Cornerstones
Mission Arlington<sup>®</sup> Offices
Introduction
With the apostle Paul, we believe that all of Scripture is inspired by God and that it is useful for “teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Ask anyone in the Mission Arlington® family about their favorite scripture, and no doubt you would receive a variety of replies, because we truly value the Bible, and the biblical message.
At the same time, it is fair to say that there are four cornerstone scriptures which stand out for us, and inform our work:
John 3:16 – Good News for Everyone
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” When Tillie shares this verse in various settings, she often asks, “What’s the most important word in this passage? People will give various replies, but almost always miss the answer she is looking for. The key word in this passage, claims Tillie, is “whoever.” The good news of Jesus Christ is open to all who will receive.
Matthew 25:40 – Caring for the “least of these.”
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me;” We believe that meeting the physical and spiritual needs of people go hand in hand. As believers, we care about people having a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ. In John 4, Jesus told the woman he met at Jacob’s well that water satisfies the body, lasting for a moment, but “living water” satisfies the soul, lasting forever. We are so pleased to help meet the physical needs people have – providing people’s daily bread, for example. Yet, we always want to point them to the Bread of Life – Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, for us, authentic faith means that we care for people at their point of need, in the best way we know how, and that we treat everyone with dignity and respect. For this reason, in everything we do, we attempt to minister both to the physical and spiritual needs of people.
Matthew 28:19-20 – Helping people grow in Christ
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Our heart isn’t just to care for people at a point in time, but to walk with them wherever possible – beyond their immediate point of need. As best we can, we follow up, making home visits with those who come in through our “front room,” inviting them to join a Bible study group close to where they live. All year long, we attempt to provide a supportive community to which people can belong.
Acts 1:8 – From home, to our nation, and the whole world
8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Though our focus is Arlington and the Metroplex generally, we also have a heart for out state, the nation, and the world. As student groups and/or student missionaries come in from across Texas and around the nation, they are immersed into a world of missions. We are so appreciative of the way they share God’s love in our community, but our hope is that they will be influenced by the experience, so that they return home to share God’s love where they live. There are also more than 100 former team and family members from here whom the Lord has led into ministry all across the globe. By God’s grace, the work of Mission Arlington® has a global reach.
Cornerstones
In 2018, the Lord provided a new facility designed to equip the people serving in an through Mission Arlington®. This facility provides a temporary location to house food, Christmas bikes and more. As the holes for the foundation were drilled – one of our staff took four stones and inscribed them with the address of each scripture above. Early one morning, he dropped the stones into place at the base of each pillar, forming symbolic cornerstones – for the building, but also – by extension – for our ministry.
