Barbara Comito, former marketing director
You don't measure up and you must measure up in order to be loved. You need to try harder. A temporary escape through alcohol/drugs/sex/food/work is the best you can hope for in this life.
4 min read
A Summer That Lasts a Lifetime
The 2025 UGM Camp season is almost here, and we are excited to welcome children into an environment where they can find relationship with God and...
"BELIEVE" was the theme of UGM's Annual Banquet this year. The event was full of amazing stories of life transformation: men and women changed from the inside out when they stopped believing lies and started believing the truth.
The lies ran along familiar themes: You're stupid. You need to be perfect. Asking for help is weakness. You're all alone. No one understands. No one will ever understand. You are unlovable. You don't measure up and you must measure up in order to be loved. You need to try harder. A temporary escape through alcohol/drugs/sex/food/work is the best you can hope for in this life.
The truth, which is so deep and wide that you can spend your whole life exploring and digesting it, can also be expressed simply: Life only makes sense within the context of God's great love, and you don't have to earn it. You couldn't if you wanted to. Believe the truth: God loves you just as you are.
This week also marked the death of Brennan Manning, whose books all centered on that truth. The video below will give you a taste of what he sought to communicate to all of us who long to be loved.
~Barbara Comito, UGM staff writer
11 min read
UGM Gathering 2025
At this year’s Gathering, we heard real stories from real people about how they—empowered by the tools, resources, and support UGM offers—have...
4 min read
The Community's Role in Resurrection
As we approach the Easter season, I feel gratitude for the Christian heritage that brings a deeper meaning to the season than Easter egg hunts,...
Hypocrite
Barbara Comito, former marketing director : September 13, 2013
My teenage daughters told me the other day that they grew up thinking “hypocrite” was a bad word, akin to calling someone a curse word. Funny how our...
Life Recovery Commencement: Freedom from addiction
Freedom From Addiction Every June, we invite the community to Commencement, a celebration of the incredible successes of the individuals who’ve...
Take Action: Become a Mentor
James Bishop : January 15, 2016
With your help, UGM creates a strong community where people receive grace and feel accepted and loved. However, the men and women in recovery can’t...