200+ ladies worshiping the Lord together

Several years ago, we began a new tradition, honoring women on the Friday night before Mother’s day. It started out pretty slowly, but has grown over time.  Women from Mission Arlington congregations gather from all across the community to worship and to hear an encouraging devotional thought from a talented speaker and from the Scriptures. Last night, over 200 women joined together as one body – worshiping the Lord. There is something so strong and beautiful about an all female voices, lifted in praise to the Lord. Afterwards, the ladies headed to central Arlington where a meal was being hosted for them by Babe’s Chicken Dinner House in Arlington. Laughter, and lots of love, filled the makeshift restaurant.

Regina Grissom was the speaker last night. Regina brings her own down-to-earth style of wisdom and humor to the table every time she speaks. People are encouraged by her warmth and dedication to Christ. Tillie Burgin was present too, and led in part of the worship and prayer time. As women left the event Friday night, there was a great sense of encouragement in the Lord and connectedness to each other.

“Where were the men?” some have asked. The men were delighted to care for the children while the ladies had their night out, and it was so much fun. A few of Mission Arlington’s congregations came together to make this possible, so that the kids could run around in a gym, and other dads just took care of the children at home.

As we role into this special Mother’s day tomorrow, we give thanks to the Lord for the women in our lives, and the roles they play in our homes, neighborhoods, civic organizations, churches, and our community at Large.  We were so pleased for the opportunity to provide the night out for these ladies, and we look forward to more endeavors together around the bend.

Thousands of children attended our annual Easter egg hunt. Pictured here, one of our Bible studies and congregations from the East Side of our community waiting in line for the egg hunt. It took over 100,000 eggs to have enough for the day.

Easter was extraordinary at Mission Arlington^® again this year. We are so grateful for the faithful and generous spirit of this community which made so much that happened here possible. We thought you might want to see a few pictures from our Easter events, and to see the number of people touched along the way. Thank you so much for your support.

Here are a few of the results:

Thank you so much for your constant support of our work. We are grateful for you.

Easter week is a busy one for the Mission Arlington^® family, but each activity and every event has such meaning for us, that we wish we could linger here longer before moving on.  There is a sacredness about each moment, and important possibilities inherent in each event, which we want to savor.  You can find these events listed in multiple places across our network, but here is a brief listing:

1. 1. EASTER STORE – Wednesday & Thursday, April 17th & 18th, from 10 to 6 both days. Spring clothes and Easter baskets, plus a few extras are provided for families in need. Every family who comes through hears the biblical story behind Easter and is given an opportunity to respond;
   2. MAUNDY THURSDAY YOUTH SERVICE – Thursday Night, April 18th, 6:30 p.m. This special service for youth is designed for the youth who attend our weekly Bible studies and congregations, but it is open to any who are led to come. Call us at 817-277-6620 for more information.
   3. GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES – Several of our Bible studies and congregations are hosting services which call us to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Please call for more information if you are interested in attending.
   4. “WORLD’S LARGEST’ EASTER EGG HUNT – From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20th, in central Arlington at 1514 Cherry Drive, near the Southeast corner of 303 and Fielder Rd, across from the Kroger. Bouncy houses, free food, and a huge Easter egg hunt, plus the opportunity for everyone to hear the story of Christ’s death and resurrection, this event is free and open to the public.
   5. EASTER SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES – The Mission Arlington^® family consists in part of 354 Bible studies and congregations across our community. Each of them will be having special Easter celebration services this Sunday morning. Please call us at 817-277-6620 for times and locations if you are interested in attending.

We are now twenty years past 9-1-1 in our country. Many of remember in vivid and emotional detail the horrors of that day, but there are many young people who are coming of age now who only know the story as it has been related to them by others. We know it is important to remember certain moments in time.

This Easter week is Holy for so many, because it is one way we remember the sacrifices made on our behalf. “For God so loved the world that He sent His only son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”  The heavenly Father sent His only son to pay our debt through his death on a cross.  On Easter Sunday, Christ rolled away the stone which sealed his tomb, defeating death once and for all for any who will open their hearts to a personal relationship with Him.  Click HERE to learn more, or give us a call.

We hope you will join us in some of these events where you can, and may each of you have a blessed Easter.

Administrative Overhead

When you give to any organization, you know that a certain percent of what you give supports the administrative group who “get the ministry done.” Staff needs to be paid, utilities need to stay on, and the ministry team needs a place from which to operate. This is healthy and good.

Over time, however, in some organizations, administrative costs rise to the point that a significant percentage of the gift supports a ministry’s overhead, but doesn’t reach the intended target – a person in need.  At Mission Arlington^®, we hold closely two things every day: 1) You give sacrificially, and 2) You give for a purpose – to help people in need.

Watching the Pennies “Like a Hawk”

Tillie Burgin

Because of this, the team at Mission Arlington^® watches administrative expenses carefully – some would say “like a hawk,” so that more and more of your resources get to the people who need it.  We use volunteers wherever possible instead of paid staff, and donated equipment instead of purchased supplies.  Our team watches every penny closely, so that less is spent on staff administration needs and more for the people coming through our front doors.

We also collaborate with multiple charity watchdogs, an independent accounting firm (with an annual audit) and a board of Directors who prayerfully watches over our work.  (You can click here for more details.) Because transparency and accountability are important, we also publish the results of our work annually and routinely.

Low Costs, but High Support

We have just received the annual report from our auditors, and we are pleased to report that our administrative costs for 2018 were at 1.7 percent. This means that more than “98 cents of every dollar” you give directly ministers to people in need.

We are so grateful for the constant support of this community, among the most generous in the nation. You are making a difference in the lives of real people every day.  We are both humbled and honored by your support. Thank you!

Children love Rainbow Express^®. Moms and dads love Rainbow Express^®, and so do we. Stop by any Rainbow Express^® event (at 91 locations across our community through Spring Break), and you will see children running, laughing, and huge smiles all around.

Of course, the Rainbow Express^® experience is fun – with outdoor running games (duck-duck goose, “mother may I,” and so much more), cute and classy crafts, silly songs (with plenty of movement for the young people to express themselves exuberantly), and lots of personal attention from the students in church youth groups who come here from all across the nation.

Rainbow Express^® also contains a Bible story embedded at the core of each days activities.  As these children enjoy the creativity, the crafts, and the fun, they are also hearing and seeing tangible expressions of God’s love – through God’s Word, and from the people around them demonstrating that love in multiple ways.  Hearing of God’s love for the first time, or having it reaffirmed again is so fulfilling for our community’s children who take the message to heart.

In addition to the “built-in” fun of the Rainbow Express^® there is the additional blessing for the children of just having something to do during the week of Spring Break. If it is true, as the old saying goes, that “idle minds are the devil’s workshop,” then the Rainbow Express^® experience gives the children something productive and fun to be involved with, and may help keep them from the trouble which often stems from being bored. The exercise from the outdoor games, and the interaction with other children and adults is a blessing to everyone involved.

We love seeing the smiles on the faces of the 7,127 children who attended a Spring Break Rainbow Express^® over the last 3 weeks.  We loved seeing the smiles on the faces of parents as their children were blessed in multiple ways, and we love the way we felt as we shared God’s love with children across our community. Over the past 3 weeks, 178 young people have given their heart to Christ.

We are so thankful for your constant support.

Mission Arlington’s commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-STAR RATING from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the 13th consecutive time Mission Arlington^® has earn this distinction.

Since 2002, using objective analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to its ratings methodology.

These Accountability & Transparency metrics, which account for 50 percent of a charity’s overall rating, reveal which charities operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders. On June 1, 2016, this important charity watchdog upgraded its methodology for rating each charity’s’ financial health with enhancements that further substantiates the financial health of their designated four star charities.

Mission Arlington’s 4-star rating demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. Based on its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support the work here.

We want to express our gratitude to every person and team who pray, volunteer, and give to make a difference here.  We are so grateful for the privilege we have of working with this community.

An outdoor baptism last Spring. There is such joy in serving the Lord.

Spring Break begins this week, so you will see some extra “Spring in our Step” these days. There are several reasons for the excitement: 1) School is out next week, so the young people are certainly happy about that; 2) the weather is moving toward Spring-like temperatures, away from the winter cold; 3) and the “spring cleaning” happening throughout the community means more people drop by with gifts for people in need.  It makes our day when you drop by, and we do smile more when – day by day – we see hard working families receive what they need to be OK.

Outdoor Worship Service. Praising God in the center of the city with a big week ahead.

Probably the biggest reason for the extra hustle and bustle around here, however, is the start of Rainbow Express^® Hundreds of students in multiple groups are coming to lead Rainbow Express^®, our version of a back-yard Bible club.  We have been preparing, planning, and praying for months, and teams begin arriving today. These young people are giving up their Spring Break week to serve here, and we love serving alongside them and their leaders.

Last year, more than 25 thousand (25,961) children and youth attended Rainbow Express^®, and we had the privilege of supporting these 4-day events in nearly 400 locations, and 748 young people accepted Christ.  It’s no wonder we’re excited.

We kick off this season with a huge outdoor worship service in the center of downtown Arlington. It is a beautiful sight to see so many people worshiping the Lord, then moving out through the community to make a difference in his name.

It puts a spring in our step.

Fifty (50) children, volunteer coaches, and Bible study leaders gathered at Mission Arlington’s basketball leagues this past Saturday. The children work hard, have fun, and learn about the Lord while playing ball. We are grateful for you!

Basketball Leagues

Students in our community have the opportunity to participate in Mission Arlington’s basketball leagues every Saturday in February and March, and it is so much fun. Bible study leaders pick up a van or bus at our downtown offices on Saturday morning, then gather students from their homes and bring them to play in our basketball leagues. More than 50 young people join in each week.

Student Benefits

Historically, organizations have produced various reports and surveys about the connection between sports and the health of students. Of course, the physical exercise is good for the health of children and teens, but there are other benefits as well.

For example, students learn how to win and/or to lose in a safe environment. They learn what it means to play on a team – to pass the ball instead of taking the shot.  Some believe, of course, that the discipline and dedication it takes to play sports also impacts other areas of life later on.

An additional benefit is that students learn and practice the basic skills of the game which give them a head start for sports participation in other arenas later in life.  Each year, our volunteer head coach explains dribbling, passing, and other terms the students will need as they grow in their knowledge of the game.

The Mission Arlington^® Difference

On a Mission Arlington^® league, the students always have fun. Observers will see a lot of smiles and laughter throughout the practices. Also, each session begins and concludes with prayer, and biblical devotions are incorporated into each practice.

The heart of our work with children and youth isn’t the hope that these students will be leading the league in later years, but that each one knows how much God loves them, and they are important to the Lord, and to us.

Our Saturday competitions are exercises in fun and constant encouragement.  You can see instruction taking place in the context of phrases like “Well done” and “Good job!” We are so grateful for each volunteer coach and every Bible study leader who give their Saturdays to make a difference in the lives of students.

 Please keep these events in your prayers through February and March. We are grateful for you. 

A new year is just around the corner. Where did the old one go?  Life seems to move more quickly than ever. We are so grateful for our partnership with you through each turn, and for the confidence we have of walking this journey together as the new year unfolds.  We want to invite you to join us in a couple of ventures as we say goodbye to 2018 and hello to 2019.

“Praying In” the New Year

The Mission Arlington^® family has a tradition for New Year’s eve.  After a full day of receiving donations from one of the most generous communities we know about, we finish about 6 p.m., an hour earlier than normal.  At 7:00, we gather to worship and pray.  We sing the songs of our heart for fifteen minutes or so, and then we pray silently.  We don’t have a long devotional or a message.  We simply pray.  The service is open-ended, so that people leave when they are finished praying.  The room empties over time, and we quietly finish the new year together.  We don’t stay up late, because we will be back in the office early on January 1st, ready to serve and to help.

We would be honored if you would join us on New Year’s Eve, but even if you can’t be with us physically, we invite you to stop wherever you are to pray for God to be honored through our work, and for people to receive the care they need as we go throughout 2019.

Praying “in the New Year”

We also invite you to pray with us and for the work each day of 2019.  Strategies and hard work are important, of course, and it is important to do what we do as best we can.  But if that is all we do, then our work won’t have the impact it should, because it will be dependent upon our own strength and resources.

With all of our hearts, we believe that our work is fueled by prayer. Mission Arlington belongs to the Lord. The following paragraph describes the Spirit of our work well:

Mission Arlington^® belongs to God. This isn’t our story, but His. He had plans in place for this Ministry and for all who work here long before it happened. He started this mission, sustains us moment by moment, and He holds our future in His hands.

As we talk about who we are it is with sincere humility, a sense of dependency and a commitment to the leadership of His Spirit within us.

You can read the full expression of the above paragraph here.

You can pray for us “in the New Year” anyway that works best for you.  For one possible pattern, we suggest that people stop whereever they are at 10:00 every morning – a pause – to pray for God’s work here.  In this way, we can symbolically hold hands across our community, and indeed, around the world, to pray for the Mission.

We provide suggestions about ways to pray which you can receive by joining our prayer network. You can find instructions here.

We are grateful for you.

Thank you so much for walking this journey with us.  We love you, and we love serving in and with this community to care for people in need.  We do pray for you as you let us know your needs.  We are grateful for you, and we are excited about walking together through the months ahead.

The “Christmas Store,” free of charge, open for business, filled with volunteers, and people receiving the gifts they need for their families. Thank you so much! There are many more days of the store ahead. Come see us!

Our Christmas Store opened to the public today.  Hundreds of families came through the store, receiving love, encouragement, and lots of gifts for their family.

A Generous and Kind Community

We have been preparing all-year-long for this day. You have given throughout the year to make today possible, and you have done it in extraordinary ways.  For example, young children across our community have given their toys, so that other children could be blessed.  Parents have purchased one gift for their children, then doubled down on another gift to bless someone else’s child. Companies have parties and various gatherings, but instead of Christmas gifts for each other, they choose to supply gifts for children in need. Churches, civic groups, and corporations gather toys, so that children will be blessed.  It’s a story that has as many renditions as there are people, each one beautiful in its own right and worth re-telling.

The Difference You Make

We wish that each of you could see the smiles on the faces of parents as they exit the store, arms filled with wrapped gifts for their children.  The smiles, the Christmas greetings, and the expressions of gratitude sounded throughout the halls of the store today, and it was extraordinary to experience.   We know that the acclamation expressed to us, was intended for you.  We hope you know it too. All of us working together can make a difference in the lives of ordinary, but very real people at the very point of their need.  We are grateful to be one part of such a generous community.

You may be surprised to know that we have adults who come by from time to time who remember the days when they were children –  in families experiencing a momentary hardship where everyone knew Christmas would be scarce. Then the gifts showed up around their tree, because someone they didn’t know gave to make a difference. Years later, those stories still bring tears to the eyes of those children – now grown men and women.  The beautiful thing too is how often it creates in them a desire to give back, or to pay it forward.

The Road Ahead

The Christmas Store will open again on Monday, December 10th. It stays open every day through December 22nd, excluding Sundays, always from 10 to 6.  Christmas gifts and toys are always needed, and volunteers too. If you and your family want to come, please come on in whenever you are available. You don’t need an appointment.  If you are bringing a group, we welcome you too, anytime you are able to serve. Give us a call, or drop us a note, and we’ll get your team on our schedule.

Please keep us in your prayers through the days ahead. We are grateful for your support!