Pictured here, T. Alexander, carrying a box of turkeys which have just been donated to Mission Arlington. The turkeys are being placed in a freezer until we thaw them a few days prior to Thanksgiving Day.

By Jim Burgin, Staff Writer

Gratitude Born in difficult Times

“Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart,” or sometimes simply referred to as “Give Thanks,” is an American Christian worship song written by Henry Smith in 1978. The song is popular, and usually increases in playtime during the Thanksgiving season. We sing the song often at Mission Arlington^®.

This was Smith’s only published worship out of 300 unpublished compositions.  Smith wrote the song when he couldn’t find work after graduating from the University.  He was also suffering from a degenerative condition which eventually left him legally blind.

This song illustrates what Smith knew through his life, that we can “give thanks in all circumstances,” the hard times as well as the good.

Your Spirit Grows Gratitude in Us

At Mission Arlington^®, we hope to be thankful all year long, but our gratitude increases in and through the Thanksgiving season for many reasons, but especially because of the way you become a blessing to the people we serve.

Your drop by with turkeys and Thanksgiving food, as if you didn’t have a care in the world. You show up to help at 8:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, as if this weren’t your only day off in a while.

And you bring such a wonderful spirit with you at every point.  How could we not be thankful?

Giving Thanks

It seems to me also that there must be a connection between gratitude and giving.  Yes, we are giving “Thanks,” but it is more than that.  There is something special about gratitude, when it comes from the heart, that flows over in giving to others.  When we are grateful, we give, and then that giving becomes an impetus for others to be thankful too.

Thanks be to God

I have served at Mission Arlington’s Thanksgiving Day giveaway every year for more than two decades.  As we near the end of each Thanksgiving morning, I imagine people gathered around their Thanksgiving tables, thankful for each other, and for the food, but also, and perhaps especially, returning that thanks to God.

I wouldn’t be anywhere else.  Hope to see you there too.

The hayride is always a fun part of the Fall Festival, loved by the kids, and the parents too!

Building Memories Together

An afternoon with the family – without all the devices to distract – a way to build memories together.

Saturday, October 26th, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 1514 Cherry Dr. in Arlington

This Festival is free and is going to be so much fun! 

Mission Arlington^® hosts a safe & fun alternative to Halloween each year on the Saturday prior to the annual holiday.

This year, our festival happens on Saturday, October 26th, from noon to 4 p.m. in central Arlington. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

This family-friendly experience is mostly outdoors. This festival is a moment which the children will love, but the whole family enjoys. The following list of activities for the festival is only part of the fun:

• Free Food – hot dogs, chips, a cookie and a drink, plus picnic tables for the family to enjoy eating together.
• Bouncy Houses – a giant row of big bouncy houses for the children to enjoy.
• A Hayride – flatbed trailers loaded with bales of hay – and a couple of trips around a field. Wow, it is so much fun.
• Carnival Games– an entire gym full of carnival games – fishing, miniature golf, basketball, bowling, and so much more.  The children will receive prizes too.
• Candy – Each child will receive a small bag of candy.

You can help!

Most children would agree that candy plays a huge part in this particular holiday.  If you would like to donate individually wrapped candy for this event, please deliver it the Mission Arlington^® offices downtown.  We are grateful for your support!

A Long Partnership

The children, educators, and administrators of the DFW area Primrose Schools have long been a partner with the Mission Arlington^® family. For many years, busloads of children in the smartly decorated Primrose busses would show up at our back door every Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The students in each school would collect turkeys, Thanksgiving food, and Christmas toys, then unload their gifts in each season for children (and their families) who were being served by Mission Arlington.^®

A Fun Way to Give

Earlier this week, we received a call from our friends at Primrose. Students in their schools across the Metroplex had been competing to see which school could gather the most diapers (of all sizes and kinds) for children.  We learned that they wanted to donate all of the diapers through us, to the people we serve.  Of course, we were excited.

Then we learned that the diapers were in 22 different locations in various cities across the Metroplex.  Volunteers from our community stepped in, donating their time, driving to each school, meeting the children & the school leadership, and – with the helps of the students – loaded the diapers into their vehicles.

A Huge Impact

Altogether, the Primrose team donated  36,219 diapers  – through us – to the people we serve every day.  WOW!  From the 1st of the year through the end of August, we have averaged 634 people a day coming through our front doors for help.  Already, the diapers are making it to homes of young families.

We are truly grateful!

Generally speaking, the “end of the Rainbow” refers to something hoped for, but unattainable, such as the proverbial “pot of gold.”  At Mission Arlington^®, however, we say that we’ve reached the “end of Rainbow,” referring to the end of our Rainbow Express^® season. The pot of gold for us is the impact in and for the community.

What happened in 2024?

21,508 students (children & youth) attended at least one Rainbow Express^® event in 2024.

Rainbow Express^® is our version of a four-day backyard Bible club, with crafts, snacks, music, games, and Bible stories.

125 different student groups (3,799 people) led these events in 326 locations. These groups came from 40 Texas cities and 12 different states from around the country.  We were so impressed with the young people who gave their time & talents to make a difference here.

The young people attending Rainbow Express^® have so much fun, while they are learning about the Bible.  It is not that unusual for someone to come back to the Mission as an adult to share with us how Rainbow Express blessed them.

We are grateful for the privilege of our partnership with this amazing & generous community.  You make We are grateful for the privilege of loving the children & youth throughout our community. You make Rainbow Express^® possible.

Thank you!

Mission Arlington^® is currently collecting and distributing school supplies for AISD students.

A Strong Community Need

It’s “no surprise” to anyone that the prices of school supplies are going up, with some items at record highs. This makes it more difficult for ordinary families to have the supplies their students need to start the school year this August.  Mission Arlington^® expects to provide school supplies for more than 9,000 AISD students again this year, and probably more.  It’s clear that the need will be as great as it ever has been.

School Supplies List

Simply put, Mission Arlington^® gives away what you provide, and you have been so faithful through the years.  You can find a list of school supplies that students need HERE.

How to Provide School Supplies

1. Purchase the supplies, and drop them off at Mission Arlington’s main campus downtown;  You can drop them off anytime between 7 a.m. & 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday;
2. Use our Amazon Wish List – Choose supplies from our Amazon Wish List, and Amazon will deliver the supplies directly to us;
3. Donate Funds for School Supplies – 1) You can write a check to Mission Arlington, placing “School Supplies” in the memo line, or 2) you can donate through our website. Choose the “School Supplies” designation, and we will pick up the supplies for you.

Volunteering to Organize/Distribute School Supplies

1. Volunteer Times – anytime you are available between 7 a.m. & 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday;
2. You or Your Team – Come by yourself, with your family/group of friends, or bring your team. All ages welcome.  Everyone can make a difference;
3. Organizing / Distributing – It takes many hands to get school supplies organized and into back packs, and it is so much fun to do.  Giving away the supplies is fun too. Come see us.

Gratitude

It makes such a difference to moms & dads who are in between jobs, or for whom circumstances have been difficult, to know that their students (young or old) will have what they need to start school on the first day.  It also means so much to the students themselves.  We are so grateful for you, and for your constant support.

Elementary-school-aged children serving with Braveheart Christian Academy at Mission Arlington on Friday, April 12th. They were an amazing group of young people. We were so blessed!

“Kid-Friendly”

A common question asked of us is about the possibility of children serving with their families at Mission Arlington^®. Our answer is always yes.  Children bring such life and joy wherever they go, and we believe that you can’t be too young to make a difference.  So, Mission Arlington has always been “kid-friendly.”

It Makes A Difference

An article in Time‘s online edition, published last year, noted that children and teenagers who volunteer not only make a difference in the world around them, but also in themselves. Children and teens who serve their community tend to be sick less and to flourish in a variety of ways.

We hear from parents often that they love to bring their children to Mission Arlington^® for a couple of reasons: 1) When families serve together, it strengthens the family bonds, creating a stronger sense of love, laughter, and vibrancy in the home. 2) Also, when children serve, their worlds are expanded. Parents tell us, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas, that the want their children to serve, because it reinforces a sense of how blessed they are and increases their awareness and compassion for others who may have less.

Schools & Teams

Schools and teams are a constant source of encouragement and authentic help here at the Mission – truly – all year long.  We are so blessed to partner with teachers & administrators who value community service.  Today, for example, the Braveheart Christian Academy (pictured above) brought their elementary students to serve here for a couple of hours.

The energy and excitement from the children was so rich, bringing smiles to every adult in the room. These students were given tasks appropriate to their age, and they were able to take a big box of recently donated items, separate the items into various categories.  They re-boxed the items, and then moved the boxes into position for storage or distribution. They had so much fun doing it, and it was a great help to us, and to those we serve.

We Appreciate You

Thanks to each of you who love to work with children across our community.  You are making a huge difference that will last long beyond your investment.  We look forward to serving with each of you, and your families to make a difference here.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

Students from St. Paul’s Preparatory Academy organize durable medical equipment. 100 students, along with teachers and administrators, gave several hours of their day to make a difference here.

Individuals and volunteer teams of all kinds made a difference here in 2023. We are so grateful for each and every one of you who gave your time and energy to make a difference in the lives of people in our community.  Thank you so much.

Volunteers are important to the Mission Arlington^® family for a number of reasons:

1. We love and enjoy people generally, so it is always fun when you drop by.  You bring such energy and positive spirits when you come;
2. There is always more to do here than our small staff can do, so having you here “lifts the load” in a multitude of ways. It takes about 2,500 volunteers each week to do what we do;
3. We have also observed the biblical truth that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” play out in the lives of our volunteers over and over again. Notice the smile of the young lady pictured above who came to work with children.  We see smiles like that here every day;
4. Finally, the presence and ministry of volunteers like you provides authentic help to people in need. Notice the smile of the young girl being cared for above. We see smiles like that here day after day.

Helpful Information about Volunteering with Mission Arlington^®

1. We work with your schedule – Officially, volunteer hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but we will work with your schedule, so that you can serve here in a time frame that works best for you;
2. We are “kid friendly“ – We have volunteer opportunities for people of all ages, whether young or old.  We love having children here on the campus with us, because they can provide a valuable contribution. They also keep us young.  Bring your children with you when you come. We’ll put them to work; 
3. We remove the hassle – If you are bringing a group of five or more, it helps for you to let us know you are coming. That way, we will have a plan in place for you the moment your team arrives. Otherwise, you don’t need an appointment at all.  There is always work which needs to be accomplished here, so you can just show up, and we will get you to work immediately.  Unless you are needing us to “count your hours” in some way, we also do not have required paperwork, or an extended application process.  We try to make it as easy as possible for you to get started doing what you came here to do; 
4. You can use your gifts – We will do our best to use your gifts as you serve with us.  If you want to work with people, children and/or youth, we will place you accordingly.  If administration and paperwork is your gift, we have a place for you. If you have gifts in the construction industry, we always have something you can help with.  Or if you just want to help, and you don’t mind serving where you are most needed, we can get you going too; 
5. We will “count your hours.“  If you are needing us to count your hours for any reason, please bring any paperwork required by the group who these hours are for, and we will document your volunteer time, and sign the paperwork you need. Please check in with our Volunteer Office before you volunteer, so that we can document your time properly.
6. You can bring your group – Bring your friends, family, office staff, co-workers, or people from any group to which you belong (civic clubs, churches, schools, businesses, etc.) Teams of people work with us here nearly every day.

How You (and/or your Team) can Volunteer

1. Just Show Up – anytime between 7 and 7 Monday-Saturday. For groups of 5 or more, we request an advance call, please.
2. Call Us – at 817-277-6620 to schedule your group.
3. Write to Us – Click HERE, and choose the subject line, “My group/team wants to help out.” Fill out the requested information and hit “send.”  Someone will respond to your request promptly.

We look forward to serving with you in this new year!  Hope to see you soon.

Students from St. Paul’s Preparatory Academy organize durable medical equipment.

Individuals and volunteer teams of all kinds made a difference here in 2023. We are so grateful for each and every one of you who gave your time and energy to make a difference in the lives of people in our community.  Thank you so much.

Volunteers are important to the Mission Arlington^® family for a number of reasons:

1. We love and enjoy people generally, so it is always fun when you drop by.  You bring such energy and positive spirits when you come;
2. There is always more to do here than our small staff can do, so having you here “lifts the load” in a multitude of ways. It takes about 2,500 volunteers each week to do what we do;
3. We have also observed the biblical truth that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” play out in the lives of our volunteers over and over again. Notice the smile of the young lady pictured above who came to work with children.  We see smiles like that here every day;
4. Finally, the presence and ministry of volunteers like you provides authentic help to people in need. Notice the smile of the young girl being cared for above. We see smiles like that here day after day.

Helpful Information about Volunteering with Mission Arlington^®

1. We work with your schedule – Officially, volunteer hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but we will work with your schedule, so that you can serve here in a time frame that works best for you;
2. We are “kid friendly“ – We have volunteer opportunities for people of all ages, whether young or old.  We love having children here on the campus with us, because they can provide a valuable contribution. They also keep us young.  Bring your children with you when you come. We’ll put them to work; 
3. We remove the hassle – If you are bringing a group of five or more, it helps for you to let us know you are coming. That way, we will have a plan in place for you the moment your team arrives. Otherwise, you don’t need an appointment at all.  There is always work which needs to be accomplished here, so you can just show up, and we will get you to work immediately.  Unless you are needing us to “count your hours” in some way, we also do not have required paperwork, or an extended application process.  We try to make it as easy as possible for you to get started doing what you came here to do; 
4. You can use your gifts – We will do our best to use your gifts as you serve with us.  If you want to work with people, children and/or youth, we will place you accordingly.  If administration and paperwork is your gift, we have a place for you. If you have gifts in the construction industry, we always have something you can help with.  Or if you just want to help, and you don’t mind serving where you are most needed, we can get you going too; 
5. We will “count your hours.“  If you are needing us to count your hours for any reason, please bring any paperwork required by the group who these hours are for, and we will document your volunteer time, and sign the paperwork you need. Please check in with our Volunteer Office before you volunteer, so that we can document your time properly.
6. You can bring your group – Bring your friends, family, office staff, co-workers, or people from any group to which you belong (civic clubs, churches, schools, businesses, etc.) Teams of people work with us here nearly every day.

We look forward to serving with you in this new year!  Hope to see you soon.

Easter Sunday

Christians world-wide remember and celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the dead every Easter, which happens this year on Sunday, March 31st.  Mission Arlington^® sponsors & supports Bible studies & congregations in more than 350 locations across our community.  On Easter Sunday, these congregations will gather in apartment community club houses, neighborhood homes, and a few church facilities to worship a risen Lord.  This is a sweet and special time for all Christians, but especially for us here at the Mission.  If you want to know more about attending one of our Bible studies, contact us here.

There are a couple of ministries which we sponsor during the Easter season that are both engaging and fun.

Maundy Thursday Youth Service

On Thursday evening, March 28th, at 7:00 p.m. youth from Mission Arlington’s Bible studies and congregations will gather in central Arlington to worship the Lord and to study His word.  Mission Arlington’s Bible study leaders & teachers will join with these students as they worship.  Mission Arlington^® provides a large quantity of pizza, and the students join with their Bible study leaders after the service for conversation about what they heard and learned.

“World’s Largest” Easter Egg Hunt

With over 100,000 plastic eggs, filled with candy, this event is affectionately called the “World’s Largest” Easter Egg Hunt.  The event is from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and it is both free and open to the public.  Mission Arlington^® provides free food, a huge area for carnival games, bouncy houses, and of course, a giant Easter egg hunt.  This is truly a fun event for the whole family.

For More Information

If you would like more information about worshipping with a Mission Arlington^® congregation on Easter, or any other Sunday, please contact us by calling our main number:  817-277-6620, or by emailing us through our contact form, linked here.  If you would like to know more information about these events, or if you would like to volunteer at the Easter egg hunt, please make contact through the same number and enclosed link.

Your Prayers

Please keep us, and these ministry events in your prayers as we draw near to Easter. Thank you so much.

A young boy delivers Thanksgiving food on 2023. It is so much fun to serve at Mission Arlington.

Accountability and transparency are important to us, and we work at it in multiple ways.  One way we do that is to publish our ministry results at the end of each year.

On our website, for example, you can actually review our posted ministry results from the last 21 years, all the way back to 2003.

To discover a printable listing in one place for 2023 results, click here.

Instead of writing a separate post about each ministry experience from 2023, we thought we would highlight some of the accomplishments from last year in the graph below.

Thank you so much for your constant support of the ministry here.  We thank God for you!