1. There must be a vision-sensitive to the needs of a suffering and lost humanity who are not being reached by traditional programs and institutions.

2. There must be the commitment of men and women of faith to reach those who are lost and suffering. People reaching people.

3. The vision must be consistently stated and consistently shared and preached.

4. Prayer! As often as we say it, it still may be the most powerful instrument that God has given us to focus our ministries.

   Many prayer groups of women met consistently for four months before starting the apartment ministry.

5. Benevolence! Giving generously is an overt, obvious expression of Mission Arlington. Our church had to see that there were lost men and women in our city, specifically in the apartments of our city. Children needed clothes, toys, even food-most of all they needed the love of God that could be delivered by our people who understood that God could love the lost through their work. Arlington's unchurched parents needed this same love and support. Single parents abound who had been abused, and often caught in the hopeless life of drug addiction. Singles, young and old, who had no job, no money, no food, or no hope needed our love. Children who had never known love or played with a toy needed the compassion of our men and women of faith. While we knew they needed Jesus, these men, women, and children needed us, our gifts, and our resources. They needed the difference that Jesus makes in our lives!

6. Bible Study. Mission Arlington and the ministry of FBC are committed to reaching the lost and to touching the lives with God's word. We have often started in an apartment complex by asking a resident to have a Bible study. We wanted the Bible study to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. Why? Although this is the traditional time for our church, our people who attend early church can begin to teach the Bible at the apartment at 11:00-it works. God is able to bring together great Christian Sunday School teachers and those who've never heard the word of God. I am convinced that God allowed these apartments to be built and to fill them with men and women, and boys and girls, so that we can teach them his Holy Word.

7. Getting Permission. You must ask the managers and the people in charge of these apartment complexes for permission to be on their property. Our request: "We want to do a Bible study and will do anything else to help take care of people's needs, whatever they may be." You've got to begin where people are and abide by the rules of the apartment.

8. Strategy! You've got to have one, but keep it simple: "Try to hang out on the property and hover around John 3:16". God really does love his world, and there's no telling what he can and will do if we just make ourselves available so that we can serve. Our Mission Arlington staff needs people on the property so that when needs come to us there is someone who can meet them with resources provided by the men and women of faith.

   We've learned to share our ministry with other churches-"Mission Arlington is FBC and other churches working together to make Mission Arlington a community for sharing God's grace with the needs of our city." Other churches help and provide resources-clothes, food, toys, furniture-you name it and someone may need it. There is no selfishness here. God can use any one who catches the vision and is willing to work. But there is no mistaking that FBC Arlington provides the vision, the commitment, and the "bulk" of the resources to accomplish the task.

   God's work and this mission vision sometimes costs us time, sometimes money, sometimes our dignity, but God gave us a cross and it cost him his Son. While love is not easy-sometimes it needs to be tough-neither is grace cheap; we give it away in faith working through love.

9. Gather together! It's been around a while, but knocking on doors prior to the Bible study helps to gather those who would be taught.

10. Teach! Do it in the group by reading from the Bible, but do not be afraid to teach the gospel one on one-one person at a time if the opportunity arises. Don't be afraid, trust God and teach.

11. Last, but not least-maybe a reminder. There must be a deep commitment to serve and to care for the lost and impoverished f our world. The challenge comes from God, the commitment from our faith and our hearts. The final blessing comes from God! Don't start before you catch the vision, donšt start before you pray. When you start, don't stop. If God leads, call us, come by, "hang out." We'll let you learn by "doing" missions-in the apartments of Arlington, Texas, and, from the hearts of the people of God in our church.

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