The medical team at Mission Arlington’s Medical Clinic this week.

Mission Arlington®’s Bob Mann Medical Clinic turns 25 this year. The growth from it’s early days has been tremendous.

In November 1990, the clinic was opened just three hours per week: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12:15-1:15. Twelve doctors rotated volunteering during their lunch hours to treat patients for free. Primarily treating pneumonia and infections, the clinic caught people who needed urgent care, but could not afford to visit an urgent care center. In the first three months, the clinic saw about 100 people. People received much needed care, but resources were limited.

Today, the clinic is constantly bustling with activity and averaging 180 patients per week. Some doctors still come for one hour per week, but others have devoted one whole day per week to volunteering. Because so many doctors are willing and able to come, patients are seen Monday-Friday. The clinic provides physical therapy, diabetes maintenance, a variety of specialists, and a prescription drug program to help people with on-going medical needs. The resources available have expanded exponentially, and now local hospitals can even occasionally perform free surgeries.

One “motto” among the Mission Arlington® leadership is not to say “no” when someone wants to help, so the first time a doctor offered to volunteer on a Tuesday night, the clinic expanded it’s care to Tuesday nights. When someone called and asked if the clinic needed an EKG machine, the answer was, “of course!” The EKG machine has been used countless times to save lives and reassure many who come with troubling symptoms.

Yesenia, who visited the clinic recently, had this to say about her care, “I never knew there was a place where not only can you get help for any sickness, or a broken leg, in my case, but you can also find people who believe in God and his miracles.” She explained that when she first met the clinic’s orthopedic surgeon, he encouraged her to have faith and trust in Jesus. While Yesenia had already accepted Christ and was baptized last year, she says his words helped her remember the good things God has done for her. She says, “That’s why I’m thankful for Mission Arlington in everything that they do from their clinics, to doctors, to nurses, to the staff for being there for people who need them the most.”

By saying “Yes” and being willing to go wherever God leads, the clinic has grown in ways no one expected and only God could have designed. People are getting the care they need, being reached for Christ, and God’s not done yet. The clinic is always in need of additional medical professionals, supplies, and equipment.  If you would like more information on how you can join in the work, please call today. 817-277-6620.

The Lord used Jack and Imogene, through prayer, at the start of Mission Arlington. They still serve faithfully today, nearly 29 years later.

People across the globe pray for Mission Arlington®; daily, but no one has been praying for the work here longer than Jack and Imogene plus the small group that gathered in their house weekly to pray about the seed that God had planted in Tillie Burgin’s heart.

Jack remembers Tillie coming and asking them to pray about doing missions in Arlington, although they weren’t exactly sure where it would lead or what it would look like, they knew they needed to pray, down on their faces – and they did for two years until God revealed his will.

Shortly after Mission Arlington began, volunteers reached out to local apartment complexes to teach God’s word.  For 22 years, Jack and Imogene led a weekly Bible study in a community near their house. Once per year, the Bible Study team would hold a three-day revival on site with food, songs, and a sermon. During their two decades, they saw small children learn about God, be baptized, and grow to serve God as adults.

Jack is now 91 years old. He says his life was changed when he heard this true story about a group of missionaries in Japan that planned to lead country-wide revival services. Some pastors from the United States planned to come support them, but as the travel date arrived, the Korean War intensified leading most of the state-side pastors to back out. The missionaries, who had spent years in Japan, sometimes in unsafe conditions, wondered why the pastors would not come. The missionaries asked, “Is it that you think we are expendable, and you are not?”

Upon hearing this story, Jack told God, “Whether I want to be expendable or not, Jesus came to the cross, and I’m expendable for you.” From that day on, Jack has sought to let God use him completely. God is eternal, and humans are temporary, so why wouldn’t one dedicate his earthly life to furthering God’s eternal will? Whatever God has asked of them, Jack and Imogene have tried to follow, no matter the cost.

They have wanted to, and still want to, live in a way that shows their lives are being totally used for the living God.

By 3:55 on Wednesday afternoon, a handful of children have gathered at the playground of their east side apartment complex. By 4:15, it’s swarming. Some kids carrying backpacks of homework, some chasing little brothers and sisters. Ms. Hattie and her team have arrived ready to play, tutor and share the gospel.

UTA volunteers start a game of kickball in an empty field next door, while another volunteer reads through a math assignment with a young boy. Ms. Hattie greets the children that are still arriving and invites them to play or study.

One frustrated mom comes with her daughter, school folder in hand. They pass the folder to Ms. Hattie. The little girl shakes her head at the science assignment inside. Ms. Hattie leads them over to a park bench and works with them both to understand the plant life cycle.

The mom says it’s her first time coming to “after school.” They just recently moved in, but they already knew where to come for help.

By 5:00, the kickball game has run its course. The kids are tired, and homework is done. Everyone gathers on blue blankets to hear a Bible Story about Jesus death and resurrection. It takes a while to get through the lesson, but the kids listen attentively.

In the beginning, Ms. Hattie wasn’t sure how God would work out all the details so she could serve full-time at Mission Arlington®. She had a job, a house, two pets, and plenty of bills. She had been volunteering twice a week, but she felt like God wanted her to do more. When she went to visit with Tillie, she expressed her concerns about housing, pets, and everything. They prayed and gave the concerns to God.

In the end, Hattie gave her employer two weeks notice and told her neighbor that she would be putting her house on the market. Within the week, her neighbor told her to not put up that “for sale” sign because he wanted to buy the house. The profits from the sale were enough to pay off her loans.

By the time she began her first day at Mission Arlington®, God had provided a free, pet-friendly place to live. One by one, God had removed any potential worry and Ms. Hattie could focus on the things that really matter: teaching children and showing their families the love of Christ.

Jerry had been retired for a year when a note came asking if he would like to come teach Bible Study for Mission Arlington®. After a few months of prayerful consideration, he began at an East side community. Jerry now works with the adults and teens on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

A month later, he came by the office to visit and began volunteering in the “Front Room” where people come for assistance with bills, groceries, housewares, and more. Many recognize him from teaching the Story during the Christmas Store, and tend to trust Jerry and let him pray for their families. They feel like they already know him.

Currently, he is leading Saturday basketball leagues. Up to 70 children and youth have come each week to play and pray. Children are able to play basketball in a safe, Christian environment. When one child reacted in anger and threw down the ball, Jerry and the other adults were available to intervene in a loving way. With one week left, that has been the only discipline issue they encountered.

Jerry wears many hats at Mission Arlington, and the community, but one thing he finds of utmost importance is the Sunday Bible Study that began it all. In the past year, the adult Bible Study has gone from zero to active. The youth class is so strong, some of his high school students volunteered at the basketball leagues.

He says, “There are lots of agencies who do (benevolent assistance), but not a lot that go out to the apartments and build relationships…being out there with them on a regular basis.” Because of the consistent presence, of Jerry and the Bible Study team, people know where to come for prayer when they are in crisis. People grow in Christ and discipleship happens.

We are grateful for Jerry, and all those like him who lend a hand here at Mission Arlington®.

Morgan loves serving the Lord at Mission Arlington.

Morgan moved here in 2012 intending to earn her Master’s degree at a local university. While she was preparing to start, she worked at Mission Arlington®, attracted to the work the Lord was doing there.

Somehow, parts her school application were misplaced, pushing her plans back an entire year. Then in 2013, when she had the opportunity to apply again, she declined. God made it clear; she needed to stay at the Mission.

Morgan knew at a young age that God wanted her working with children. Her childhood was spent making children’s Bible lesson plans with her aunt. Morgan finds she can use her gifts freely at Mission Arlington where she teaches at two west Arlington apartment complexes and helps prepare supplies for Rainbow Express, Mission Arlington®’s Backyard Bible Club.

Children’s lives are changed when they learn about the love of God. This can be a door to reach the whole family. In particular, one little girl who started attending Morgan’s Bible Study last year started off with a tough exterior, but as time went by, she became much sweeter.

Morgan remembers the day that the little girl’s mom came to Bible Study for the first time, her hand holding tight to a coloring sheet that said “Jesus Loves Me.” Morgan stepped up to ask how she could help. The mom replied, “I don’t know what you are teaching my daughter.” Morgan answered, “Well, we teach her about Jesus.” The mom continued, “I don’t know much about Jesus, but I know that my little girl was mean and now she’s nice. And she wasn’t loving and now she’s loving. I don’t know much about this Jesus, but I want to know more.”

We praise God for these opportunities. And we praise him for forgotten paperwork that led Morgan here to stay.

Fuller Soccer Team poses for a picture

While Spain cheers for their soccer team, “Real Madrid,” Mission Arlington cheers for their soccer team, “Real Fuller.”

Fuller Street Church started as an apartment Bible Study on Fuller Street in North Arlington more than fifteen years ago.  First, they met in the living room of one apartment, then moved to the clubhouse, and now they worship in a converted house about a block from the original apartment complex. The original pastors were Mission Arlington® staff members but now a family that found Christ through the Bible Study is leading the church.

God’s love shines out of the church building every Sunday and Wednesday. The people also gather during the week for food distribution, prayer, and cooking classes. The community knows where they can go to fellowship and experience God.

Last year, we published a story about the beginning of a soccer team that Fuller Street Church started to keep the young men involved.  After months of weekly practice, “Real Fuller” started playing real soccer games this month.  They signed up to be in a league that will play 10 games against other neighborhood teams at no cost to the players’ families.

The coach, Jesus, and “Team Mom,” Leslie, really love the children.  They see the boys at least four days per week: practice day, game day, and two church days. And it’s not only soccer skills they are teaching. The kids learn about God’s love in practical ways. If Jesus or Leslie find that the children’s families are lacking food, clothing, school supplies, or anything, they can fill that need through the generous donations that come to Mission Arlington.

Would you join us in praying for this church as they continue to meet the needs of their community? God is using them to bring light and change lives.

Tookie’s smile tells a beautiful story. She grew up at Mission Arlington.

Tookie was a child in 1997 when her cousins invited her to church. She walked to her apartment clubhouse and remembers a tall, red-headed woman with a one-year-old on her hip taught her about Jesus.

That red-headed woman still teaches every Sunday, and now Tookie is, too.

Childhood led her in and out of different churches. She had her first child when she was still fairly young. But Tookie knows God never left her. A few years ago, her aunt asked her to substitute teach for her for one Sunday. Tookie says, “I never would have thought that I would be teaching…but I love seeing how everything falls into place. I love to see how God works.”

Every day of the week, Tookie is teaching in one of three community Bible Studies. In one neighborhood, a homeowner offered to let Mission Arlington® do Bible Study in her front yard while she was at work. Tookie lived nearby and offered to start teaching the Bible to her neighbors.

Once per week, that church meets in the front lawn. When it’s cold, they still meet. They just sit a little closer together. When it’s raining, they still meet. They just move to the porch. Nothing can stop the people from learning about God.

Tookie is eager to find ways to meet people’s spiritual needs. She teaches all ages, but really wants the preteen crowd to know God.

“Seeing how lost I was at that age I feel like preteens are the ones who really need to be reached.” She just began a new preteen Bible Study and eleven people have come, including two teens that she had never met before.

Is it beautiful to see lives being changed through this one life that God would not let go.

Brisa’s new bike came from you through Mission Arlington

We’ve just finished the Christmas season at Mission Arlington®. How beautiful it was to see the outpouring of love as the community gave toys and gifts to make someone else’s Christmas special.

A smiling Brisa rides the bike donated to her through Mission Arlington

On a Saturday in December, Emily, a Bible Study leader in central  Arlington, took a group of volunteers and a truckload of bicycles to deliver  in the apartment complex where she minsters.  Emily knocked on a few  doors so people could come pick put the right sized bikes for their children.  It didn’t take long until families were coming to the clubhouse from all  around to see the bikes.

One young girl, Brisa, came to the clubhouse to see the bicycles.  Brisa has been attending the After School program for years but has recently been more involved and learned all her memory verses this year. Emily encouraged her to pick out whichever bicycle she wanted.

“What about my sister?” she replied.

Emily assured her that her sister could get a bike, too.

The girl insisted that she find a bike for her sister first.

With her sister’s bike safely put away, Emily offered to help Brisa find the right bike for her.

“But, what about my other sister?” Brisa asked.

Emily teared up a bit, and they both searched until she found the perfect bike for her three-year-old sister.

With her younger two siblings taken care of, Brisa finally felt comfortable getting a bike for herself.  All the volunteers within earshot helped search and made sure Brisa got the perfect bike.

What a blessing to see God’s love in the selfless actions of a young girl.  Thank you to everyone who gave and who continue to give in this new year.  Your donations are making a difference across this city, one life at a time

Amy was 13 years old when she moved to Arlington with her parents and two sisters.  She lived in an apartment complex in east Arlington where a Mission Arlington® Bible Study met just outside her door.  In the cold and heat, Amy and her sisters attended faithfully. Over the years, Mission Arlington® helped with many things, from Christmas presents to rides to school, but most importantly, at that Bible Study Amy learned that God loved her and accepted Christ as her savior.
Amy made it through her teenage years, graduated High School, and now almost 20 years later, has a family of her own.  When they first moved into their own apartment, she was pleased to see that Mission Arlington® had a Bible Study there also. She says, “I did that when I was younger. I thought it was really cool my kids could take part, too.” Her children attend a tutoring program during the week, and the whole family goes to Bible Study on Wednesday and Sundays.

It has not been an easy road. Amy lives with diabetes, and has since she was a child. When her parents passed away in 2010 and 2012, it was a real struggle to understand why she lost them at such a young age. Amy’s son has a rare hip disorder that is usually debilitating, ending with the patient in a wheelchair. So far he is still walking on his own, although no one knows what the future holds.  After working as a retail manager for 20 years, her husband has found himself unemployed.  He’s been interviewing everywhere and dropping off applications and is still waiting to hear back.

In spite of all this, Amy knows God is faithful. This year, in particular, she knows God has been working in her family.  Both her children were baptized in 2014, they seem happier than they have ever been, and this Holiday season they plan to give back by volunteering at Mission Arlington®.  She wants her kids to learn to help others.

Because when you have God’s love, Amy says “You share it.”

While God calls some to be part of Mission Arlington for a lifetime, some people come just for a season, and then God directs them elsewhere. It’s always bittersweet when someone leaves.　 Bitter because we want them to stay, but sweet because they are moving in a direction God has ordained.

Ten years ago, Keyla held an important position at BOLSA, the Mexican Stock Exchange.　 While happy with her job, she knew God wanted her to serve.　 So when the pastor at her church became ill, Keyla substituted one Sunday.　 She says as she dug into God’s Word to prepare, she felt his presence and was shocked by the things in the Bible that she had never noticed before.　 Her passion for God began to grow.

Following God’s lead, she moved to attend seminary in Dallas.　 They often sang “One Pure and Holy Passion,” and she prayed that God would increase her desire for him. 　　She went on to study education at Dallas Baptist University where God put her in a class with a professor who was also a pastor at Mission Arlington.

Soon after that connection, Keyla visited a Mission Arlington congregation, Grace Street Church, with an invitation to lead the children’s ministry.　 In the beginning, she could not see how she could relate to the people because she came from such a different life.　 But one Sunday, as another teacher took her to the children’s department and shared each child’s background, Keyla’s heart broke.　 She accepted the position.　 God stretched her and grew her in ways she did not expect.

Five years later, Keyla is married with one child and one on the way.　 God has provided her and her husband, Stephen, with a new job opportunity in Odessa, and this is their last week serving at Mission Arlington. Last week, Keyla attended her last monthly staff meeting, and the closing song, “One Pure and Holy Passion,” reminded her of the journey that led her here and that God will continue to lead if she will just follow.