The Fall Festival started small years ago, and it was held in multiple locations across our community by various Bible study teams from Mission Arlington^®.  A few years back, we consolidated the groups into one large experience for all of our teams, and also for the community.  Putting our resources together like this created one giant festival which has been blessing people for some time. It is one of our favorite events of the year.

There is something so pure about making a difference in the life of a child.  There is something beautiful too when you see families playing together on an open lawn, laughing, holding hands, and enjoying the fun. The weather wasn’t frightful, but it was a little chilly as the day began.  Still, more than two thousand (2,307) children – with their families – came out to the Festival this past Saturday.  All in all, it was a great day for an outdoor family event like this one.

Hundreds of volunteers from various groups came out to help for the day. Some drove tractors propelling the hay ride along. Others painted faces, worked carnival games, and handed out prizes to happy, enthusiastic children. Many of the kids were given rides by their Mission Arlington^® Bible study leaders, and transported on donated vehicles by volunteer drivers.  All were so happy to be there. Others stood for hours outside busy & quite creative bouncy houses – making sure the kids were having fun while simultaneously keeping them safe.  Volunteers told us again and again that they were more blessed to serve than than the children were to receive.  All in all, it was an extraordinarily beautiful day.

We want you to know how grateful we are for all of your strong support. We were able to love the children in this way, because you continue to pray, provide support, and to give.  We hope you know that your tangible investment here is touching the lives of children all across our community.

Truly, we keep falling in love with this amazing festival – again and again.

We are so grateful for you.

Please enjoy this 3:19 video of our 2016 Fall Festival

Mission Arlington’s Fun & Free Fall Festival for Families

• When?: Saturday, October 28th, 2017;
• What time?: 12:00 – 4:00 pm.
• What is it? This is a family-friendly festival, designed as a fun afternoon with your children and grandchildren. Everyone is welcome!
• What will be there?  Children receive a free lunch, and a bag of candy. Bouncy houses, hay rides, a huge carnival with prizes, and free food, plus lots of caring adults in a safe venue;
• Who is it for? Children and families from the community.  Children can come dressed in costume (no scary ones please), or they can just come as they are. That’s up to you. No pressure.
• How much does it cost? It’s free! All of it.
• Where? The Fall Festival happens at 1514 Cherry Ln. in Arlington. Click here for the location.

You Can help us with this Festival

• We need candy – Please bring individually wrapped bags of candy to Mission Arlington’s offices on or before October 28th.
• We need volunteers – Individuals or teams of people can volunteer to help with this event. The actual event happens from noon to 4, but we will need volunteers to help us before (for setup) and after (for cleanup). You and/or your team can stay for as long or as short of a time that works best for you. If you can come for an hour, great! If you can come for all day, great!  If you would like to volunteer, call Heather at 817-277-6629.

Mission Arlington in the fall, a very special place.

We are pleased to let you know that Mission Arlington^® is participating once again in the annual “Day of Giving” for North Texas.

When you give through Mission Arlington^®

Your financial support through Mission Arlington^® already has added value, because our administrative overhead is at a low 2.7 percent. This means that more than 97 cents of each dollar you give ministers directly to people in need.

More than 500 people a day come through our place six days a week needing a little help to get by.  We are honored to work alongside you to share God’s love and to help people in a moment of need.

The North Texas Giving Day

On Thursday, September 14th, from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, your gift to us through the North Texas Giving Day LINK has added value. The Communities Foundation of Texas enhances, on a pro-rated basis, each donation made on this day. This is not a dollar for dollar match, but we do receive a significant bonus for contributions to us given on this day. In 2016, the total contributions for the day equaled more than $65,000.

New: You can schedule your gifts

For the first time, donors can schedule their gifts. Scheduled giving opens September 7th at 8:00 a.m. and stays open through September 13th at midnight.  This feature allows a donor who might otherwise be out of pocket on the Giving Day to contribute ahead of time.

We are grateful for your support

We are grateful for the privilege of serving our Lord in this community of faithful, generous, and compassionate people. We value the way you walk alongside of us each and every day.  Thank you for your prayers and your support as we come to and through another Giving Day event.

Sorting donations of new clothes, towels, blankets, socks and underwear is a daily part of the privilege we have in order to get the supplies to the people. You provided these gifts. We are so thankful for you!

Along with you, the Mission Arlington^® family has been praying for those people affected by the historic storm, for first responders, and for other relief efforts ongoing or just beginning.

Helping those who are already here!

Many families affected by the storm were able to get out ahead of the impact, and they are currently living in our community – either in hotels or with family.  Our front room (where we provide emergency assistance) has been full as we respond to the needs.

We have been providing food, clothing, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies to these families along with emergency financial assistance.  As you would understand, those affected by the storm are concerned about the well-being of their homes and family members who weren’t able to get out of affected areas.  One special need we’ve discovered is fuel for the cars, so that they can get back home, or to return to bring others back here.

What we currently need

We are currently collecting the following items for distribution to affected families:

• Gift Cards which help us provide gasoline
• Socks & underwear;
• towels and washcloths;
• food and clothing;
• toiletries;
• pillows, bedding, and school supplies for kids, and
• anything someone might use who has been displaced.

You can bring supplies to 210 W. South St. in Arlington.  We are open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Financial support for displaced hurricane evacuees

If you would like to donate to help those displaced by the hurricane, you can get the gift to us in a couple of ways:

1. Send a check made out to Mission Arlington^® and send it to us at 210 W. South Street, Arlington, TX 76010. Write “hurricane” or “hurricane relief” in the memo section; 
2. Donate online via the following link; Hurricane Donations. In the comments box, write “Hurricane” or “Hurricane Relief.”
3. 100 percent of your donations for hurricane relief will minister to the people affected by these storms;
4. We will use these gifts to provide for people’s needs as

We are grateful for you!

As our front room fills every day with people displaced or somehow affected by these historic storms, we find ourselves filled with gratitude for this beautiful community.

We have been able to provide for people, because you have been dropping by or dropping a check in the mail, so that real people experiencing this crisis can have the help that they need to make it another day.

We are grateful for the privilege we have of walking this journey with you.

May the Lord bless each of you as you care for others in need.

It’s the beginning of a new school year,  and our transportation department is buzzing!  Van loads of children will be transported to elementary, jr. high and high schools around our city each day.  Mission Arlington^® works closely with the Arlington Independent School District to provide rides to homeless and at-risk students, students with children and those working to finish school through alternative education.

Without the services of Mission Arlington^®, these students would have no other way to get to school. We also serve two apartment communities and take senior citizens to the store 3 days a week.  Local hospitals call on Mission Arlington^® to help people get home from the hospital.  Each week we provide rides to the Department of Public Safety for those needing to get state ID or driver’s license and rides to the social security office as needed.

We also provide rides to job interviews and help people as they begin working.  Some people call because they have no other way to get around our city and need help getting to social service appointments, non-emergency doctors visits and other appointments .  From the youngest to the oldest, our drivers minister to hundreds  of people each year.

In 2016, 670 individuals were transported and 28,178 rides were given.  We are so blessed to provide free transportation to our community, and we are always so appreciative of your support.

Teen Dental & Vision Day with United Concordia, the Texas Rangers, Vision Works, and the good folks from the Baptist Center in Arlington.

A Very Special Day

So much of the work Mission Arlington^® does is for and with children, whether that is through the food, clothing, and emergency assistance provided by our front room to medical & dental support, sports teams, afterschool programs, transportation, summer camps, and on it goes. We love to “love on” children, and so does the generous community of supporters who volunteer here day after day and week after week. Saturday, August 12th, is just one more example.

Dental Health for Teenagers

United Concordia Insurance Company, the Insurance company of Major League Baseball knows that teenagers are among the most underserved population when it comes to Dental health.  So, for several years now, United Concordia sends their own staff, and also enlists a team of dental health professionals to take care of the dental needs of our youth.

To support this effort, the Texas Rangers Baseball team sends a couple of players who enjoy signing autographs, handing out baseballs, and talking with all the children & youth who drop by the Mission Arlington^® campus for the day.

Vision Screening for Youth

Vision Works, a team of specialist with eye care will also be here this morning, evaluating the vision of teenagers.  Where vision needs to be corrected, the team will provide a voucher, so that the youth can receive a free pair of new eyeglasses designed just for them.

Healthy Eating for Children

“A Place at Mary’s Table” sponsored by the Baptist Center for Global Concerns located in Arlington happens today. Twenty children will attend fun and instructive classes to learn about the value of nutrition and to discover how to eat in a more healthy way. This team of specialists will provide a meal for the kids, and when they are finished today, each family will receive a week’s worth of food.

School Supplies on the Move

Today is the second day of distribution to the public for the school supplies they have requested. Families are here receiving the school supplies for their Arlington Independent School District child.  The supplies have been donated by our community, and we believe that by the time we are done, nearly 10,000 students will receive a full supply of what they need to start the school year.

Conclusion

All of these things for children are happening by the grace of God and for His glory, but also because of a generous community which surrounds us here, so that as many children & youth can receive the care they need and deserve.  We are grateful for you!

Mission Arlington^® turned 31 years old this week. The Lord began His work here on August 1st 1986. Our Director, Tillie Burgin, has been here since the beginning. We believe that the Lord chose this community, because He knew how you would pray and walk the journey with us year after year.

The heart of this note today is to say “thank you” for those of you who prayed and stayed with us through “thick and thin.”  We want to say thank you to those who provided food, clothes, Christmas gifts, school supplies, furniture, and more – and not just out of life’s overflow, but from the heart.

We want to say thank you to those who have given of your time and talents day after day, and year after year. Our time is often our most precious commodity, something we naturally protect, yet again and again you came because there was a need. Whether you are a doctor, a truck driver, or a teacher of children in one of our afterschool programs, you used your gifts to bless others.

Tillie Burgin, our Director, here since 1986, entering last week’s youth camp.

So many of you have given financially, so that a struggling young family can have their water turned back on, or a Christmas gift for their child, or pens, paper, and notebooks, so that a student in a struggling family can start school well like everyone else.  We wish

you could see what we see here every day. You give not knowing who you are helping, but we see the fear and the tears of joy.

We don’t know how to say it to you enough.  Thank you for loving the people, and for surrounding us with such love for these last 3 plus decades.  We are humbled and honored by the privilege we have of serving in and with this community.

The next steps are just ahead, whatever they may be.  We’re glad we’re making this trip together. Come see us when you can, and all glory to God – great things he has done.

Summer Camps Come to an End

As August 1st hits the stage, our July camps have come to an end. Zip lines, climbing walls, soccer in an open field,

swimming, a water slide, rope lines, and more were all part of the fun.  Every student who attended camp heard an age appropriate message from the Bible, and they received lots of love from each Bible study leader too.  Summer camps are always so much fun.  Already, many are looking forward to next year.

Everything service provided through Mission Arlington^® is free, and summer camps are no different. The camps were also divided into three age groups: 1) younger children (ages 5 – 3rd grade); 2) older children (4th – 6th grade), and 3) youth (7th – 12th grade). Here is how the attendance looked in each of these categories:

We are grateful for your support!

Altogether, 1,121 students attended a Mission Arlington^® summer camp this year. Nine (9) of those students accepted Christ.

We love the privilege we have of walking alongside so many of these young people all year long, but the camps are especially a meaningful time together.

We are also grateful for your constant prayers, donated time, and financial support which undergirds the ministry here, making these camps possible.  You are a blessing to us!

Dallas Baptist University brings 120 International Students to serve at Mission Arlington – July 13th, 2017

Of course every team, no matter how big or small,  is important. Yet, there are also groups who act as a kind of “special team” in that they have a unique skill set, and/or they plug-in to help us “make a difference” at just the right time.  Here are a few examples from this week.

Mission 58 began in the heart of Ron Evans, the pastor of the “Church Under the Tree” in North Dallas. They sent eight different youth groups adding up to hundreds of students who served at Mission Arlington^® this week. Most of the students led “Rainbow Express, and 1 of their teams served on our campus, helping with work projects here at the Mission.

Dallas Baptist University provides a camp for high school students which they call “Servant University.” This camp mixes morning collegiate experiences with afternoon hands-on ministry projects, and fun activities in the evenings. 120 international students from this camp served with us on Tuesday afternoon. Their energy and enthusiasm of these high school students from several South American countries not only helped us get a lot of work done, but blessed many people along the way.

Ten adults from a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) team came to serve for an afternoon with us.  Their group was in town for a training conference in Grapevine, and we had the privilege of being their outreach partnership for the week. This team was especially helpful, and Darren, the team Mascot, endured the hot weather dressed in his suit while so many people had their pictures taken with him.

We are so grateful to live and work in the middle of a community of people who give their time and their abilities to help others who are less fortunate. Specialty teams like the ones mentioned here are a lot of fun, as is every group that comes to help. Thanks to each of you who give, volunteer, and pray in order to make a difference here.  We are honored to walk this journey with you.

Slip and Slides were a part of the fun this past Saturday at Camp. It feels good to get wet on hot days.

In the middle of so much happening here – from our front room to the donations about back, and to 45 different Rainbow Express^® sites this week alone, July is the month for camps.

We had our first camp this past Saturday. More than 250 children (4th, 5th, 6th graders) came, and it was so much fun. In partnership with Camp Thurman, the campers enjoy a host of outdoor games – including rock climbing, zip lines, slap dodge ball, and swimming, and more. The young people enjoy a healthy lunch cooked by the Mission and delivered to the camp.

We have six more camps coming in July, seven altogether. The camps are divided into three different age groups: 1) younger children (K-3rd grade); 2) older children (4th-6th grade), and youth (7th – 12th). The younger kids camp, affectionately titled “kiddie camp” happens on Tuesday nights in July, and the others occur from 9:30 to 3:30 on Saturdays.

The children who attend these camps attend our Mission Arlington Bible studies and congregations^®. The families of many of these students would not be able to afford a camp like this. For this reason, our camps are provided at no charge.  We can do this, because of your constant, faithful support.

Please pray with and for us during this month of camp experiences.  This past Saturday, at our first camp, seven campers started a new relationship with Christ.  For some of us, it will have been a great experience, but considered “just another camp.”  For these campers who met the Lord there, however, it was a day that will never be forgotten.  We pray that these camps will be just what our Lord desires, and that we won’t miss one young person who needs encouragement and support.

Thank you so much for your prayers, your help, and your gifts. You are making a difference in the lives of many young people across our community.