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.

Mission Arlington^® on a rare quiet morning before the hustle and bustle of the day begin. We are so grateful for your constant, faithful, sacrificial support. Truly, our cup overflows.

Growth in Every Direction

Your Donations: If you have been down or have come through the Mission in recent days, then you know that our downtown campus often feels like a small, bustling city. To the west of Oak street, cars line up to donate all kinds of furniture. Our furniture delivery ministry operates outside on a parking lot, and we are currently picking up and delivering furniture at a record pace. On the east side of Oak street, another row of cars is in line to donate household items, clothing, and food.

A crowd of volunteers on each side of the street busily unloads people’s donations, laughing, enjoying the moments to help and serve those in need. Our hope is that these lines move quickly enough, so that no one ever has to wait too long to donate, but through the month of June and now into July, the lines don’t seem to dissipate. We are so amazed by the generous kindness of the beautiful community which surrounds us. As quickly as you bring it in, we deliver your gifts to those waiting on it.

Gathered Guests: At the north end of our campus, the front room is filled with guests who have found themselves experiencing a moment of need. More than 500 people a day continue to receive food, clothes, emergency financial assistance along with personal care and an offered prayer for God’s provision and blessing. Over time, we’ve noticed that the being attentive means almost as much as provisions. Many volunteers help us care for the people every day. We are so grateful.

Full Health Clinics: We have been so blessed every day by numerous volunteer dentists, physicians, and other health professionals who give their time and talents to help people struggling with their health. Each clinic stays full almost all the time with people struggling with various health needs. We are on a record pace to serve more in these clinics than ever before. In addition, a strong team of volunteer therapists, licensed counselors, and others provide sound counsel and support through our counseling center.

Into the Community: Church student groups from across the country land in Arlington every week. They worship with and receive training from us, then head out into multiple locations across our community to share God’s love through Rainbow Express®. Individuals, friends, families, civic and corporate teams are also landing with us each day to lift the load – sorting clothes, organizing school supplies, and moving food into the pantry for distribution.

Thirty⁺ summer missionaries from Texas, all across North America, and around the world are living and serving with us this summer. They assist our congregations, lead summer programs, and fill in wherever they are needed – often working 10 to 12 hours a day. June evenings were filled with Rainbow Express® and revival services. The month of July finds focus in 7 free camps for children and youth.

Growing Congregations: Volunteer teams continue to teach the Bible in 349 locations throughout our community. These congregations are growing numerically and spiritually as people learn God’s word and apply it to their circumstances. Each of these congregations are busy with Christ-centered activities, funerals, weddings, and all the things that churches do. These volunteers teach Sunday school, lead music, outreach, and a host of other activities.

Our Cup Overflows: The cup which King David references in the 23rd Psalm represents the provisions and blessings which are poured out by the Good Shepherd. and blessings. The cup is our normal portion in life that God gives each man and woman as He pleases. According to one writer, this psalm made sense to the Jews, because “when they received a guest, they would intentionally overfill the cup and allow it to run over and by doing this, the guest would know that they’re welcome to stay as long as they want.”

When we say that our cup runs over in these days, it is with a genuine sense of gratitude to God for the way he provides for His people. We watch you bring in so many gifts – whether it is clothes, or food, or fans for the heat, and the tears flow easily, because we see in you a kind of love which overflows in all directions to bless others. We are truly touched and grateful.

The Need Remains Strong: When we say that “our cup overflows,” we don’t in any way mean to communicate that you should stop giving or helping. The need is as great as ever for your investment here – whether it is to teach a Bible study to children who have never heard much about God’s love before, or to answer phones, to collect and/or to organize school supplies, and on and on. We continue to need your support in a growing number of ways and times so that God will be glorified in and through this ministry as the people receive the care they need and deserve.

We are truly grateful for you!

If you have been around Mission Arlington^® for very long, then you already know that Rainbow Express^® is our version of a backyard Bible club, or a Vacation Bible School.

Led by volunteer student groups from around the state and across the country, these 21/2 hour, four-day events gather children & youth for music, games, crafts, puppets, snacks, and Bible stories.

Summer Rainbow Express^® began in the last week of May and will continue through the first weeks of summer. In the first days of the second week, nearly 700 children have attended already.Wow!

As these student groups fan out across our city, our ministry at the offices downtown stays strong. You are dropping by with food, clothing, and furniture from early to late. Volunteers are taking the furniture out to people who need it as soon as it arrives.

Hundreds of people are waiting in our front room for care every morning and throughout the day.  Twenty+ student missionaries are embedded across the community leading summer programs every day with children & youth, and revivals are being held several nights each week through June.

We are humbled and honored to serve the Lord alongside each of you. A growing number of people stop to pray for this ministry every day at 10:00.  Your prayers, your gifts, and your time are such an encouragement to us.  Thank you. You are making a difference in this city.

Nathanael shares God’s love with children through Rainbow Express during an outdoor revival service. The children had so much fun singing songs, playing games, making crafts, and listening to God’s Word.

Each summer, Mission Arlington^® hosts revival services in several locations across our community. Our Bible studies and congregations join together for food, fellowship, worship, and community outreach, beginning in June, but continuing through the end of each summer.

Guest preachers and musicians will share with the people what the Lord has placed on their hearts, and every person will have an opportunity to begin or to renew their faith journey.

These two-to-three-day experiences typically begin with free food and fellowship around 6 p.m.  The revival services start at 7:00 p.m.  After a song or two, children 8 years of age and under get to enjoy Rainbow Express – with crafts, games, music, and Bible stories.

Revivals are great ways to experience God’s love, to worship the Lord freely, to enjoy the laughter and hugs from other believers, and to invite people interested in discovering a new faith journey to a safe place where they can learn more.  Plus, put plainly, these revival services are a lot of fun.

If you would like to know more about our revival services, and/or if you would like to attend, click this link for our 2017 calendar to find dates and times. Or, you can call us at 817-277-6620, and we’ll get you the information you need.

Please pray with us through the summer, so that these won’t merely be revival services, but also an opportunity for revival itself to spark – in such a way that it becomes a fire which spreads through the land.

We are grateful for you!

A few of the summer missionaries from 2016 gathered together on the front lawn of Mission Arlington.

We are excited to share that our first Summer Missionaries arrive here this Sunday evening.  “Summer Missionaries” are high school and college-aged young people who work at Mission Arlington^® for part, or for all, of the summer. Instead of taking summer jobs to get ahead financially, these students serve with us as full-time volunteers. Just under thirty are scheduled to live and work here through the summer.

These talented and energetic students are committed to Christ above all else. For this reason, they leave the comforts of home to spend their summer here – working with the Mission family to serve the children and youth in our community.

While they are here, these students will listen to and pray with people in our front room, organize and distribute food from the pantry, knock on doors out in the community inviting people to various events, lead summer programs with children and youth, and serve on teams within the various Bible studies and congregations of Mission Arlington^® – – and a lot more.

These missionaries come from within the Bible studies of Mission Arlington^®, from many cities across Texas, and from multiple states across North America.  In addition, five of the students who serve here this summer call South Korea home.  In partnership with Go Now Missions, and Korean Baptist churches, these International students will serve here for the summer.

At the end of this season as these dedicated young people have come and gone, they leave behind a field of spiritual influence in the lives of our community’s children and youth.  Simply put, we are all better because they have come to give their lives here. The Mission Arlington^®  family is better because they have come, and we pray for them as they go. Their lives will be different too. (Read the testimonies of a few here, here, and here!)

As the Lord prompts your own heart, would you join us in prayer as these students arrive? Pray for them, and for their influence in and through the months ahead.

Keller Williams and Nielsen family members work together moving school supplies in place. so our community’s children & youth will have what they need to start school this Fall.

In geography, confluence stands for the “meeting of two or more bodies of water.” In one sense, it means the point where a tributary joins a larger stream. In another sense it refers to the place where two or more streams come together to become the source of a new river altogether.  The Ohio river, for example is created out of three smaller rivers flowing into it.

Mother & Child work together to help others.

Mission Arlington^® is one of many places across our city where the principles behind confluence seem so apparent. In a very real sense, we are the ones who stand in the middle. As we say so often, the strength of what the Lord is doing here represents the energy, care, and generosity of a beautiful community. You give through us to others. We receive your gifts, and then we give them away to people in need. We are truly “twice-blessed.” Add to this that our ministry runs primarily by volunteer support, and you realize that not only does our community give the gifts, but you also participate in the organizing and donations of those gifts to people in need.  To use a scriptural analogy from Ecclesiastes 4:12, “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Through the past few days, we have seen the confluence of so many different strands of our community intersect here – often on the same day – to make a difference in the lives of others.  This past week, on a single day, volunteers from Nielsen, Mutual Liberty, Keller Williams, and Alcon/Novartis joined hands – no longer from separate companies, and no longer “Mission Arlington” or “the community,” but all one, a mighty force for good in the center of our city.  It was extraordinary to watch, and a joy to be a part of.  Add to that a multitude of students from Arlington Collegiate High School on a single day, and hundreds from Ousley Junior High each day this week, and the picture comes together.

In just a few days, we will be joined by young people from across our country, and a few who are coming here from around the world – summer missionaries who will spend the summer here, investing their lives for a season. Beyond that, student groups from every corner of our country will arrive in our city, joining forces to share God’s love in every part of our own city.  An incredible stream of God’s love will flow through our city all summer long.

Day after day, we are honored to be here, to walk this journey with you, and to represent you as we love the people for whom you have sacrificed to receive help.  Even deeper still, we want faithfully to honor our Lord, whose love was proven on a cross so long ago. The drops of mercy which flowed from Calvary have formed a mighty river of unstoppable love for all who will receive it. All glory to God.