Mission Arlington^® is currently collecting and distributing school supplies for AISD students.

A Strong Community Need

It’s “no surprise” to anyone that the prices of school supplies are going up, with some items at record highs. This makes it more difficult for ordinary families to have the supplies their students need to start the school year this August.  Mission Arlington^® expects to provide school supplies for more than 9,000 AISD students again this year, and probably more.  It’s clear that the need will be as great as it ever has been.

School Supplies List

Simply put, Mission Arlington^® gives away what you provide, and you have been so faithful through the years.  You can find a list of school supplies that students need HERE.

How to Provide School Supplies

1. Purchase the supplies, and drop them off at Mission Arlington’s main campus downtown;  You can drop them off anytime between 7 a.m. & 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday;
2. Use our Amazon Wish List – Choose supplies from our Amazon Wish List, and Amazon will deliver the supplies directly to us;
3. Donate Funds for School Supplies – 1) You can write a check to Mission Arlington, placing “School Supplies” in the memo line, or 2) you can donate through our website. Choose the “School Supplies” designation, and we will pick up the supplies for you.

Volunteering to Organize/Distribute School Supplies

1. Volunteer Times – anytime you are available between 7 a.m. & 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday;
2. You or Your Team – Come by yourself, with your family/group of friends, or bring your team. All ages welcome.  Everyone can make a difference;
3. Organizing / Distributing – It takes many hands to get school supplies organized and into back packs, and it is so much fun to do.  Giving away the supplies is fun too. Come see us.

Gratitude

It makes such a difference to moms & dads who are in between jobs, or for whom circumstances have been difficult, to know that their students (young or old) will have what they need to start school on the first day.  It also means so much to the students themselves.  We are so grateful for you, and for your constant support.

A church youth group from Oklahoma City leads Rainbow Express in a central Arlington location this week.

Parents often look for ways to keep their children active during the hot summer months. Suggestions abound, and it seems that there isn’t a shortage of things the kids can do, but at times, this can be costly.

Mission Arlington^® offers multiple activities for children & youth during the summer months.  Fun days, summer programs, summer camps, volunteering opportunities, and Rainbow Express^® all form part of the fun. Everything offered in and through the Mission is always “free of charge.”

Rainbow Express^® is our version of a backyard Bible club. Local youth groups, plus student teams from around Texas and across the nation, arrive in Arlington to be the extension of God’s love into the communities across our city.  Summer Rainbow Express^® began in late May and will continue through the end of the summer. Through the first week of June, nearly ten thousand (9,959) children have attended.

These four-day events are designed to be a lot of fun for the kids.  Outdoor running, jumping, or other kinds of high-movement games are part of the fun, along with a few silly songs, some crafts, and snacks too.  The heart of Rainbow Express^®, however, is to share God’s love in a very personal way. We do this in one-on-one and small group settings. Stories from the Bible are the core curriculum for each event, and the young people memorize a verse or two of scripture along the way.

As we share God’s love through the fun, the activities, and the Bible stories, we offer an opportunity for these young people to respond to what they have heard.  In this year so far, 125 people have accepted Christ.  Mission Arlington^® Bible study teachers and leaders follow-up with each student and every family along the way.  We are so incredibly blessed to serve in this way throughout our community.

One other piece to Rainbow Express^® might be important to know.  As we serve in these various locations (apartment communities, neighborhood homes, etc.), we often discover families who are experiencing a moment of need.  The Rainbow Express^® event becomes a conduit for more care in the communities.  If a family needs food, for example, or furniture, or a fan, these volunteer student teams let Mission Arlington^® know, and we are able to respond.

We are grateful for the privilege we have of serving the Lord alongside of this incredibly generous and beautiful community.  This coming August 1st, we will celebrate our 38th birthday – 38 years of loving people, walking with you, and sharing God’s love.  We are excited about all that is taking place this summer, and we are looking forward to the days ahead.

Spring Baseball Academy at Hunter’s Field – Children have fun learning about the Lord and the game.

May 5th 2018 Baseball Academy

Mission Arlington^® children gathered each Saturday morning for the past five Saturdays to play baseball at Hunter’s Field, ending on May 5th. Volunteer coaches gave their Saturday mornings to teach the basics of the game, and more importantly, to love on the children who came. Bible study leaders with Mission Arlington^® rose early to pick up and deliver the children to the game.

These young people received a t-shirt. They played hard, barely aware that they were enjoying healthy exercise. They worked as teams, and they learned the basics of the game – from throwing & hitting to running the bases.  80+ children enjoyed this experience every week, and each child received their own baseball t-shirt.

Each week, the children who gathered to play ball learned a little more from God’s Word, from our head coach and Bible study leader Jerry McCullough.

May 5th 2018 Baseball Academy. “Batter up!”

We are so grateful for each person and every team who put together a beautiful field for children to enjoy.  We are also grateful for every volunteer who gave their time to love on children and to teach them the beautiful game of baseball.  We are grateful for the Bible study leaders, most of them volunteers, who give of themselves every week to teach God’s Word all across our community.

Finally, we are grateful to the Lord for his provision, and for allowing us to support the children in our community.  Baseball season will start again in the Fall. We can’t wait!