I’m overwhelmed with gratitude in response to the incredible turnout and generous support the community provided the Mansfield Mission Center this week.
Three Years of Expansion
I’ve been blessed to contribute to the incredible growth of the Mission over the last few years
- 2017 – I joined the staff as Director of Social Enterprise
- 2018 – I helped open our second location – the best thrift store in the area (don’t take my word for it, our store was recently awarded best resale/thrift shop in the Mansfield/Arlington area by Living Magazine)
- 2019 – I helped open our third location – a community clinic providing free medical, dental, and vision care to our uninsured neighbors
Celebrating
Six months ago this week, the Mansfield Mission Center started operating the Linda Nix Clinic. Two days ago, 150 people showed up to show their support our ministry. (The crowd was so large that it wasn’t possible to get everyone in a single picture for the Chamber of Commerce’s ribbon cutting ceremony.)
This same group then walked next door for a barbecue lunch, and ministry updates from mission center and community leaders. As part of North Texas Giving Day those present for this event along with those who gave online donated more than $75,000!
So What?
After sharing news of the growth in clinic services thanks to more and more people serving on our all-volunteer medical, dental and vision teams, I spoke the following words at the luncheon:
We do what we do because of who we are. The Mansfield Mission Center is a Christ-centered non-profit that believes all people should thrive physically, financially, and relationally.
As Christians, many of us pray the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father on a daily basis, saying words that invite God’s kingdom to come on earth as it already is in heaven. At the Mansfield Mission Center, we are actively engaged in this transformative work at all three of our sites. At the clinic we do this in many ways, including by partnering with others to do together more than we could ever do alone.
Following those words, I spoke about some of our clinic’s many partnerships with other area organizations.
Once the event ended, I rushed out of town to be part of a retreat for leaders of free and charitable clinics in Texas. While I learned a great deal during my brief time away, what I’ll always remember about this week is being overwhelmed by gratitude.
Words alone cannot express the appreciation I have for the volunteers, donors, shoppers, staff, community partners, and others who generously contribute their resources to create the ministry we call the Mansfield Mission Center. Thank you!