Students who received school supplies and back packs from Mission Arlington in 2014.

By Jim Burgin, staff writer

When you are invited to an event of some kind, do you ever inquire about the appropriate attire for that event? Should men wear a suit and tie? Should ladies wear a dress? Is it “business casual”?  Have you ever been to an event where you weren’t dressed the same way as the rest of the people there? How did it feel? There are some people, of course,  who don’t seem affected by social etiquette, but I suspect that most of us have been embarrassed in some small way or another through our life time, and that we remember how it felt.

When I was in seminary many years ago, the professor invited students to a meal and fellowship at his house for the final class of the semester.  I asked his secretary about the dress code for the evening, and she said it was “casual.”  My wife and I went to the professor’s house dressed in jeans and tennis shoes. When we arrived, every other student, along with the professor and his wife, were dressed in suits & ties, and dresses. Although no one seemed to mind, and we were among friends, I still remember how it felt to be so out of place, to be different from everyone else.

The heart of Mission Arlington®’s school supply season is precisely that: so that young and youthful students in our community won’t find themselves embarrassed on the first day of school, because for whatever reason, their parents couldn’t afford to purchase the school supplies that every other student will have.  If your children are grown, and you haven’t had to buy school supplies in a while, you may not realize how expensive they have become.  The bulk of the families who come through our front doors every day have had a health crisis of some kind, loss of employment, or an unexpected break in an important relationship.  Though these experiences are difficult all around, it is especially hard for the children.

The generosity of this community amazes us every year, because you have always kept these children and youth close to your heart, and you give sacrificially, so that on that first day of school, these young people can walk through the school doors with dignity and pride.  We see the tears in parent’s eyes, and we get to feel the hugs from these students when they get those supplies.  We want you who give to experience this returned warmth and love as well – by knowing what your gifts mean.

Mission Arlington® is in a critical moment of the school supply season. The truth is that more parents are signing up their students every day than we currently have supplies to give. We expect again this year that we will provide supplies to more than 10,000 students.  Your support is requested to help us have enough school supplies, so that we don’t miss one young person in need.

To discover which supplies are needed, click here.  To print a list that you can take with you to the store, click here. Please drop off the supplies at the Mission Arlington offices when you can.  We are in the process of organizing the school supplies now, preparing them for distribution early next month.  If you want to give towards school supplies, you can do so online, by choosing the school supply category.  Or, you can send/bring by a check to us, putting “school supplies” in the memo.

Thank you for all you do to help our children and youth have what they need to start school.  We are so grateful to partner with you.

If you have been around Mission Arlington® very long, then you know that the “lifeblood” of this place is prayer.  We have always believed, and we continue to see, that the “Lord moves on the prayers of His people,” as our Director, Tillie Burgin, is fond of saying.  We believe that our place, and our work belong to the Lord, and that our job is to stay connected to him. We know that he empowers, protects, and blesses what he directs.

At the same time, we would say to you, that volunteers are an essential to the “day-to-day” life of this ministry.  Through the years, our commitment has been to keep the overhead low. It has been important to us that as you support our work financially – and do so faithfully, sacrificially, and generously – that you always know that we spend very little of that money on ourselves. According to our most recent audit, for the year 2014, our administrative overhead stayed at 2.8 percent. This means that a little more than 97 cents out of every dollar you give directly makes it in ministry to people in need.

On a practical level, what this means is that volunteers from every walk of life, from all age groups, and from all across the country keep this place running, under God, on a daily basis. It takes 2,500 volunteers each week to accomplish what we do. Whew! For example, when we took children to camp this past week, volunteer drivers drove for us, using donated vehicles. Pictured above is one of the drivers from this past Saturday.

One place where volunteers make a huge daily difference is in the pickup and delivery of furniture to people in need.  Historically, our distribution center has operated with a specific pattern.  We send the trucks out to pick up the furniture (about 100 pickups each day and more on Saturdays) in the mornings and early afternoon, filling up the warehouse.  Then, we reverse the process and make home deliveries of the furniture you have donated, taking it to people’s homes all across our community.  What this means, because of your faithful gifts of furniture, is that the warehouse fills to the brim by 2:00 or 3:00 each afternoon. Then we attempt to deliver it.

The volume has been so heavy lately, and the warehouse not fully empty on occasions, that the furniture distribution team decided to designate a driver and one truck each day, all day, to deliveries.  Given the shortage of trucks and drivers, they knew this wouldn’t be easy. On the very first day the switch was made, however, the Lord sent a driver who brought his own truck, and all day long he delivered furniture.  It was a beautiful answer to prayer, and an affirmation of this new approach.

Delivering furniture from Mission Arlington® is one of those tasks that brings abundant blessings to the volunteer.  This week, for example, we received a voicemail from a mom and her daughter who had just received furniture from us.  Here is here message:

“I just got some couches delivered to my apartment. I’m on the second floor. I just wanted to thank everyone who came out and brought the couches to us. They really make a difference. We really appreciate it. Thank you guys for everything you do (tears), because it does make a difference. God bless you all. I will keep you all in my prayers. Thank you for everything that you do.”

If you want to be our “designated driver,” some day, just come on down.  We can always use the help.  If you have a truck, bring it.  If you don’t, come on down, and we’ll get you going anyway.   You might do pick ups, or deliveries, whatever the need is at the moment, but we know that you will be blessed as you help and serve.

We are grateful for the constant, faithful, generous support of this community. To God be the glory!

Right around 200 people left Mission Arlington® Saturday morning for a free Summer Camp. An all-day experience, 60 (or so) Bible study leaders brought 140 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders to Camp Thurman for a day of fun, exercise, team building, and spiritual development. These students played slap-dodge ball, soccer, and basketball. They developed cheers for competition after an opening moment of music and prayer. They crossed creeks and zipped down lines suspended to a tall tower in a tight forming harness to keep them safe, and they memorized Scripture verses, and learned about Jesus and his love for them.  Bible study leaders enjoyed the time that they got to spend with each student.

These elementary-aged children learned a little bit about sheep, and shepherds. They discovered that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who stands by the door to protect the sheep, (John 10) and that if just one of the animals were hurt or lost, the shepherd would search all night until that one was found.  They heard that the Good Shepherd lays his life down for the sheep, and that Jesus died for them.  The lesson was delivered creatively, using props, interaction with the students, and music – led by Mission Arlington’s summer missionaries.  The camp ended at 3:30, and students made it back to the Mission by about 4:00.

We want to express our thanks to each of you who contributed to make these camps possible. We are especially appreciative of our partnership with the good folks at Camp Thurman who lightened the load, used their own volunteers to run the camp, and generally made it much easier for Mission Arlington® to participate.  In line with the philosophy of Mission Arlington®, this camp, and the six other camps just like it, are provided “free of charge” to each student attending.

We would also like to think every volunteer who helped yesterday, from driving our buses, and serving at the camp – to those who stayed back at the main campus to keep everything running while we are away.

For many of us, through the years, camp was a life-changing experience.  Our prayer is that these 7 camps led by Mission Arlington® this summer will be just that for these young people.  Our heart was to help these children have a great day of fun, but also for it to be a place where their faith deepened. Our prayer is that years from now they will still be talking about how their life was touched by a Mission Arlington® summer camp.

To God be the glory!

Flying high, having fun, at a Mission Arlington children’s camp for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.

Early this morning, Bible study leaders – volunteers – gathered at Mission Arlington®’s offices downtown to pick up vans and other vehicles. They spread out across this community to pick up fourth, fifth, and sixth graders heading to Mission Arlington’s summer camp.  It is a beautiful sight to see the buses rolling back into, then lined up on,  South Street – filled with excited and happy young people – ready for a fun-filled day.  There is radiance, a kind of joy, on the faces of Bible study leaders who will get to spend the day investing in these young people.  It feels good to everyone involved. These leaders know that this is going to be a great day of fun. The prayer has been that this day will also have a significant spiritual impact on the campers.

It is always fun to watch the processional. Tillie Burgin, the Mission’s Director for nearly three decades, stands at the front of the line, and waves at each bus and each group of excited kids as they pass by.  The campers are headed to Camp Thurman just a few miles from downtown. The good folks at Thurman have partnered with the mission for years now, making the camp available, and these series of Saturday camps much cheaper than they would be anywhere else.  Mission Arlington®, provides these camps “free of charge” to every child who goes. In fact, every service provided by the Mission is free.  Tillie then takes a shortcut to the camp, arriving before the buses, and greets the children as they arrive. They are always surprised to see her, and there is some chatter among the children about how she could do that. Leaders just smile and let it remain a mystery.

At the camp today, these young people will take turns swimming, climbing towers and sliding down zip lines, run through very wet slip-n-slides, have a healthy lunch of grilled burgers, chips, and cookies, and listen to a Bible story told by people who know just how to communicate with children.   Bible study leaders, summer missionaries, Camp Thurman volunteers, and the entire Mission Arlington® team will get to know them better, give lots of hugs, run & play, swim, and just have fun all day long.  Looks like it going to be another great day.

Today’s camp is the second one of the summer so far.  We still have five more camps to go, including camps for younger children and for youth.  Last year, more than 1,100 students enjoyed and learned from a Mission Arlington® camp.

As the camp winds up for today, we want to take a moment to express our thanks to you.  Most of you won’t actually be at the camp today physically, but in a very real way, you really are there.  When you give to Mission Arlington’s work, when you volunteer to lift a load here, when you pray for us, your presence is felt.  The family at Mission Arlington believes that we operate on the “prayers of the people.” That is our foundation, and our lifeline. We can give, because you gave first.  Thank you so much for your support of our work. Thank you for making a difference in the life of a child.  We are grateful for the privilege we have of serving our Lord together in this community.

Children learn the meaning of Isaiah 52:7.

This past Tuesday evening, Mission Arlington® hosted the first of three camps for younger children, (for those in Kindergarten through third grade). July begins “camp season” at the mission.  Last summer, more than 1,100 children and youth attended one of our 7 free summer camps. These camps host students of all ages – from Kindergarten through high school.   The Mission Arlington® family loves to be involved in the lives of our children and youth.

140 younger children attended camp this Tuesday night. Bible study leaders picked them up from all over the city.  After registration, where the participants were divided into teams, everyone enjoyed an old fashioned hot dog dinner, with chips, drinks, and more.  The students then joined a variety of stations – from scripture memory and music, to a Bible lesson, to a very bouncy house, and then a station for crafts.

The theme for the evening was “beautiful feet,” taken from the first part of Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news . . .”   The children contrasted the general impression of feet as “not so pleasant” with the Scripture’s take that those who share the love of Christ have feet that truly are “beautiful.” Crafts for the evening involved the making of sandals (see picture to the right).  It was truly a fun evening.

There is a children’s song that many of us learned growing up in church – a song for younger children, called “Oh be Careful Little Eyes.”  The song gently encourages children to be careful what their eyes see, what their ears here, what their hands do, what their mouth says, and where their feet go. This song was so popular that it has been published over time in 14 different church hymnals, and it has been used as a theme in countless sermons.

Mission Arlington® didn’t use this particular song with its camp Tuesday night, but it well could have. There is something beautiful and good about loving on children and teaching them early about the ways of our Lord. As these seeds are planted, may these children grow into the kind of people who, later in life, will shout out the good news from the mountain top.  May we as adults remember this too.

We are so grateful for the privilege we have as the Mission Arlington® family to walk this journey together in these days.  Thank you for the many ways you give, pray, and help.  You are making a difference here.

Younger children enjoy a summer camp with Mission Arlington.

Mission Arlington® hosts seven free summer camps for children of all ages each July It’s that time again, and it is going to be so much fun.  On Tuesday nights in July, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., we host kindergarten through 3rd graders for two hours of games, crafts, Bible stories, activities, and a whole lot of fun – all free, of course.  The first camp for younger children starts this Tuesday night.

For two Saturdays in July, the mission sponsors a camp for fourth, fifth, and sixth graders.  We partner with Camp Thurman in Pantego who does so much to make this camp possible for these children. At the camp, there will be swimming, food, ropes and climbing courses, outdoor games, zip lines, creative lessons from the Bible, and more.  Students, who might otherwise never be able to attend a camp like this, have so much fun.

Mission Arlington® also sponsors camps for youth, in the 7th through 12th grades.  These camps will happen on one Saturday in July, and one in August.  Hundreds of children and youth will attend these camps this summer.  We consider it an honor and privilege to love the Lord and to serve the young people of our community year after year.  It really has become a Mission Arlington® tradition.

You can help by providing prayer cover for these camps.  Pray for the Lord to use these camps to make a difference in the lives of the young people in our community.

We are ever grateful for your support.

July 4th parade, last year.

By Jim Burgin

Arlington’s July 4th parade celebrates 50 years of service to our community this week.  It has been a part of my life as far back as I can remember.  Erman Lester, my grandfather, ran a gas station in downtown Arlington, at the corner of Pecan and Abram Street, directly across from the old City hall – currently the site of a parking lot for the City of Arlington. Tillie Burgin, my mom, and Mission Arlington’s director grew up across the street, near the corner of Pecan and South streets in the downtown area.

Though the parade started in 1965, fifty years ago,  the first one I remember was the summer of 1976, when I was 15 years old.  The 1976 parade celebrated the bicentennial anniversary of America’s birth.  America had turned 200 years old that year.  It was quite a celebration, and an amazing parade.

Erman Lester’s old Gulf station was quite the place from which to view the parade. My granddad iced down various kinds of bottled soft drinks in large tubs and sold them for a quarter. He also kept plastic jars full of bubble gum which he handed out freely to the kids. Families with children watched in amazement as the various floats passed by. Adults gathered up and down Abram Street in front of the old courthouse to listen to the various presentations, and to the affirmations of Arlington’s longstanding mayor, Tom Vandergriff.

Watching the parade was then, and is today, a wonderful experience. It has become one of our favorite annual traditions. As most people know, Mission Arlington® doesn’t close, except on Christmas day.  However, on July 4th, the streets around us are closed off, for the parade, so for as far back as any of us can remember, we take a break on that morning to watch the parade together. Staff members, board members, volunteers, and a host of people from our many congregations join us for food and for the fun. It is always an exhilerating experience.  Our doors will open again to help people who need it as soon as the parade finishes.

A few years ago, SJ Stovall, former Mayor of Arlington, and the long-time board chairman of Mission Metroplex, inc., began a breakfast in honor of the summer missionaries who spend the summer with us, helping us reach people for Christ.   So, on the morning of the parade, the mission family – now years after Mayor Stovall’s passing – still gather for breakfast, beginning at 8:00 a.m. After a great meal,we watch the parade together, before we get back to work for the rest of the day.

Our spot is at the corner of Abram and West street downtown.  This year, for the first time, due to the contribution of a generous donor, we will actually have some shade. Tillie Burgin, our Director, is always at the top of the stairs there watching and waving.  If you are in the parade, look our way. If you aren’t in the parade, come by to say hello.

We love being downtown in the midst of all the people. We are grateful for the privilege we have of serving our Lord in this wonderfully generous community of people.  We can be here for the people, year after year, because you give, help, and pray.  We are grateful.

We look forward to seeing you on the fourth.

More than 500 students gather at Mission Arlington for a moment of inspiration from and prayer with Tillie. Then they spread out across our community to share God’s love.

“Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Much of the work of Mission Arlington® is outside. In a Texas summer, the heat can be grueling, but the work is somehow refreshing. In fact, most of us don’t think of it as work at all.  The ministry here can  involve long days, but the time passes quickly, and we are surrounded by a generous and supportive community who walk this journey with us.

So many of you write, come by, pray, give, and/or find multiple other ways to express your support.  We hope you know how much that lifts our spirits. Combined with the Lord’s presence in and through this ministry, we truly feel that we are carried as if on the “wings of eagles.”

On an average week, it takes approximately 2,500 volunteers to keep Mission Arlington running – from our front room, to the “out back,” to the health clinics, feeding programs, the weekly Bible studies, and so much more.  Add to this the student groups who are here to spend the week with us – to share God’s love, using Rainbow Express, all across our community – and the number serving here skyrockets.

Mission Arlington® also has partnerships with organizations, such as Cru (formerly Campus Crusade), Student Life, and SOAR, among others who send groups of students here throughout the summer. Today, through the partnership with SOAR, sixteen different church groups will be here from three different states, and several Texas cities. These groups will head out into various locations across the city to “hug on” children and youth, play games, sing songs, and to teach God’s Word.  More than five hundred (533)  students and sponsors will be here on campus and out into the neighborhoods through this partnership.  Altogether, including the Rainbow Express and other groups, there will be around 850 additional sets of hands here today to make a difference.  This kind of support not only encourages us, but lifts up the work. Only the Lord could have put all of this together. His Spirit surely is the “wind beneath our wings.

Please keep the mission in your prayers throughout today.  When the day comes to an end, may more people than ever before know about our Lord’s great love.

Thank you for walking this journey with us.

A volunteer works in Mission Arlington’s food pantry, helping other get the food they need for their families.

When most of us get hungry, we take a look in the pantry and fix ourselves something to eat.  If the pantry is empty, it isn’t a crisis. We head to the grocery store, or to the nearest restaurant, to meet our needs. It is easy to think that our experience is normative, but that isn’t always true.  “Food insecurity” is a term which means that people don’t have enough resources to provide food for their family.  Adults can skip a few meals and be alright, of course, but it isn’t the same for the children.  Thankfully, because you give, Mission Arlington® is available to provide the food which meet’s people’s physical needs.

Unless directed specifically with a donation to do so, Mission Arlington® does not purchase food. We simply trust God’s provisions for His people. Yet, in nearly 29 years of operation, we’ve always had just enough to take care of the people.  Our sense is that what we witness here every day is the same story which occurred in John chapter 6, where Jesus takes bread and fish from a young boy, and then multiplies that food to feed more than 5,000 adult men, plus the women and attendant children.  When you give, God takes your gift, and multiplies it to meet the need.

We wish that you could be here every day to see what your support means to real people in need. Early on Monday morning, a man got out of his car to speak with a Mission Arlington® team member.  All he wanted to know was whether the mission had any food.  When he learned that there was something here to meet his family’s needs, he was visibly relieved.  The staff member didn’t know what this man’s circumstances were, but he thanked God for all who give, so that we can be here in someone’s moment of need. Seeing this happen is so fulfilling that it becomes a source of nourishment, a “kind of daily bread,” for those of us who volunteer here every day.

We want you to know, as you give, that we don’t spend money on ourselves.  Our administrative overhead continues to be very low. Almost 98 percent of each dollar gets directly to the people.  When you give food, that food is always given to people immediately, and free of charge.  We hope you are being blessed as you give out of your resources, your food pantries from home, and from your funds, so that someone else can find the support and the help that they need.

What is beautiful in these days is to watch many give who once were here in need themselves.  There is a beautiful circle of love here at Mission Arlington.®

Thank you for walking this journey with us.  We are truly blessed by the privilege.

Children eat a nutritious meal, provided with lots of love through Mission Arlington’s Summer feeding ministry.

In partnership with the City of Fort Worth, Mission Arlington began serving meals to children in six locations yesterday. Around 100 children attended the first day.

We serve these meals in the summer, because when the children are out of school, they don’t receive the free lunch programs which the school provides, and their families are not able to provide for them, so they would go hungry.

Mission Arlington® will serve these meals five days each week (Monday to Friday) through August 15th. It is such a privilege for us to help out the children of our community in this way.

The volunteers who lead these ministries do more than just hand out nutritious meals. They sit with the children, learn their names, ask them about their favorite foods and subjects, and so much more. The students also get to sing, and to learn a lesson from God’s Word.

We are so grateful for the privilege we have of serving our Lord, and loving the  children in our community.  Thanks to each of you who give, help, and pray for or work.

You are making a difference here.