Skip to the main content.
Donate Need help?
Donate Need help?

LIFE
at the
Mission

Inside stories of hope,
courage, and recovery



Sign Up Today

Jim and Ken

2 min read

Befriending the Stranger

WHEN REVEREND RILEY PALMER WAS PREPARING to plant Adopted Church west of Spokane, he felt the Lord calling him to be a part of local homeless ministry.

Read More

5 min read

Former Resident Gives Back: Anita Williams' Story

Every day, we get glimpses into people's stories, and often we get to walk alongside men and women for a season... but only occasionally do we get...

Read More

5 min read

Radical Hospitality: Food as Grace

You may have heard us say we’re not just a soup kitchen, and while that is certainly true, it is also true that so much of what we do begins with a...

Read More

6 min read

Robert’s Recovery: Phase by Phase

Author’s Note: From my earliest days at UGM, I have wanted to follow someone all the way through the LIFE Recovery Program, interviewing him or her...

Read More

5 min read

Do You Want to Get Well?

Testimony written and read by Dawn Lange at a 2021 phase promotion event. As my DOC officer signs the papers to release me to treatment [a non-UGM...

Read More

5 min read

UGM Crisis Shelter: A Safe Haven for Women

Written by Heather Pollock, UGM Women’s Recovery alumna and former UGM employee. Stories. Everyone has one. My story with Union Gospel Mission begins...

Read More

4 min read

Business Owners vs. the Unhoused: A False Dichotomy

A false narrative is being promoted that pits two groups against each other on the subject of homelessness in Spokane.

Read More

2 min read

Meet Talia: Satisfied in Christ

Written and read by Talia, UGM Resident, at a phase promotion event, August 2021. When I was a little girl, I would look out my window at night and...

Read More

3 min read

From Mere Survival to Chasing Dreams: Tyler’s Story

“Meth makes you really fidgety, hyper-focused on the smallest things. So, I picked at my face when I was using...and I gave myself sepsis.” Tyler was...

Read More

4 min read

A Safe Place to Build a Brotherhood

Dirty. Drug addicted. Soup kitchen. Those were descriptors Scott McCall had in mind about homeless shelters before his uncle helped persuade him to...

Read More

6 min read

Ridiculed Schoolgirl to Heroin Addict: Johanna’s Story

“I was brought up in a family of musicians and my dad was the smartest man I’ve ever known, a philosopher.” Johanna is well spoken, educated and...

Read More

3 min read

A Safe, Healing Community

UGM is more than a shelter. Deep at the root of everything we do—from creating a warm welcome to helping people heal, thrive and get back to...

Read More

2 min read

Imago Dei - The Image of God

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27) At UGM, we believe every...

Read More

3 min read

Meet Alexis: “I am Making Choices That Uplift Me”

Spoken by UGM resident Alexis at a phase celebration event, August 2021 “I spent the better part of ten years living for myself: existing in...

Read More

4 min read

The Love of Jesus and Outrageous Fun Combined: An Exclusive Look at UGM Camp 2021

"The thing I loved most about UGM Camp was EVERYTHING." Joey, UGM camper Through the love and generosity of hundreds of community members just like...

Read More

3 min read

Making Way for Miracles: Meet Dan, UGM Men’s Shelter Manager

UGM Men’s Shelter Manager Dan McLellan works hard to create a safe, healing environment for every guest and resident, and he works hard to ensure...

Read More
Steve Ellisen

4 min read

On Assignment for the Kingdom

Last summer, UGM was actively seeking a Development Director. Today, we’re introducing the unique man whom God called to the position.

Read More

3 min read

First Steps to Real Change

A journey of 1,000 miles may begin with a single step, but it isn’t always easy to determine which direction that step should go. Michaelyn Hodges...

Read More

3 min read

The Business Practicum: Getting People Back to Work

Gospel. Change. Jobs. These are our three distinctives. While the Inland Northwest is home to multiple organizations committed to serving people...

Read More

5 min read

An Offering of Oil: When God Asks Imperfect People to Serve Imperfect People

Written by Lauren McCrea, Volunteer Mentor, UGM Center for Women & Children I just thought I was going in to buy a new pair of running shoes, but God...

Read More

4 min read

Revealing the Mess Inside: The Value of Authenticity in Recovery

Recovery isn’t just the process of breaking an addiction or quitting a toxic habit; the core of real recovery is deep, inner healing. And we all need...

Read More

3 min read

Low-Barrier vs. High-Barrier Shelter

Homeless shelters exist to give people a meal and a bed so no one ends up sleeping on the street, right?

Read More

4 min read

Behind the Scenes: Meet UGM’s Longest Serving Board Member

As UGM turns 70 this year, we’re bringing out “both new things and old things,” as Jesus said in Matthew 13:52. Looking back on our history, we are...

Read More

4 min read

Voices of Recovery: Beverly’s Testimony

Beverly Clark is enrolled in LIFE Recovery at the UGM Center for Women and Children. This is her testimony. “Without a question, I was a loved child....

Read More

5 min read

Recovery: Reversing a Lifetime of Distrust

James Bureau’s childhood did not prepare him for life. Or, it might be more accurate to say, James’ childhood prepared him perfectly for the life he...

Read More