For over 120 years The Union Mission Ministries has compassionately served the least, the last, and the lost in our community including men, women, and children without a home and with nowhere else to turn.
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Meet our Staff and Board of Directors
The Union Mission was founded in 1892 by a group of Methodist businessmen who had a vision to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of the poor and homeless. From that vision, the original Union Mission opened its doors, and to this day continues to provide for the homeless and poor throughout the Hampton Roads community.
In 1956, Rev. Theodore A. Bashford, became the Executive Director and guided the ministry until his passing in October 2008. His daughter, Linda Bashford Vaughan, succeeded him as Executive Director and ran the day-to-day operations until February 2016, when Rev. John W. Gray, Jr., was appointed Executive Director. Mrs. Vaughan remains on the staff as Executive Director Emeritus. Over the years, the Men’s and Women’s Shelters moved five times until 2009 when a permanent campus was established. The ministry grew to include multiple ministries in the Hampton Roads, Virginia community. They include …
Not all of these ministries are operating today. As the community’s needs have changed, so have the Missions ministries. We continue to look for ways to share the love of Christ to those in need and to serve the poor in our community.
To aid the poor and needy; to reform the erring; to help those that are out of the way; to feed the hungry; to shelter the homeless; to preach the gospel; and to rescue the perishing.
Dedicated to serving God by serving the most vulnerable people in the community; the poor and homeless.
GLORIFY GOD – Reflect Christ in all of our actions and share the Gospel with each person we serve.
INTEGRITY – Deliver services to the poor and homeless with the highest level of integrity by investing in their emotional, physical, and spiritual development.
STEWARDSHIP – Be good stewards of our time, talents, and the resources entrusted to us by providing the utmost care at the lowest cost.
RESTORATION – Be a testament to the community of how it cares for the least of its citizens.