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...
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."
-1 Corinthians 13:1, 2
Having someone to love. We take it for granted.
We have a gal at the Crisis Shelter....maybe in her late 30's. She is mentally disabled, a little slow, and she's one of those people who have fallen through our society's cracks. We've known her for several years, and she has been asked to leave before because she often goes to a place of extreme anger and frustration where her language gets very vulgar, loud and unacceptable.
This time in, there's a beautiful difference. Someone, possibly a mental health counselor, has given her a baby doll to take care of. She believes this baby is real, and she takes very good care of it - shows it off, asks us for fresh diapers, clothes it. To her, this is a real baby that is her responsibility.
She is now peaceful, content, calm, and she is giving her love to this "baby" and that matters to her.
Love is a beautiful thing.
-Anne Simmons, House Manager, Crisis Shelter for Women and Children
Love is powerful, and it impacts lives. Send someone a reminder that they are loved.
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,...
4 min read
LC Valley Church Partner: Shann Profitt
Currently, a safe, clean-and-sober shelter does not exist in the LC Valley area, but UGM’s new shelter will provide a pathway out of homelessness for...
Three of God's Children
Union Gospel Mission : October 1, 2012
CHRIS family breakdown, substance abuse Chris’ mom went to prison when he was three for selling cocaine. His dad hung himself when Chris was eight....
Broken
Barbara Comito, former marketing director : December 5, 2013
Editor's Note: As part of Lisa's journey from broken to whole, she has returned to her love for music. She wrote these lyrics specifically to...
Mashell's Story
Union Gospel Mission : February 13, 2012
At 25, the message of God’s love seemed like a foreign language to Mashell. She did not have the receptors to take it in. She believed, as she had...