God Has a Plan

A co-worker and I went to court in Warrensburg, Missouri last Monday to witness on behalf of a client, currently in our Christian Life Program. We sat through all the court cases only to find out that my client, whom we were there for, was being held over until the following week to see a different judge. At that time, we didn’t see the purpose in the time spent traveling and waiting in court, all for nothing.

This Monday we made the trip again to Warrensburg for the same client as the week before. As we sat there waiting for court to start late and then go long, with my guy being next to the last person to be called before the judge, we witnessed and ministered to another young man. The judge was tired of this 23 year old drug addict and was ready to send him to prison. The young man, named Anthony, told the judge that he would see about checking into a 21-day program. The judge told him that wasn't good enough; he needed more help than that.

The Public Defender representing Anthony remembered me from the week before.  She turned and made eye contact with me and raised her eyebrows.  I knew what she was considering and I smiled back at her in affirmation.

As the Judge asked Anthony to sit aside for a while, the Public Defender came to ask me if he would be a candidate for our program. I said, "Yes, I'll take him back with me today". She repeated me to make sure what I had offered. Excited about the alternative, she spoke to the Judge, who then called me up to explain our program. As soon as I told her it was an in-house, 12-14 month program, the Judge said to offer it to Anthony. The Judge said that she knew of City Union Mission and even made the comment that "we need one of these in Cass County"!   Anthony was hesitant, as he was fully expecting to have to go to jail.

When it came time for me to speak on behalf of my own guy, the Judge, the Public Defender and I were all advocating for him. This was truly an act of God! It was beautiful!

 
Needless to say, we came back to Kansas City with two guys, when we had gone for only one.  Today Anthony thanked me. He knew without us being there for him that day, he would be spending the next 7 years in jail.

God had a plan.  He knew that we needed to be in Warrensburg THIS Monday, for THIS purpose.

(Submitted by Pat Johnson, Case Manager at City Union Mission’s Christian Life Program)

Volunteer Project Leader Position Available

City Union Mission is seeking a volunteer to serve as the Volunteer Project Leader. This volunteer will lead, organize, and direct volunteer groups working on various projects through out the mission. The projects range from cleaning to construction to retail training.

This person must:
  1. be a Christian who is able to share the Gospel,
  2. love volunteers
  3. have leadership skills (Supervisory experience is helpful)
  4. be available on Saturdays

Any interested person may apply by completing a High Impact Volunteer application HERE.

Society’s Landfill

When I start investigating a purchase, I will definitely consider buying something that isn’t new. I’ll buy it if it is previously used, but I want it to be in “gently-used” condition. I don’t want something that has taken serious abuse during its lifetime. I want to know that I am not inheriting someone else’s problems. The last place you’d find me shopping would be at the local landfill. Items that end up there are there because someone has given up on them . . . the headaches and problems they are causing. I don’t want to buy someone else’s headaches.

I was recently thinking about the expectations that people sometimes have for the men that “end up” at places like the Mission. Even the word “end” in “end up” implies there’s not much further down a man can go than to a mission. It’s either “on the street, under a bridge, in a homeless camp . . . or to the mission.”

Ministering at the Mission is like a double-sided coin. On one side, most of the men who end up here at the Mission are seen as beyond repair, “not repairable”; therefore, they are deemed dispensable . . . “throw away” condition. For them to remain in their family, work or societal relationships creates too many problems anymore, and people are not at a place where they want,  or are able, to invest anymore time or money trying to “repair” the person so that the man will “work right, like he’s supposed to”.

This is not to minimize the problems these men are causing others . . . they very well might need to be told to leave those environments of which they were a part so as to allow peace, health, safety and sanity back into those same environments. Most of the men who end up at the Mission do need a sincere moment of clarity when they begin to understand the gravity of their condition, and the problems, pain and hurt they are causing other people. They do need to see that they are not “working right”. They do not possess peace, grace, hope or health, so it is no wonder that they have none of those to offer others.

But the other side of the coin is this . . . because the men who come to the Mission can be tremendously problematic and dysfunctional, it does not mean the only “end” is to be thrown away. To think that “ending it” is the only solution is not a thought from God . . . that thought is from Satan.

Most of the men who end up at the Mission will admit, in moments of transparency and honesty, that the thoughts playing in their head like a continuous CD are, “You’re a failure, a loser. You’re stupid and idiotic. You’re trash, worthless, and of no value to anyone. Just stayed blasted and wasted with your drugs or alcohol so as to escape that reality. Or better yet, go ahead and just end it all so you can get the pain over for yourself and others.”  When a man gets there in his mind, he has found himself at the gates of society’s landfill.

It is in that moment that he needs to hear a message and vision from Jesus Christ as found in the Good News of the Gospel. “You may have been a serious problem for yourself and for others. You may think you are beyond repair . . . but, hear this . . . you are not trash. The landfill is not the final plan I have for you. Others might think that, but not me. I have a vision for you that is beyond what you can possibly imagine for yourself! If you need to know how much you are worth, even as a sinner, look at the cross.”

That is what I like about working at the Mission . . . seeing the change that a man can undergo from hopelessness and despair, to a countenance that communicates his hope and possibility. A man may think that the circumstances he has created for himself can only mean life without love, purpose or meaning. But here, he can begin to find that God can create meaning out of meaninglessness, purpose out of purposelessness, hope and joy out of darkness and despair. To see that transformation and miracle in a man’s life, even in the smallest of increments or steps, is a delight beyond description!

Please don’t ever think that your investment in a ministry like the Mission is anything less than an offering of the grace and hope that you have. It is a statement that you believe in miracles! No matter how dark it may look, you are saying that you believe the Light ultimately wins! Thanks for being a part of City Union Mission.

(Submitted by Bret Kroh, Asst. Administrator of the Christian Life Program at City Union Mission)

Ministering to the homeless as we also seek growth and edification for ourselves --

Not wanting to shock everyone who looks upon the City Union Mission as hyper-spiritual, but the staff at the Mission are people just like every local congregation has.  The amazing thing is that all of us come here pretty clear that God has called us to this ministry and fully engaged to minister to the needs of our guests on mostly a spiritual level, i.e., Salvation and Sanctification (growth into Christ-likeness) as well as the physical helps of food, clothing, medical needs, job hunting, temporary housing, counseling, document help and other such things like pastoral helps.  As time passes we all soon realize that we are really first here for our own growth and edification.  This comes through continuously challenging situations, with clients, circumstances and the enemy himself. 

Therefore, we need to honor God's leading and take the time to live in the disciplines He has always used like prayer, fasting, alms giving, loving the unlovely, lend hoping for nothing in return, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness as well as spending private and precious time with the Lord in solitude and as believers together. 

On a Tuesday and Wednesday recently the leadership team (8 of us) of the Men's Ministries went to Warsaw, where we have a great camp center, Christian Life Program and retreat center and, using a lodge there spent time in community and gained great refreshment in the Lord.  We focused our energies on Scripture (II Corinthians) fellowship and in an isolated environment.  It was wonderful and energizing.  He further opened our eyes to helping each other, ministering more clearly and slowing down to make more room for Him.

We thank God for the opportunity, facilities and the encouragement to do this.  God is Good.  All the Time.  Every time.  Forever.  Amen. 

(Submitted by Gary Mountz, Director of Men’s Ministries at City Union Mission)

Sewing Groups Bless our Guests

Katie is wearing a sunny yellow
dress made by a talented seamstress
from Lenexa Baptist Church.

We have wonderful volunteers who participate in sewing groups at their churches to sew for our guests at the Mission. One of the many hand sewn items we receive are women's dresses. Recently, two of the happy recipients showed off their new dresses.

Thanks so much to the talented seamstresses at Lenexa Baptist Church and Village Presbyterian Church for blessing our guests in this special way. 



Erin is wearing a classic black and
white checked dress made by
another gifted seamstress from
Village Presbyterian Church.


If you are interested in making different sewing items for our guests, please contact Dennis at (816) 329-1466 to find out how your church can be a part of this vital ministry.

 





Work Injury Leads Volunteer to the Mission

Mark Green (3rd from left) is pictured here with Mission staff
and James, a Christian Life Program participant (far right).

Mark Green began volunteering at City Union Mission in October of last year.  He had sustained a work related injury to his fingers that September and had subsequent surgery to mend them. When Mark began to feel well enough to be up and about, he told his employer he didn’t want to just sit at home and do nothing. He had a desire to be doing something productive to keep his mind busy, knowing that staying busy would be therapeutic as he recovered.  Mark’s employer put him in touch with the Mission.

Mark helped process books donated to the Mission by using a program to assess the value of a book and determine its next destination. He also helped box up books after they were sorted and then labeled the box to get it ready for delivery.  Mark has worked alongside one of our Christian Life Program participants and has been an encourager to him as well.

At various times Mark would help with other projects as they came up, such as sorting donations and organizing them into categories. He also assisted with Christmas projects.

Mark shared with us, “It has been a blessing for me to be in the surroundings of a Christian, faith-based organization the past four months. This experience has helped me stay in a positive frame of mind during my recovery.  I will treasure these months I’ve had to work with the staff of City Union Mission.”  

Mark’s presence has been a great blessing to us and the staff has enjoyed having him here.  We were pleased to hear that he is interested in volunteering with the Mission in the near future. 

(Submitted by Tammy Sharp, CORE Volunteer Administrator at City Union Mission)

Volunteer Chaplain Receives Certification

On January 30, 2012, the United Association of Clinical Chaplains and Counselors International, conferred upon  Howard McFarland, one of our volunteer Chapel Speakers, the professional title of Licensed Clinical Professional in Addictions Recovery/Biblical Counselor - Minister.

Dr. McFarland received this honor upon his completion of all course work and supervision required by the Division of Professional Counseling Ministries Endorsement of the UACCCI.

Congratulations are extended to Dr. McFarland for the successful completion of the course work and training!

(Submitted by James Smith, Development High Impact Volunteer Administrator at City Union Mission)