In 1976 several young Christian brothers and sisters living in Arlington, Texas came in contact with the ministry of Watchman Nee and his co-worker Witness Lee. As a result of the help they received from these brothers’ ministry, they felt led by the Lord to begin meeting as the church, as revealed in the New Testament. Initially they began meeting with the church in Dallas on a regular basis and having fellowship with several other local churches throughout Texas, the U.S., and even around the world. The following year, after much fellowship and prayer, there was a strong desire and sense of the Lord’s leading to begin meeting as the church in the city of Arlington. During the summer of 1977 several brothers and sisters from other local churches in the state of Texas moved to Arlington to strengthen the establishing of the church in this city.

In 1978 a meeting hall was purchased on Benge Street, close to the University of Texas at Arlington. A good number of those meeting with the church in Arlington were college students and young married couples below the age of 30. Some of these students began to preach the gospel on the campus. During the past 23 years, the Lord has blessed the church in Arlington with a number of new believers from many races and nations through the preaching of the gospel. During that same time, many have migrated from Arlington to other cities for the spread of the Lord’s testimony. At the present time there are approximately 120 believers who meet throughout the week, both in homes and together at the meeting hall. Meetings are held weekly in both English and Chinese.

Through the ministry of the New Testament and the ministries of Brother Watchman Nee and Brother Witness Lee we have seen that the crucial need in the Lord’s move today is the building up of the Body of Christ. We believe that the practice of the following four key principles is essential to the carrying out of this burden:

1) Begetting new believers (Matthew 28:19),

2) Nourishing the new believers (I Thessalonians 2:7-12),

3) Perfecting all the believers for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12-13), and

4) Prophesying by all the members to build up the church (I Corinthians 14:4-5, 12, 26).

The meetings of the church in Arlington are open to all, and we welcome the opportunity to fellowship with all those who are genuinely seeking the truth. Our prayer is that we would be counted as faithful stewards and ministers of the divine riches of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:7-8), and that we would be those holding to truth in love and growing up into Him in all things who is the Head, Christ (Ephesians 4:15).