A Crowded Christmas Store on the very first day the store opened for Mission Arlington Bible studies and congregations.

It’s Christmas time at Mission Arlington^®.  Our front room is full of working families, just needing a little help to get by. Because you give, we can help.

Our dental and medical clinics are brimming with people. Volunteer doctors and dentists are here, using their gifts to make a difference. Our donated trucks, filled with furniture, are leaving here every fifteen minutes, taking what you have given out to homes of hard-working families in need.

Volunteers are here. Individuals, families, and various kinds of groups – from civic clubs to corporations big and small, to church groups of most every size and shape.  These volunteers include people of all ages – from young children, to teenagers, college students, and adults – some in their 90s.  Even more of you are driving in, donating Christmas toys, food, furniture, and so much more. Streams of cars fill our driveways almost every hour of every day. In these days before Christmas, we start early, leave late, and love every minute in-between.

When you add to this the number of children – over 7,000 – who have received Christmas gifts from the store so far, then it is easy to think about Mission Arlington^® in terms of volume, crowds, and big numbers. We love the experience of being surrounded by so many people helping and being helped, especially because we know that our Lord is in the mix.

Five year-old Natalie received her bike, and a special bike helmet this past Saturday. It isn’t about “the bikes,” but about each child that receives one.

At the same time, Mission Arlington® has always been, as Tillie likes to say, a “ministry of ones.” Motivated by our sense that “whosoever” is the most important word in John 3:16, we’ve never been able to consider anyone among us as less important. We are coached here daily “not to miss a life,” to the point where it has become the representative culture of our place.

This past Sunday morning, just prior to an early prayer meeting in Tillie’s office, sounds of gentle sobbing emerged just outside the doors. A young mom was in distress.  Her son had recently been in an accident,  and this mom didn’t have money or means to acquire the medical equipment he needed. As a few gathered around to listen, one staff member bolted to our medical equipment closet and brought back crutches and a walker.  Through the tears, the mom told those gathered in a circle around her that she was a believer, and that she not only knew she would receive help here, but that we would pray with her.

The day before, there were thousands in the Christmas Store. That morning, only one. Every life matters to God, and every life matters to us.

We are so thankful for each of you who walk along side of us in these days. Your support encourages and inspires us to faithfulness, so that each person who crosses our path every day will experience the love of Christ here.

Thank you for your constant prayers, gifts, and support. You are making a difference here.