By Kirste Richards,  LIFE Recovery Intake Counselor, UGM Center for Women and Children

 - 

One of the first things a woman hears when she comes to a program orientation at the UGM Center for Women and Children is that the goal of our recovery program is to “provide a safe and healing environment for life transformation.”

"Change"  is one of UGM's distinctives. It defines our piece of the pie. We are here for people currently living in addiction or homelessness who are ready to change their lives, and we believe that life transformation is possible for everyone. But, make no mistake, it's not just the residents who are changing. Life transformation is happening across the ministry, in the lives of staff members as much as anyone else. Ask any of our employees how UGM has changed their lives, and we’re pretty sure they’ll respond with something along the lines of what our senior leadership and communications team share here.

By Christa Inouye, Youth Outreach

-

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” - Romans 12:2, NLT

 While transformation in Christ happens throughout a lifetime, UGM Camp provides an avenue for young people to experience significant change through the new experiences, deep relationships and thoughtful reflection time.

 We’re all looking for the easiest way to change things about ourselves – our weight, our wrinkles, our temper, our energy level, our children, our neighbors … OK, maybe those last couple aren’t about ourselves.

In the great tradition of self-help books and magazines, here’s a radical new plan for transforming yourself into the person you were meant to be.

It’s called the Gospel.

Not a new plan, you say? OK, maybe not. But it’s always been radical. Here’s how it can change your life.

“When people on fire for Christ choose to invest their lives and their resources in broken families, change happens.” –Ron Hauenstein, Crisis Shelter volunteer

In 2018, volunteers gave 118,273 hours throughout UGM's various outreaches. They served as receptionists, doctors, lawyers, cooks, childcare providers, case managers, mentors, mechanics, veterinarians, meal servers, counselors, administrative assistants and so much more. Volunteers stretch the funds donated to UGM and make it possible for us to provide so many services we wouldn't be able to do otherwise. It's a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ in action.

By Merrily Brast, Former Staff Writer

Making ambitious resolutions is a New Year’s tradition for many of us. And while the end of January marks the end of those resolutions for many of us, UGM resident Tim O’Brien has chosen to stick to his on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

A Junkie No More

Photo by Robert Peterson

Eddie Collins was the subject of my first newsletter feature when I came to UGM in January 2008. He had arrived at the Men’s Shelter a year earlier and was nearing the end of the recovery program.

That interview with Eddie six years ago was an affirmation that I was in the right place. In my own interview when I was applying to be the writer for UGM, I told Phil Altmeyer I might not know much about homelessness, but I knew how to tell a story and I believed everyone had a story to tell. Eddie illustrated my point perfectly.