Texas Baptists provides funds for Mission Arlington medical clinic expansion

ARLINGTON, TX—Texas Baptists executive director Julio Guarneri presented a gift of $125,000 to Mission Arlington representative Andrea Wilson, FNP, to assist with the expansion of the Bob Mann Medical Clinic during a ceremony Wednesday, May 8, at the Mission Arlington campus.

The growing clinic provides quality healthcare and medical education at no cost to low-income residents of the greater Arlington area. Last year, the clinic saw 4,243 patients and provided medical services to over 12,600 people.

For many in the community who cannot afford insurance or out-of-pocket medical care, the clinic is one of few options for treatment.

Doing ‘what Jesus would do’

“Watching the doctors, nurses and volunteers come together to take care physically and spiritually of all the patients — it is what Jesus would do,” said Tillie Burgin, founder and director of Mission Arlington.

Through the years, Burgin has seen those served by the clinic receive hearing aids, wheelchairs and crutches, and other expensive medical supplies they may not otherwise be able to obtain. For reusable medical supplies, individuals return them to the clinic so that others may benefit from their use.

“Everything we provide is free; we charge for nothing,” Burgin said. “One of the things we say is, ‘God gave, you give, we give.’”

Mission Arlington was founded in 1986 after Burgin and her family returned home from a decade of faithful service as international missionaries. From its inception, Mission Arlington was a collaborative effort between Texas Baptists, the North American Mission Board, First Baptist Arlington and the Burgins.

“God put this on our hearts. After spending 10 years in South Korea, God was speaking to me, ‘Why can’t I do [missions] in Arlington?’ This would not have happened had these entities not come together. With the support of churches too, it became a mission that looked a whole lot like the New Testament church … no one man could put this together,” said Burgin. “The resources being given to help us continue to grow is a statement to the community that Christ founded this place … we just thank you.”

A key ministry partner in community care outreach

In addition to the medical clinic, Mission Arlington has dozens of other ministries, including a dental clinic, counseling, the Christmas Store, Bible studies, after-school programs, summer camps, youth rallies, school supply donations and more.

Texas Baptists has long maintained relationships with key ministry partners like Mission Arlington that engage in hunger and community care outreach. Support for these ministry partners has often come from Hunger Offering funds and Cooperative Program-supported Community Care grants.

Last year, 356 Mission Arlington congregations were supported by 100 different churches of like faith, and more than 7,000 volunteers served the community through the organization. Mission Arlington estimates more than 416,000 ministry touches and recorded more than 1,400 spiritual decisions in 2023.

A gift to ‘encourage generosity’ in others

“This gift allows Texas Baptists an opportunity to again partner with a ministry that has made a huge difference in Arlington meeting human needs, sharing the gospel in word and deed and allowing God's kingdom to be established,” said Julio Guarneri, executive director of Texas Baptists.

“My prayer is that it would be multiplied, that it would encourage generosity by others and that it would meet the needs of the people who need access to this clinic. May they sense the love of God as they receive medical care,” said Guarneri.

Donations for the medical clinic expansion will provide additional non-reusable medical equipment, medicine and added personnel to accept more new patients and reduce patient wait times.

This one-time gift from Texas Baptists was drawn from non-Cooperative Program earnings on undesignated investments. More information about the clinic and ways to support it may be found online.

“We are so thankful for this gift because it expands the vision. The more of us that can partner together for the gospel, the more people will be saved. That is the one reason we do everything,” said Burgin.