Reverend "Ted" Bashford Executive Director - the Union Mission Ministries Reverend Theodore Bashford was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on September 2, 1919. He married the former Marion Skeeter on May 19, 1939. They have five daughters, Marion, Becky, Linda, Charlotte and Jean, sixteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. When Rev. Bashford was 21 he accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Soon thereafter, he was called to become a minister of the Gospel. Leaving the security of a well paying Navy Yard job, he moved his family to Clear Creek Mountain Bible College in Kentucky where he obtained his GED, studied the Bible, and worked a full time job to support his family. From there Rev. Bashford moved on to Tennessee Temple College in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he obtained his Bachelor's degree's in Science and Theology and was ordained a Baptist minister. In 1996 Reverend Bashford returned to Tennessee Temple University where he was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree.
In March of 1956, Dr. Bashford answered the call to become the Executive Director of the Union Mission Ministries. When he arrived in Norfolk, he found a rescue shelter badly in debt that had lost sight of its original purpose. From humble beginnings, Reverend Bashford, with God's help and guidance, led the Mission out of debt and restored the Christian environment, at the same time continuing to provide for the needy.
Over the years, the Lord has prospered the Union Mission Ministries and through the direction of Rev. Bashford it has grown to include nine separate ministries:
1956 - Became the Executive Director of the Union Mission
1957 - Industrial Program begins
1960 - Camp Hope Haven starts
1965 - Hope Haven Children's Home opens
1976 - Hope Haven Adult Home opens
1983 - The Family Shelter opens
1986 - 1996 - Southampton Boy's Home
1991 - Good News Network goes on the air
1998 - The New Life Center opens
2002 - Hope Haven "Mother's Program" begins
In addition to founding the nine ministries of the Union Mission Ministries, in 1951 Rev. Bashford founded Salem Road Baptist Church in
On February 13, 2004, Reverend Bashford received the "Shining Star Award" presented by Alveta Ewell, Anchor woman for WAVY-TV 10, to an individual who contributes to society "above and beyond" what a normal individual does. This individual exemplifies service to humanity.
Rossville, GA. In 1954, he pastored Straight Baptist Church in Mile Straight, TN. He also founded the Peninsula Rescue Mission in Newport News, VA in 1965, and has been interim pastor to 14 churches in the Hampton Roads community. In 1999, he had a vision to reach the poor children of Romania and has begun a ministry there, preaching and teaching Romanian pastors, with the vision to build a facility similar to Hope Haven to serve the poor of Romania.
* In 2003, the combined ministries of the Union Mission provided over 238,000 meals, over 90,000 nights of free lodging, over 1,400 articles of clothing, and assisted over 515 people in making decisions to accept Christ as their personal Savior. At age 85, Rev. Bashford continues to serve as Executive Director, preaching the Gospel to hundreds of hurting men, women and children every Sunday morning at the Union Mission's Chapel services.
Reverend "Ted" Bashford