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LIFE
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Inside stories of hope,
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Jim and Ken

4 min read

UGM Core Value: Stewardship

By Dean Bitz, UGM Director of Finance and Operations Stewardship is more than how we handle our money. We steward God’s Word, we steward his people, and we steward his resources.

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4 min read

Listen to Understand

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. –...

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4 min read

7 Reasons to Donate Your Vehicle to UGM Motors

1) You invest in renewed lives. When you donate a vehicle to UGM, all proceeds from the sale go directly toward improving lives in your community....

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3 min read

Safety is the First Step to Recovery

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 Under God’s Roof Joey Reyes defies homeless...

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4 min read

Checking in With Youth Outreach

In a perfect world, children and teens would grow up with the knowledge that they are valuable and loved. They wouldn’t have to ask for it, they...

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5 min read

Honoring Jerry Reese: An Authentic Man

Jerry Reese, Men’s Recovery Director at UGM, has a large stick mounted on his office wall. Underneath, there’s a plaque in Latin: “Lignum unum deum”...

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4 min read

Kellie: helping kids win at life

Kellie Ingram is the UGM Youth Outreach Program Coordinator. In this blog post, we asked her to explain a bit about what she does and why she does...

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4 min read

Come to the Rock: God’s Promise in Crisis

Does the earth beneath your feet feel a bit like it’s constantly shifting? You are essential. You are not essential. Support local business! Why are...

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3 min read

Bread and Water: a diet for the desperate

COVID-19 created some strange shortages – toilet paper being the first and most memorable. But bread was another, quickly followed by flour as people...

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4 min read

2020 Vision: Walk Humbly

Note: We hope you'll join us as we meditate on Micah 6:8 throughout 2020. This is the second post in a series of reflections. (Read the introduction...

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1 min read

Easter 2020

Ever since my husband and I started a family more than 30 years ago, Easter has been a big deal at our house: New dresses for the little girls,...

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5 min read

Jessie: Hatred Fueled by Trauma & Neglect

Jessie hated homeless people. “I despised anyone who was living off the system. I blamed them for my life being hard. In a drunken rage, I threw beer...

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5 min read

Emily: Living Life Loved

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5 Emily was in a dark, dark place. Her addiction ended her 14-year...

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4 min read

The Gospel: Where life transformation begins

You’ve probably heard us say it before, but we don’t want there to be any mistake: UGM cannot change a person’s heart. Only God can do that. True...

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4 min read

What I learned from my homeless guests

Last fall, just before Thanksgiving, a couple acquaintances of mine were on the verge of homelessness. It was crazy timing. They didn’t know each...

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4 min read

Louise: My Relationship with Christ Is My Purpose

Louise is disciplined and faithful in her relationship with the Lord. She reads her Bible every day and keeps a list of things she is grateful for—a...

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3 min read

Standing in Unity

In honor of Black History Month, we’re turning the blog over to three men for whom we have tremendous respect.

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5 min read

Journey of Faith: Clai's Story

Clai, who works in the kitchen at the UGM Men’s Shelter, has come to have a deep and dynamic relationship with God. God has placed him in a job in...

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5 min read

The Negative Split: Run for Recovery

UPDATE: Due to COVID-19, the Negative Split has been postponed until September 27. “Start strong. Finish stronger.” That’s the tagline for the...

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4 min read

The 'Whole Person' Approach to Recovery

Dr. John Wolfe’s family has partnered with UGM in one way or another for decades. His father was an advocate for getting medical clinics at UGM...

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6 min read

Serving with Humility: the Volunteer Case Manager Team

During my first couple of weeks as the Staff Writer at Union Gospel Mission, I was tasked with helping interview seven volunteer case managers who...

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5 min read

Generosity at UGM Thrift Stores

Laurie Johnson, “L.J.,” as she’s called at the UGM Thrift Store, is as dedicated a volunteer as they come. Over the years, she has volunteered with a...

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3 min read

Ministry in a Thrift Store

Meet Jaclyn, Manager at the UGM Downtown Thrift Store By Christy Zapata, UGM Volunteer - Although she couldn't see it at the time, God had been...

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3 min read

The Power of a Generous Community

The Union Gospel Mission exists because of an extensive community of people like you. People who recognize that they have been blessed and want to...

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5 min read

Behind the Scenes with Mary Beth Salisbury

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” – Proverbs 16:9, NLT Mary Beth Salisbury’s upbringing could seem like it has a...

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