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LIFE
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Inside stories of hope,
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Jim and Ken

2 min read

Dismissing "Crazy": Part Two

In part one of this series on the label "crazy," Jessica investigates this word, what it means and why we use it. She left us in a difficult spot. "According to google, someone who is crazy is stupid and therefore won’t listen to reason, is erratic...

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2 min read

Dismissing "Crazy": Part One

By Jessica Kell I don’t have much time to read the news these days beyond scrolling through headlines that, once registered, fade from thought. What...

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3 min read

Can Men be Relationship Addicts?

By John Dunne, former UGM Counselor “I am a relationship addict.” This statement came out of the mouth of another man in my recovery group over 25...

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2 min read

Lose the Label: Player

By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer “When I meet a woman, she’s kind of my drug in a sense. If she’s clean, I’m clean…that doesn’t mean I’m ‘sober.’”...

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Trace-Rockwood

2 min read

Trace - Homeless

Trace spent 15 years intermittently homeless, fluctuating from employed to unemployed, living on the streets or in an RV without heat, running water...

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Take Action: Give a Hand Up

How many times have you pulled up to a stop light and seen a man or woman holding a cardboard sign, asking for help? No one likes to see people...

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Jeff small

3 min read

More than Soup: feeding the hungry

The Union Gospel Mission serves more than 900 meals a day at its four shelters, and if you’ve ever visited during meal time, you know we’re not...

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3 min read

Challenge to Eat Together

By Rev. Riley Palmer Those who call Jesus Christ both Lord and Savior are part of a spiritual family. The Family of God consists of people from every...

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2 min read

Lose the Label: Stupid

By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer Jeff LeBlanc believed he was stupid. “I just couldn’t get stuff and nobody could tell me why other than that I’m...

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matt-collamer-555626-unsplash

4 min read

Seeing the Image of God in All People

By Sonny Westbrook, UGM Ministries Director What a privilege it is to be ministering here at the Union Gospel Mission of the Inland Northwest-- a...

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3 min read

Daring to Look Past the Label

By Pastor Kurt Staeuble Label (noun): 1. a slip of paper, cloth, or other material, marked or inscribed, for attachment to something to indicate its...

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1 min read

Sharing Jesus with Children

Volunteer Michaelyn Hodges has a heart for sharing Jesus with the children coming to UGM. She recently answered some of our questions and explained...

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4 min read

Lose the Label

By Barbara Comito, UGM Director of Marketing & Communications In early summer, the UGM Marketing & Communications team (two graphic designers, a...

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3 min read

A Baptism at UGM Camp

By Clare Pursch, UGM Camp Blogger/Photographer Last week the staff at UGM Camp walked down to the river and watched as one of their own was baptized...

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3 min read

Passionately Serving the Most Vulnerable

Randy Altmeyer has worked at UGM for 30 years, serving in various positions, and he and his family have played an integral role at the Mission. He is...

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2 min read

Beyond Labels

Prisoner. Addict. Homeless. Drunk. When we use labels, we miss out on seeing people for who they really are. We confuse peoples’ actions with their...

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3 min read

30 Years Serving at UGM

UGM Men's Shelter Chaplain Randy Altmeyer has served at UGM in several capacities over the span of 30 years. He is now retiring to embark on a new...

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3 min read

Loved and Understood

By Clare Pursch, former UGM Camp Photographer/Blogger Two stories, two people, different ages, different lives. Same story, same pain, same...

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5 min read

How to Prevent Relapse

Alcohol has dominated Jill Connor's life for the better part of 15 years. She has been through five separate treatment centers, but her sobriety...

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4 min read

Relapse. Relapse. Relapse.

Editor's Note: Jill lost her battle with alcoholism on August 28, 2018. Relapse on Repeat By Barbara Comito, UGM Director of Marketing &...

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2 min read

UGM Camp Cabin Leaders

By Clare Pursch, UGM Camp Photographer/Blogger One of the greatest privileges of serving at UGM Camp on Staff is that every week we are given the...

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relapse_and_recovery-1

2 min read

The Effects of Relapse on Recovery

The following is a conversation with former UGM Men's Recovery Counselor John Dunne on how relapse relates to recovery.

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3 min read

Giving the Shoes off Your Feet

By Clare Pursch, UGM Camp Photographer/Blogger “These are the only shoes I have. And they hurt.”

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1 min read

Pray for kids at camp.

Ryan Brown, UGM Youth Outreach Director, said he loves knowing that people are praying for UGM Camp: “Prayer is so crucial! Many of the kids are in...

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