30 Years Serving at UGM

"Well, I'm a pretty active person, so in my free time, I enjoy running. I enjoy biking. I love to play basketball, and I'll box with the guys around here, those are things that are fun that I enjoy doing.

UGM: Who is Randy outside of his job?

Well, a pretty passionate person about wanting to help people. I just love to interact with people that don't have what other people have. I like to have fun with people and love to spend time with my family. 

UGM: Tell us about your family. 

I have a wife who I've been married to for 37 years, and after we were married five months ten days, we were in an accident that left her paralyzed. I have two sons. It's a big deal, I’m going into ministry with my son. 

UGM: How did you end up at the Mission?

My dad was a board member years ago. As a family, we used to come down once a month when we're younger and we'd do a service. My wife and I got involved with the youth down in Portland, used to have kids come over to our house after school, and that was very fulfilling for her. They had real problems. I found out there's a lot of kids that didn't have good homes. So, I think that was part of the thrust to get me here. I remember one time calling my dad and saying, “You know dad, I've been kind of thinking about what you do and people that are on the street. What do you think about me working at the Mission. He said, “Why don't you go down to the Portland Rescue Mission for three months and find out what it's really like to be inside.” So, I did that, I went down for three months. My dad was president of this district and he knew the director down there. After three months, the director said to me, “Go up and learn how to do it from your dad.” I learned a lot about people and asked, “Is this what I want to do?” That's kind of how I got into it.

UGM: What's been your role at UGM?

My role at the Mission has been kind of unique—30 years you get different roles, but when I first came, I was daddy's kid. And the whole Mission was kind of a rough place, and they've got a different way of breaking people in. I didn't find it out until later, but they figured, in about six months, they could make it hard enough for me that I’d say this is not a role I want to be in. But after a while, you kind of get established. People get to know you, they respect you. Just sometimes, they want to give you a run for your money.

Then I got into a role working with young people, and I really liked that because I bonded with them through sports and bike riding and boxing and running. I have always kind of enjoyed having that outlet with younger people. Then my role changed to being more of a chaplain, working with the men in the chapel. 

UGM: What's been the best part of your different roles?

After a while, I was the one all the bad guys came to and I’d boot them out. So, everybody knew, Randy's not the guy you want to see, don't mess around with him. One of the things that happened, 15 years ago is Monday night Celebrate Recovery, I got up and I started preaching and sharing with them who I am and what I am. I could share on Monday nights my heart, my compassion, my hurts, the things that I went through. They got to see, hear, and know me outside my role at the Mission. When I could be more of myself, then, I believe, I became a different person to a lot of the guys.

UGM: What is Celebrate Recovery?

Celebrate Recovery is more a night when people from the outside (the streets) come in. The rest of the services are designed for who's here during the week. Celebrate Recovery is a little bit more for people who come from the outside because we also hand out food that night. I will still be doing Monday nights even when I leave. 

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