1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 350 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes great 1-4 pleasure in recognizing Tillie Burgin for her outstanding work 1-5 in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Known as the Mother Teresa of Arlington, 1-7 Tillie Burgin was honored in Governor Bush's State of the State 1-8 Address as an example of what a private citizen can accomplish 1-9 when a need becomes overwhelming; a former missionary, Tillie 1-10 created Mission Arlington with substantial help from her 1-11 church, the First Baptist Church of Arlington, and its pastor, 1-12 Charles R. Wade; and 1-13 WHEREAS, In 1986, Tillie Burgin wanted to begin Bible 1-14 study groups with the low-income families living mainly in complexes 1-15 surrounding the church; she found that many of the families did not 1-16 have enough food or shelter, and she set out to supply those needs; 1-17 and 1-18 WHEREAS, Tillie found ways, with great assistance from 1-19 others, to help people who were poor, hungry, and homeless, and 1-20 as these needs were met, opportunities for initiating Bible study 1-21 groups presented themselves; by the end of the first year, study 1-22 groups were being conducted in 30 different locations; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Apartment managers became aware that where Mission 1-24 Metroplex groups were located, a more wholesome living environment 2-1 was apparent; 10 years later, the ministry was in nearly 200 2-2 apartments, clubrooms, and storerooms; and 2-3 WHEREAS, A group of cinder-block buildings and garages today, 2-4 Mission Metroplex, on a typical day, helps more than 500 families 2-5 receive aid; the poor are helped with money for rent or electric 2-6 bills, furniture and clothing, and referrals to appropriate social 2-7 agencies; Mission Metroplex runs after-school programs in poor 2-8 neighborhoods, a day-care center for children from the homeless 2-9 shelter, and dental and medical clinics; Tillie has nearly an army 2-10 of volunteers to help her; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Most of the funds to run Mission Metroplex come 2-12 from private sources, and federal block-grant money has begun to 2-13 pay for some of the services; and 2-14 WHEREAS, The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has benefitted 2-15 enormously from the spirit, drive, and determination of 2-16 Tillie Burgin; and 2-17 WHEREAS, The accomplishments of Tillie Burgin and Mission 2-18 Metroplex are most impressive, and Governor Bush's accolade to her 2-19 is well deserved; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-21 76th Legislature, hereby commend Tillie Burgin for her 2-22 achievements and for initiating and creating a great success 2-23 of Mission Metroplex; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 2-25 her as an expression of the highest regard and esteem of the 2-26 Texas Senate. 3-1 Harris, Carona, Moncrief 3-2 Nelson, West 3-3 Armbrister Gallegos Ogden 3-4 Barrientos Haywood Ratliff 3-5 Bernsen Jackson Shapiro 3-6 Bivins Lindsay Shapleigh 3-7 Brown Lucio Sibley 3-8 Cain Luna Truan 3-9 Duncan Madla Wentworth 3-10 Ellis Nixon Whitmire 3-11 Fraser Zaffirini 3-12 Perry, President of the Senate 3-13 ______________________________ _______________________________ 3-14 Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate 3-15 ______________________________ _______________________________ 3-16 Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate 3-17 ______________________________ 3-18 Member, Texas Senate 3-19 _______________________________ 3-20 President of the Senate 3-21 I hereby certify that the 3-22 above Resolution was adopted by 3-23 the Senate on March 17, 1999. 3-24 _______________________________ 3-25 Secretary of the Senate