraordinarily beautiful site to see.  We told the Christmas Story from Luke 2 in seven different languages.  324 adults made decisions to begin a faith journey, and 751 adults renewed their faith commitments.

In addition to the Christmas Store, families from our community were adopted, and children were recipients of various angel tree endeavors across the community. Our Bible studies and congregations hosted Christmas pageants, dinners, candlelight service, Christmas parties, and so much more.  Truly, it was the “most wonderful time of the year.”  So, is Christmas over?

A Season which Never Ends

Tillie Burgin, our director, likes to say that it’s Christmas 365 days a year at Mission Arlington^®.  The Spirit of giving exists in and throughout this amazing community which surrounds & supports us. We believe we have the world’s best job, because we are blessed when we receive every day what you give so freely and sacrificially.  Then, in turn, we are so blessed to give what you have provided to someone in need. We see the tears of relief & joy, when people have their electric bill paid, or they can receive food for their family.

More importantly, the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, at Christmas, has changed everything.  The peace and joy which begins with Christ carries on through every day of the year.  So, it’s always Christmas for those who know the Lord, and that is especially true here at Mission Arlington.

Even on the Coldest Nights

C.S. Lewis wrote a set of children’s books called the Chronicles of Narnia.  In the first book of the series, the protagonists fine themselves in a land which has been cursed. The effect of the curse is that it is “always winter and never Christmas” anywhere in that world.  To the contrary, because of Christ at Christmas, even on the coldest nights, in the depths of winter, it’s still Christmas – at Mission Arlington^®, and anywhere, for anyone, who calls Christ Lord.

As we turn towards the New Year, may the Spirit of Christmas reside in our hearts year-round. The apostle John says that the “light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

The Christmas Store opened on Wednesday, December 11th, and finally close on Monday, December 23rd.  The store is open from 10-6 daily, excluding Sundays.

How it Began

Our free Christmas store began more than 3 decades ago with a few donated gifts. The whole thing operated out of a small closet. Last year, 30,752 children received gifts. Executive Director Tillie Burgin recalls that people were being evicted in January, because they had to choose between paying their bills or getting Christmas gifts for their children.  The “Christmas Store” allowed them to do both.

God Gives, You Give, We Give

We believe that Mission Arlington^® belongs to the Lord, and that all good gifts come from Him (James 1:17).  At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ, knowing that God gave His only Son, so that all who receive Him might have eternal life (John 3:16).  As we trust God for His provisions, our community responds faithfully & generously with such love. People have learned that truly “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The Christmas gifts in our store come from the loving hands and hearts of our community. People from all walks of life give, so that our community’s children will have something under their tree.  Beyond the gifts, more than 7,000 of you will volunteer in the store – managing the stock, helping people shop, wrapping gifts, and so much more.

The Store & the Story

Our free Christmas Store is about the way people are cared for as they receive Christmas gifts for their family.  It truly is a “Christmas Store,” where all gifts are provided for free – and even wrapped.  Yet, there is a deeper meaning to the Store, because we tell the “Christmas Story” to everyone who comes through. Last year, we were able to tell that story in 7 different languages (English, Spanish, Korean, Farsi, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Sign). Hundreds of people are hearing this “old, old story,” and making first time commitments to Christ, or recommitting their hearts to Him.  We know that the gifts unwrapped under the tree on Christmas Day will wear out eventually, but the gift of eternal life lasts forever.

The Store Continues through December 23rd

The Christmas Store will stay open every day from 10-6 through Monday, December 23rd.  We will be in the offices early on Christmas Eve through sometime in the early afternoon. Please help us spread the word far and wide, so that no child in the Arlington/Grand Prairie area will be missed.  Come join us in the Christmas efforts when you can.  Bring your family.  Together, we can make a difference.  We are grateful for you.

Volunteers build Thanksgiving boxes on a Saturday before Thanksgiving last year. These boxes of food were delivered to homes across the Metroplex on Thanksgiving Day, in conjunction with a turkey.

Coming Soon

Thanksgiving Day is coming, and the Mission Arlington^® family is getting ready.  The excitement is building . This day of giving means so much to those in need.

LAST YEAR, FOOD WAS PROVIDED TO 28,099 PEOPLE (6,953 families)

Your Support Means So Much.

Thanksgiving food has started to come in on a daily basis now, which is so important, and it means so much.

What Can You Give?

1. Turkeys – It takes about 6,000 turkeys to deliver food to so many people.
2. Thanksgiving Food – everything a family would eat on Thanksgiving Day, such as hams, stuffing mix, canned fruit, canned sweet potatoes, canned pie filling, cranberry sauce, box/mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, beans/rice, tuna, peanut butter, rolls, pie crust – or anything else that goes with a Thanksgiving turkey.

How you can help?

1. Before Thanksgiving Day – Come join us any time prior to Thanksgiving Day to receive and to organize the food.  On the two Saturdays before Thanksgiving, we build our Thanksgiving boxes, and it is so much fun.  We will give away over 6,000 boxs of Thanksgiving food.
2. On Thanksgiving Day – Volunteer with us, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Help us deliver turkeys & hot meals to families in need.

Join us, won’t you?