James Bishop
2 min read
Honoring Lives Changed
The 2025 Life Recovery commencees have journeyed through deep valleys of struggle and hardship. Yet, with resilience and grace, they have emerged...
Russ Henderson isn’t letting his age get in the way of helping those in need. At 91, he’s an avid supporter of the women and children at Anna Ogden Hall.
Russ recalls when he was a kid, growing up during the depression, without a father figure. Times were tough and his mother worked hard to make ends meet and take care of him and his brother.
When Russ was 14, he joined the military and eventually reached Chief Master Sergeant, the highest enlisted ranking in the Air Force.
After 33 years of service, Russ retired. He and his wife Reeta came to Spokane and devoted their lives to helping others – specifically, mothers and children in situations similar to Russ’s growing up. “[Reeta] got involved with the Union Gospel Mission…she supported Anna Ogden Hall, and I just felt that for women, too many men didn’t take care of them.”
After 58 years of marriage, Reeta passed away, but Russ’s own experience as a kid as well as his desire to honor Reeta’s legacy motivates him to continue partnering with Women’s Recovery at Anna Ogden Hall. “I wanted to stay with it.”
Russ has come alongside hundreds of women and children at UGM over the years, and his compassionate heart is sure to bless others in the years to come.
4 min read
Embracing Grace
Chrystin struggled with alcoholism for sixteen years before entering UGM’s recovery program. “I felt so defeated and was lying in bed, drinking, just...
3 min read
Finding Opportunity, Finding Something Lasting
At Union Gospel Mission, we understand that meeting urgent needs—food, shelter, medical care, and job training—is just the beginning. These are the...
Hunger Busters
Union Gospel Mission : December 1, 2012
Every year, the South Hill Bible Church youth group puts a creative twist on UGM’s food drive – to great effect! On October 31st, rather than donning...
Trace - Homeless
Union Gospel Mission : October 5, 2015
Trace spent 15 years intermittently homeless, fluctuating from employed to unemployed, living on the streets or in an RV without heat, running water...