2 min read
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: April 1, 2016
“The drug was my god. It consumed my mind, nothing else mattered.” Jeff LeBlanc was heavy into meth for many years, self-described as “the tweaker of tweakers.” “I was completely hollow. I was mad at everybody. I hated everybody. I hated myself.”
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Union Gospel Mission: March 29, 2016
By John Dunne, former UGM Recovery Counselor “Hey, I hear they got this thing called ‘grace’ down at the Mission, so I guess you can get away with...
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: March 24, 2016
By Mike Sholtz, UGM Men's Recovery Counselor The Good News of the Gospel is not only the fact that Jesus died on the cross for us, but that when we...
3 min read
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: March 22, 2016
Ron James’ story is one of those unbelievable, too-good-to-be-true tales of a bad man turned good. When he was 31, he murdered his ex-girlfriend and...
2 min read
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: March 18, 2016
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” Samantha Ehli experienced...
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: March 15, 2016
By Sonny Westbrook, Director of Ministries The celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is a high point of the year for...
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: March 15, 2016
Throughout her life, LeAnna Vargas was repeatedly treated as though she had no value, and eventually, she began to believe she didn’t. Feeling...
2 min read
Phil Altmeyer, Executive Director: March 15, 2016
For the majority of people coming through the doors of the Union Gospel Mission, the most pressing issues are shelter from the cold, a warm meal, the...
1 min read
James Bishop: March 15, 2016
Following the death of their daughter, caring for women became a top priority for Blondies Salon Owners Marie and Rene’ Lacroix.
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Union Gospel Mission: March 11, 2016
An Easter season reflection by former UGM staff writer, Merrily Brast.
2 min read
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: March 8, 2016
By Merrily Brast, UGM Staff Writer There was a time when Chris Turner had his life together. He kept out of trouble and was confident in his career....
6 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: March 3, 2016
The counselor cannot say to the maintenance worker, “I have no need of you,” nor again the meal server to the case manager, “I have no need of you.”...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: February 26, 2016
Prior to entering into recovery at UGM, men and women undergo “pre-phase,” an evaluation time and trial period to discover whether LIFE Recovery is a...
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: February 24, 2016
By Cherise Stutzman, UGM Volunteer Two weeks ago, a friend of mine moved from Idaho to Europe. Today, I asked her to define the word “home.”
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: February 19, 2016
By Ryan Brown, Youth Outreach Director Every Wednesday and Sunday there’s a particular group of young people who gather to hear and discuss the word...
4 min read
Union Gospel Mission: February 17, 2016
In the first half of this interview with Mike and Jina Doggett, we discussed how they came to work at the Union Gospel Mission and their personal...
5 min read
Union Gospel Mission: February 11, 2016
Meet Mike & Jina Doggett By Lynn Yount, UGM volunteer Mike and Jina Doggett are both on staff at UGM, but this couple’s passion for helping the...
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: February 9, 2016
By Dave Edwards, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Fantasy: The word conjures up all kinds of thoughts, feelings and images in one’s mind....
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Union Gospel Mission: February 5, 2016
The following is a firsthand account of addiction and recovery written by a former resident of Women's Recovery at Anna Ogden Hall. Jessaca finished...
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: February 2, 2016
“In the beginning, I thought I was free,” Rowan said, “and in the beginning, I thought he was going to be everything I ever wanted—he had a Mohawk,...
3 min read
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: January 29, 2016
Always Numbing JR Mills first started drinking at 14 with her mom who was an alcoholic. In high school, a friend offered her meth. “I was addicted...
5 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: January 26, 2016
By Barbara Comito, Director of Marketing and Communications 2015 was a rough year for me and my family. My husband lost his job of 16 years due to a...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: January 22, 2016
By Lynn Swanbom Yount, UGM Volunteer “It was hard for me to stay here because I didn't really like staying indoors … What made me really stay here...
2 min read
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: January 16, 2016
“Addict” is like a bright red, sticky label that obscures the person behind it. It’s as though nothing else about the person matters. She’s an...
2 min read
James Bishop: January 15, 2016
“I was in a constant cycle of me, me, me, and that’s all it consisted of. I didn’t care who I hurt, who I stole from in order to get high.” Tim...
