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!