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Inside stories of hope,
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Jim and Ken

family

3 min read

A Journey of the Heart: The love and power of the Gospel

Those who enter our Life Recovery program walk the path toward life change, receiving trauma-informed counseling, parenting support, life skills...

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4 min read

Home for Good: Restoring family bonds after addiction

Is there anything more cherished during the Christmas season than our families? The gifts, the candles, the carols, and the festive meals wouldn’t...

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2 min read

A Warm Welcome: Safety and connection for Belkis

In the last few years, we’ve served a growing number of immigrants and refugees from Venezuela in our shelters at UGM. The country suffers from a...

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5 min read

Is Housing the Answer to Homelessness?

Has America misdiagnosed the problem of homelessness? In her article “Does Poverty Cause Homelessness?” Marchauna Rodgers argues that we have. She...

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5 min read

Young Fatherhood, Pain and Recovery: Eric’s Story

Eric Blackman was trying to live the party life. Alcohol, drugs and carefree days shaped his mid-twenties through early-thirties.

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4 min read

Together for the Holidays

JUST TWO YEARS AGO THIS CHRISTMAS, Sarah was in a dark place. She had sent her six-year-old daughter, Lylee, to live with her mom in Texas, and CPS...

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5 min read

Is Housing the Answer to Homelessness?

In her article “Does Poverty Cause Homelessness?” Marchauna Rodgers argued that the United States has misdiagnosed the problem of homelessness,...

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Dec

5 min read

3 Ways Student Impact Gives Kids a Family

“This is literally our home. And three times a week, we invite 12 to 20 high-schoolers in.” That’s a succinct way to describe Impact Nights at the...

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Charity CTR friends

1 min read

Adopted into a Church Family

The relentless love started the first Sunday Charity’s family came into Christ the Redeemer church: “You can’t even walk out the door without 15...

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5 min read

Family Breakdown: Restoring a Damaged Masterpiece

By Sonny Westbrook, Director of Ministries - All of God’s ways are perfect. One of His ways for life on planet Earth was to create the family unit....

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2 min read

Elizabeth: Conformity vs. Transformation

If you hang around UGM for any time at all, you’ll hear talk of the difference between “checking the boxes” and pursuing real life change. Even when...

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2 min read

It Started at UGM Camp

As a young kid, Zola lived with her mom, homeless in Compton, surrounded by an environment of drugs and prostitution. “I remember one time, because...

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2 min read

Keeping good company

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...

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4 min read

What I Know

Editor's note: This month, Phil Altmeyer is celebrating 30 years at the helm of the Union Gospel Mission. During his tenure, the organization has...

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2 min read

Rachel - Not a Party Girl

IN HER PURSUIT OF PLEASURE, Rachel lost her joy. Disillusioned with the church, she ran away from God and became disconnected from family. “In the...

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2 min read

The Root of Our Joy

This sentence from the cover story struck me: “The day after Rachel was baptized, she received news that her father’s cancer had returned for the...

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2 min read

Reunited: Mother and Daughter Recover Together

“I felt like she chose the alcohol over me.” Nicki Willis spent much of her life watching her mom, Darlene, sink into alcoholism. “I didn’t talk to...

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3 min read

We Were Alone

You came alongside us. People with strong support systems don’t usually end up in homeless shelters.

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2 min read

Encouragement Empowers

By Phil Altmeyer, Executive Director “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with...

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2 min read

Christmas Shopping that Helps the Homeless

By Merrily Brast, former Staff Writer “Try it on! Try it on!” As each of 20 cousins, aunts, and uncles from Tiffany Riddle’s family opened their...

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2 min read

UGM Core Values: A Balanced Life

Bootcamp, Veggies and a Balanced Life By Jessica Morgan, UGM Lead Graphic Designer As a mother of three small children who works outside the home 40...

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4 min read

We were Victims

You showed us the love and power of the gospel. You broke the cycle. “I used to be one of those teenagers who just didn’t care about anything. I went...

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2 min read

Three of God's Children

CHRIS family breakdown, substance abuse Chris’ mom went to prison when he was three for selling cocaine. His dad hung himself when Chris was eight....

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3 min read

Father's Day 2012

“He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers…” – Malachi 4:6 “Everything was...

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2 min read

Happy Mother's Day 2012

For over 20 years, Nancy Helldorfer’s relationship with her son, Steven, brought more heartache than joy. “From the time he was ten until he was 35,”...

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