Category: Stories of Hope
“If ‘Jesus Loves the Little Children,’ why not me?” young Connie wondered. From the age of 8, she was molested by her sadistic oldest brother, a teen who idolized the occult and “did all he could to turn me away from God.”
After seven years alone in an Ohio senior living facility, Washington says, “The Lord put it in my mind to start a new life for myself in maintenance again.” He blindsided his family when he bought a bus ticket to Virginia.
Elizabeth practiced criminal law for 23 years. For too long she defended the worst of criminals to support her children and her abusive husband. Eventually, their dysfunctional lifestyle made things worse.
“My life wasn’t what I wanted it to be, but I could count on my grandma.” She was there for P.J. through foster care and more, until he really blew it. But the Mission staff taught P.J. that his situation wasn’t permanent.
Sam will be the first to admit it: he was a “knucklehead” for too many of his 64 years. “I probably coulda had a nice job and all, but I chose to do what I wanted. I chose the wild life. I chose the wrong one.”
“Some men came to my door. I thought it was solicitors.” Pam wasn’t worried until they told her, “‘We just bought your house this morning.’ They put signs on my door and told me I had to leave the house.”
“Things are really starting to look up. The Mission has helped me find myself. It’s helped me find God. It’s made me whole. I’ve never felt that way before. It’s an amazing feeling.”
“I’m so grateful that there’s a place that makes me feel safe, [with] food to eat; nourishing for our minds, bodies and spirits. I couldn’t ask for a better place to stay at this season of my life. I’m totally grateful!”
“You help people here and that’s what I want to do. A lot of homeless people come into where I work and I find myself buying them lunch. I’m a better person than I was.”
“If it wasn’t for the Mission, I’d probably be in another shelter who doesn’t care like they do here or out on the streets…I would have done what I would have had to do. There are more people worse off than I am.”
“If not for The Union Mission I’d be on the street. I was destitute, not knowing where to turn and heavily doubting God every day. I’m extremely grateful to be here.”
“When my health started failing and arthritis spread all through my body, I couldn’t stand for long periods of time and had to quit the work I was doing. Being out of work, trying to pay bills, is how I got in this predicament.”