The Power of Change

At this year's Life Recovery Commencement, the UGM community had the joy of celebrating men and women who completed their recovery journey. The evening was filled with inspiring stories of hope, healing, and transformation. As many graduates shared, the true significance of choosing recovery didn't become clear right away. It was only after months of growth, guidance, and perseverance that they began to understand how deeply that decision would change their lives.

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There are several contributing factors that bring about this awareness:

1. They are able to settle into the program. The standards are clear, routines are set, and schedules stay consistent.

2. They have the chance to connect with the community here to support them. Sometimes this means testing boundaries or working on managing emotions, but knowing that staff, volunteers, and other participants are on the same journey can help lead to deeper recovery.

3. They feel a stronger desire to surrender to the Lord. Just coming to UGM is already an act of surrender, but through counseling and classes, people at UGM can find parts of their lives where they need to let go even deeper.

4. They become even more committed to their recovery. They start to see that this journey belongs to them, and they can choose how much they want to invest in themselves.

So often this turning point occurs because their reason for entering the program shifts. Initially, many are motivated by a desire to run from their past life. They want no part in it anymore. But settling into their recovery journey (even with setbacks like relapse) and truly releasing control can lead to a deeper motivation to run toward the life God has for them.

“The person I am today, I am very proud of, and my kids are happy for me.”

- Ashley, Life Recovery Commencee

The beauty of the Gospel is that grace is always available. Forgiveness is accessible. Change is possible. Once a person has a taste for what recovery can look like, returning to an old life and old patterns doesn’t feel the same. They start to recognize that the love of Jesus is waiting to meet them wherever they’re at. Recovery is hard, but the men and women who commence have come to see that recovery is worth fighting for, worth protecting, and is more than possible to walk into with the love and power of the Gospel.

Hear the powerful testimonies of this year’s Life Recovery commencees!

Thank you for sharing your time, talents, and resources with them. Support from friends like you has provided them with a safe place to heal, restore dignity, and pave a pathway out of homelessness and addiction.

“It’s no longer about what I do today. It’s how I can serve Him and serve the community around me.”

- James, Life Recovery Commencee

Change does not simply affect the person experiencing it. It affects their entire community. This is what makes the Life Recovery Commencement so meaningful year after year. There is a tangible sense that God is at work here, and His power is on display in the transformation that our men and women experience. It is easy to believe in the miracles that happen in an instant, but at UGM, we stand in awe of the miracles that happen over time, through slow, steady, often invisible steps taken toward a life lived in the power of God’s transforming grace.

Commencement is a memorable night for all, but particularly for the ones who have been changed and have made the commitment to live in freedom every day.

YOU make this possible—YOU make recovery free, and YOU help us provide services for men, women, and children to pave pathways out of homelessness and addiction. Give today and make recovery free for someone who needs it.