january 2016 - UGM-TC

YOU GAVE ARTHUR A
DESTINATION AND DIRECTION
JANUARY 2016
MAKE YOUR NEW YEAR’S
RESOLUTIONS GOD-CENTERED
YOU LED LAUREN TO A
“TREASURE” IN FORT WORTH
1321 E. Lancaster Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 339–2553 | ugm–tc.org
A local united Christian organization
and ministry dedicated to providing
love, hope, respect, and a new
beginning to homeless people.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
listed with church affiliations
DON SHISLER
President/CEO
Chairman W. David White
MAKE 2016 A YEAR OF HOPE!
Vice Chairman Charles Allen
Dear Friend,
Christ Chapel Bible Church
Country Side Bible Church
Treasurer Ron Clinkscale
First Presbyterian Church
Secretary Columbia J. Reid
St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church
Bill E. Bailey Christ Chapel Bible Church
James O. Branch St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Rickey J. Brantley St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Debby Brown Christ Chapel Bible Church
Carl R. Brumley McKinney Memorial Bible Church
Larry Chilton Christ Chapel Bible Church
Fred Closuit Christ Chapel Bible Church
Robert Cotham Christ Chapel Bible Church
Larry D. Eason First United Methodist Church
Mary Jane Edwards
Christ Redeemer Anglican Church
Gene Gray
McKinney Memorial Bible Church
Pat Hawkins McKinney Memorial Bible Church
Robert J. Keffler Christ Chapel Bible Church
Otis Lemley Without Walls Church
John Mitchell Watermark Community Church
Terry Montesi Christ Chapel Bible Church
Peter Philpott St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Sharolyn Richardson
We’re only a week into 2016 and I anticipate great things ahead for the
men, women and children at Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County.
And much of that is being built on foundations you helped to lay with
your support in 2015.
Through your gifts and prayers in this new year, hundreds of hurting
and homeless people have the opportunity to make a new start. Many
will grasp that opportunity by enrolling in our programs to rebuild
their relationships and their lives, much like Arthur in our cover story.
You’ll also meet Lauren, who will be one of the first to move into
our Scott Walker Women and Families Service Building in a few
months. This has been an ongoing project that will reach fruition soon,
providing peace, safety and stability to some of the most vulnerable
members of our community.
If you haven’t made your New Year’s resolution yet, I hope you’ll follow
the advice of Chaplain Stanley on page 7 to center your resolve on
God and glorify Him through service to others, starting with a gift to
provide hot meals, safe shelter and the love of Jesus Christ.
I look forward to another year of ministry with you as we make 2016 a
year of hope!
In Christ,
McKinney Memorial Bible Church
J.D. Stotts White’s Chapel Methodist Church
Allison Wagner Christ Chapel Bible Church
Mitch Wynne Christ Chapel Bible Church
President/CEO
President/CEO Don Shisler
Ascension & Saint Mark Episcopal Church
Chaplain Rev. Stanley Maneikis
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
– Psalm 51:10-11 NKJV
When family wouldn't provide a home, Arthur found that – and more – at UGM-TC!
“THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE!”
YOU SAVED ARTHUR FROM A LIFE ON THE STREETS
Arthur thought he could rely on his
family when he was released from
prison, but his sister refused to let
him stay in their home. That may
have been the best thing to happen
to Arthur, because his parole officer
suggested he come to UGM-TC
instead.
“I never knew about the Mission,”
says Arthur. “I’d never been to a
homeless shelter before.” But the
thought of being on the street was
“scary...really scary.”
When Arthur came to UGM-TC,
he had some advantages many of
our guests and residents don’t have.
Although he occasionally used drugs,
he says, “I really didn’t have too
much problem with addiction. I'm
just one of those guys that have been
getting in trouble most of my life.”
Also, Arthur used his time in prison
wisely, earning his GED and an
Associate’s degree.
“When I got out this time, I knew
not to get into trouble,” Arthur says.
“No more drugs. They’re not worth
my time. I have a little money saved
up now, I'm not using drugs and I
know what I'm going to do in the
future.” Arthur’s immediate plans are
to get a car and a place of his own.
By the grace of God, Arthur won’t be
going it alone. His damaged relations
with his family are healing, and he
talks with them on a regular basis.
“They see that I’m changing,” he says.
Arthur knows that he owes his
brighter future to UGM-TC, to
caring people like you who support
the Mission, and to God. “If there
wasn’t a God, I wouldn’t be here at
the Mission,” he says. “I’d be out on
the streets with nothing. For people
like me who have never been homeless
and have reached a place where
they’ve got no place to go, this is the
best place to be!”
THANKS TO YOUR GIFTS AND
PRAYERS, ARTHUR CAN SEE GREAT
THINGS AHEAD IN THE NEW YEAR!
NEW YEAR, NEW FACILITY!
With the New Year comes the greatly anticipated opening of the Scott Walker
Women and Families Service Building. The building is a result of the many
contributions and gifts from hundreds of generous friends like you who wanted
to help create a safe haven for the growing number of homeless women and
families in our community.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE SCOTT WALKER
WOMEN AND FAMILIES SERVICE BUILDING...
■■
Will be one of the only shelters in the country to allow intact homeless families to stay together.
■■
Will have a salon where residents can receive haircuts in a professional environment.
■■
Will be equipped with an industrial-sized pantry, including two large walk-in freezers, so we’ll be able to receive
more food donations and feed more residents and guests.
■■
Will provide an emergency shelter for women guests seeking a safe haven for the night.
TAKE A PEEK AT OUR NEW PROGRAMS
UGM-TC offers programs and classes that help residents maximize their potential and develop skills to become
independent, productive members of our community. Here are a few of the programs and classes that we’ll begin
to offer or continue offering this year:
■■
Reading Program in partnership with the
Fort Worth Public Library that helps our
school-aged children develop their reading
skills every week.
■■
■■
Nia dance classes for women, a sensory-based
movement practice that draws from martial arts
and empowers people by connecting the body,
mind, emotions and spirit.
Housing specialists with the Directions
Home Program will begin weekly meetings
with residents to help them find housing of
their own.
■■
Yoga classes
for men
taught by
Urban Yoga
Instructor.
Mark your
calendar for
FEBRUARY
LUNCHEON
WITH AMY
GRANT
our February
Luncheon on
Tuesday, February
23. Hear Grammy
award-winning
artist Amy
Grant share her
testimony. The
event will be held
at the Round
Up Inn at Will
Rogers Memorial
Center at 11:30
a.m. Please call
817-338-8406
for tickets and
sponsorships.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
SHARE YOUR TIME & TALENTS THIS YEAR!
IT’S IN THE BAG!
n
Prepare and provide sack
lunches for the residents and
guests as an alternative way
to offer meals.
HELP US WARM THE SHELTER
n
Providing winter clothing
items like coats, hats,
scarves, gloves, socks and
shoes. We can also use
other winter-related items
such as blankets.
For more information on these and other
volunteer opportunities, please contact
the Volunteer Office at 817-338-8402 or
[email protected].
KEEP IN TOUCH
Far more is going on at Union Gospel
Mission of Tarrant County than we
could ever fit in a newsletter!
Here are some simple ways to see
how you make a difference every day
and be the first to hear about big news
and special events:
“Like” us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter (@ugmtarrantco)
Follow us on YouTube
Include your email address on
the enclosed response form to
receive Mission news and
opportunities via email
CHAPLAIN STANLEY MANEIKIS
We should and must recognize
the need to grow spiritually. A
movement from “Me-ology” to “Theology” is spiritual progress. “Meology” has its best expression in what
we know as “selfies.” Selfies require
a cell phone turned to camera and a
hand-held contraption that holds the
cell phone in a prominent position
to capture me or us, standing in
front of a singularly impressive
background. Me-ology is all about
me, myself and I.
REVISIT YOUR
NEW YEAR’S
RESOLUTIONS
The-ology is about knowing and
honoring God. Consider Psalm
37:5-6: “Commit your way to the
Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall
bring it to pass. He shall bring forth
your righteousness as the light, and
your justice as the noon day.”
What stands in the way of achieving
our purposes in life? The difficulties
we endure cannot be solved by
simple resolutions about our
physical appearance: lifting weights,
exercising more often or dropping
clothes a size or two...or by making
more sales calls or getting along
better at home or at the office.
Granted, improved health, finances
and relationships are important, but
they cannot address the difficulties
we face in life.
Resolution #1. Therefore be it
resolved: “This year is going to
be more about God than about
me, my wants, my needs, my
pleasures.”
Resolution #2. Therefore be it
resolved: I will find the strength
that Jesus Christ gives through
faith, to face what comes my
way, good, bad or indifferent.
Finally, this new year, we need to
be more loving, more forgiving,
more helpful, more of everything
of good report, all with a servant’s
heart. This is the only remedy
against the spiritual warfare loose
around us: “For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:2
Jesus’ command to us: “This is my
commandment that you love one
another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12
Resolution #3. Therefore be it
resolved: “To know and share
the God of Love with others,
even in difficult, stressful
circumstances.
Paul in eternity shares the secret of
facing difficulties in life with his
testimony about being full and being
hungry not affecting his faith in the
life, death and resurrection of Christ
Jesus his Lord: “I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
May God bless you abundantly
this year!
ALPHA UPDATE
PRAYER REQUESTS
Alpha is a Bible-based course offered on Thursday evenings that gives
our residents the opportunity to explore the meaning of life through
Christ in a relaxed, friendly setting.
PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYER . . .
n
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The “Jesus Lifestyle” Course begins in early January. This course
of Bible Study examines Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 with the
teaching of Nicky Gumbel and resident small group discussion.
Training for this new team also will be in early January.
The “Questions of Life” Course concluded with a celebration on
November 19, during which five men, two women and two children
were baptized. 286 residents participated in the course, with eight
persons awarded Exemplary Certificates (15 Sessions) and 22
awarded Perfect Attendance (14 Sessions).
n
That our God of peace will inspire
nations and people to find
harmony and banish discord.
n
That the residents and staff of
UGM-TC continue the year with
an “Attitude of Gratitude” for the
many blessings bestowed by God.
n
That the friends, volunteers,
prayer partners and supporters of
UGM-TC know how much they are
appreciated.
Lauren took a stand for what's right and wound up on the streets – homeless and scared!
“GOD HAS BLESSED ME!”
THANK YOU FOR GIVING LAUREN SECURITY AND HOPE
There are many causes of homelessness, ranging from job
loss to addiction. But in Lauren’s case, it was concern for
her former daughter-in-law. “She was selling drugs out
of the house,” Lauren explains. “Instead of turning her in
to the police, I turned her in to my pastor...but then she
forcibly turned me out into the street. It was horrifying.”
Lauren looks forward to being one of the first residents
of the new Scott Walker Women and Families Service
Building. Beyond that, she anticipates getting her own
apartment and cooking for herself again.
Through her ordeal, Lauren has learned one important
lesson:“You should never think your life is secure. Things
can change in the blink of an eye. But God does things in
miraculous ways and this is one of His treasures, here in
Fort Worth!”
But your gifts to UGM-TC gave Lauren a safe place to
live. “I know that God has me here for a purpose. I’m so
very thankful to the Mission for all that they’ve done for
me,” she says. “It’s been a remarkable journey because God
has blessed me with so many friendships. This place helped
lead me to my church that I go to all the time now and I’m
very happy.”
YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT PROVIDES SO MUCH FOR SO
MANY. YOU HELP CHANGE LIVES AT UGM-TC!
As she goes about her day, Lauren shares that happiness
with others at the Mission. “I try to bring a smile to people
who haven’t necessarily had that in their lives.”
1321 E. LANCASTER |
FORT WORTH, TX 76102
|
817-339-2553
|
WWW.UGM-TC.ORG