By Jim Burgin, staff writer

I almost didn’t see her.  In the very back of the church, as far away from anyone else as she could possibly get, sitting alone, a young woman sat silently worshiping in the Mission Arlington^® church I pastor. I knew that sometimes, even in a crowded room, people feel isolated – cut off.

As I walked toward her, intending to help her feel welcomed, she seemed to shrink in front of me.  When I spoke, she nodded affirmation, but turned away. I thought I saw a face stained by tears. My heart hurt instantly for her, and I wondered as I walked away what burdens she carried, and how we could provide support. I made a mental note to catch her after church. When the services were over, she was gone.  Though I don’t know her name, and probably wouldn’t recognize her if I saw her in a crowd, I have been praying for her.

When you think of Mission Arlington^®, it is easy to think of our work in terms of large numbers. For example, since January 1st, thirty thousand (30,000) people have come through our front room for help. That’s ten thousand people a month. 4,600 children (including families) came to our Easter egg hunt which we affectionately call “the world’s largest.” Right around ten thousand children (9,869) children attended one of our Rainbow Express^® events this Spring.

Add to this – that a large number of different services for people happen here all “under one roof,” so to speak.  It isn’t unusual for people to say “you do that?”  We are humbled by all that God does in this place. Our confession is and has been that we are “over our heads,” and especially that this mission belongs to Him above all.

On the other hand, our conviction is that every life matters.  Tillie reminds staff and volunteers often that the most important word in John 3:16 is “whosoever.” This means that every person matters to God, and therefore to us.  “I’ve never met a number walking through a door,” Tillie prompts, “but only a life created and loved by God.”   For this reason, we still refer to ourselves often as a “ministry of ones.” Our prayer is that through the busyness, God would not let us miss any single person.

Earlier this week, a lady met Tillie here at Mission Arlington^® early one morning. The struggles were real and difficult, and the two of them talked for a while, then prayed.  No sermons or preaching happened. There were no “quick fixes” or easy platitudes – just a moment in time.  The lady stayed, and started to volunteer, finding usefulness in her skills as a translator. After a while, one of our volunteer medical doctors, a Christian, and this lady had a chance to sit down to talk.  This beautiful lady, so stressed by much in her life, and with so much to give, turned over her heart to Christ.

When we met early this morning (typical for staff meetings here), the dialogue wasn’t about the volume of people coming through our “front doors,” or “out back,” or the “number of pickups,” etc.  The conversation turned to God with thanksgiving for the changed life of this one lady. Requests for prayer around the room were for individual people that each minister was praying for and concerned about.

Years ago, a close friend of the mission gave us a picture which still hangs today in our front room. It is the picture of a shepherd reaching out for a sheep that has been lost (pictured above).  This portrait of love seems to be built around John 10 where the good shepherd “knows his sheep by name,” or Luke 15 where the good shepherd goes after “the one who is lost until he finds it.”  We see this picture every day and remember to love each one – even when they are simply lost, or find themselves shrinking in the crowd. We thank Him for reaching out to us when we were lost. May God help us always to keep it personal.

Thank you so much for walking this journey with us.