Hope is Ageless

It’s true; the City Union Mission is where men, women, and children go when there is no where else to go.  But, the Mission is so much more. We don’t want anyone who comes through our doors to return to a life of homelessness and hopelessness. One of the ways we make this assertion come to life is by way of Career Development. 

When a client of one of the Mission’s long term recovery programs is close to graduating, they begin to work with the Career Development Department.    The Mission does more that just help clients find a job, we help them chart a new life.

Case in point:  Mike, a recent graduate of the Christian Life Program.   At 50-something Mike was ready for a brand new start.  Bright, enthusiastic and friendly, Mike wanted to work with people in an organization that matched his enthusiasm and develop his gifts and talents.

We all know today’s job market is tough but there are bright spots.  Call Centers are springing up nationally; and TMG is such a start -up here in Kansas City.  Working with the Full Employment Council, Mike recently interviewed with TMG and was hired to join the young company.  Mike is excited to help build the business, eager to contribute to society, and add his positive effect to the workforce.  Truly, a new future filled with both hope and purpose.  

(Written by Steve Sahl, a Career Development Specialist at City Union Mission)

The Price of Change

I meet men every day who regret the choices they have made in their lives. Some of these men are in their middle years whose lives are in shambles. As a counselor, I hear their stories of opportunities squandered and bridges burned. My heart aches for these men. I seek wisdom from God’s Word and all of the creative energy that the Lord gives to me to assist them to recognize choices and behaviors that will bless them and honor God. For those men who are ready and willing to do the things that are necessary for true, lasting authentic change I am overjoyed by being an eye witness to God’s redeeming grace!

I have had the privilege for serving in the Christian Life Program for a few years now and have come to see particular characteristics in the men who come to us.

Men who move on in their lives with peace and purpose came to us with a true desire for change. They have come to a place in their life where they have their fill with the consequences of the poor choices they have made in their lives. These men, as it turns out, are teachable and submissive to instruction. They recognize the wisdom that the Word of God brings to their world. They are willing to be candid with Program Staff who have shared from their own experiences of progress and failures. These men recognize that they themselves must read, accept, and put Truth into practice.  This is what has brought them to a place of blessing and satisfaction. Last, but not least, these men have been assimilated into the local Church!

It is almost predictable that the men who leave us prematurely and go back to the lives they were living, do so for the very opposite behaviors the other men had adopted.

These men were not yet ready, nor had a real desire for personal change. These men were not teachable.  They were not willing to allow themselves to be disciplined or instructed. The Bible had no place in their life; they did not recognize the value of its instruction for life. And – these men merely attended church and did not integrate with the community of faith.

For those who are willing to pay the price for a changed heart and a changed life, God will bring blessings of strength, resolve, and peace.  I cannot help but think of the man who sold ALL that he had for the ONE Pearl of Great Price.

'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.' -- Matthew 13:45-46

(Written by Kelly Dunn, Case Manager/Counselor for the Christian Life Program at City Union Mission).

Recent High Impact Volunteer Appointments

Praise the Lord!  Did you know that, during the last 6 weeks, the Lord has blessed us with the addition of 11 new High Impact volunteers? That is nearly 2 new volunteers per week! Please, praise the Lord with us for them!

• One - Assistant to the Family Shelter Manager
• One - Assistant to the High Impact Volunteer Administrator
• One – Cook’s Assistant
• One - Youth Coordinator Assistant – Vanderberg Youth Center
• Two - Family Night Hosts - Family Center
• Two - Learning Center Academic Assistants (1 CLP & 1 NLP)
• Three – Elementary School Tutors

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Presently, several of our Administrative Staff are seeking qualified volunteers to assist them with multiple ministry duties. The following volunteer positions are available:

•  Core Volunteer Administrator Assistant

This volunteer will assist the CORE Volunteer Administrator by providing support in the recruiting, selection and scheduling process of CORE volunteers. 

• Assistants to the Family Shelter Manager

These volunteers will assist the Evening Shelter manager with the operations of the shelter in ministry of the guests, by meeting their spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

• Christian Life Program Admin Assistant

This is a huge spiritual ministry of assisting in the Christian Life Program in related Administrative duties such as, administrative filing duties, word processing, data entry and general office duties.

• Driver for CLP Clients – Employment Related

CLP graduates find it difficult to secure gainful employment because they don’t have reliable transportation. The Driver ministry will overcome this obstacle. Drivers will take the graduate clients to work and then pick them up at the end of their workday.

• Facilities Director Executive Assistant

This volunteer will assist the Facilities Director with his administrative tasks to enable him to meet the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the poor and homeless.

• Tutors – Vanderberg Youth Center

These volunteers assist students in daily homework and enhance critical skill development in necessary growth areas for the academic success of the student.

Please, contact James Smith at (816) 329-1469 or email him at james.smith@cityunionmission.org, if you would like more information regarding one of the above listed positions. An interested applicant may apply online at our website cityunionmission.org by going to the Volunteer Center to complete the appropriate application.  Thank you!

23rd Annual 'Bikers With A Mission Run For the Homeless' Benefit Ride May 6, 2012 (1st Sunday in May)

Each year 500+ bikers ride 100 miles, rain or shine, to provide eye glasses, utility assistance, dental care, bus tokens and so much more to those in need.

• For rider registration go to BWAM2012.org.  Minimum donation of $25 for rider or passenger and bring a can of green beans or corn to feed the homeless.
• We encourage bikers to ask friends and family to participate in this event by sponsoring them.  All proceeds help the homeless.
• Ride begins and ends at City Union Mission, 1108 E. 10th St., KCMO (corner of 10th & Troost)
• Event Day Registration: 9 am - 11 am; Program begins at 1 p.m.
• A custom made knife will be given away for the most pledges raised and funds collected.  All riders receive a ticket for prize drawings. Additional tickets will be sold until 1 p.m. on the day of the benefit for a custom made knife and a fireworks bundle.
• For more information just go to our website bikerswithamission.org, or you can call 816-329-1477 or 816-222-5053.
• Event Sponsor Opportunities available for businesses and organizations. Include Premier, Platinum, Titanium, and Chrome Levels.
• Go to bikerswithamission.org for more info or call 816-329-1477.

Blessing the Homeless Medically

To assist the men who God sends our way, we have seen a need for providing some medical services.  Without a doubt the men who visit here have both a great resilience to the hardships of living on the streets and under the bridges and they have a susceptibility to many illnesses.  We have been blessed to have two full time nurses on staff, two consistent volunteer nurses and a volunteer doctor who tends to the immediate needs of our guests.  Over the years we’ve established the proper medical protocols and have had 10’s of thousands of visits in the medical offices.  In December of 2011 alone we had over 1,000 visits for everything from common colds, to recent discharges from area hospitals with no where to go, to mentally ill men.  We are remarkably blessed with staff to help who live compassionately with professionalism and consistency and love. 

One aspect is to train the men to take care of themselves.  In the long term program (CLP) we have several men usually on hand who need to be trained to manage their medication intake.   They report to medical on a weekly basis and fill their week’s worth of medication.  They are given their bottles of meds and taught how to read the labels and then put the daily amounts in the daily slots of the medicine containers they will carry with them.  All part of making sure they are being medicated right and learning to manage their own medication intake.

(Written by Gary Mountz, Director of Men's Ministries at City Union Mission)

Medical Services at City Union Mission

One of our many ministries at City Union Mission is Medical Services.  The majority of homeless clients enter the shelter with many health needs ranging from the average winter cold to severely high blood pressure and even cancer.  Medical Services has the incredible privilege to be the hands of feet of Jesus as we care directly for the physical needs of the clients.  Our desire is to share the love of Christ with these clients as we help to care for their physical conditions.

Medical Services assists several patients every day with over the counter medication, health education, prescription cost assistance, transportation assistance, and referrals to local doctors.  Our nurses currently assist homeless patients who walk in off the street, as well as clients who are a part of our long-term programs.  We work very closely with our long-term clients to help them adequately address their health needs and establish consistent, on-going primary medical care.     

Recently our nurse was working with an older gentleman of our Christian Life Program (long-term program for men).  During his first week on the program, he came to Medical Services for his health assessment and it was discovered that he had severely high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease.  Through the weeks, he has struggled to navigate through many doctor's appointments, medication changes, and even an emergency hospitalization.  As we have assisted him through all of the changes, he is now living healthy again and is beginning to be able to navigate the health system on his own.  

This winter Medical Services has seen a large increase in patient encounters.  In December alone, we had 970 patient visits.  Due to the huge influx of patient visits, Medical Services has run out of several, vital over the counter medications.  We are currently in need of:

• Cold Medication (tabs preferred--easier to hand out 1-2 doses, non-alcohol based)
• Sinus Medication (no sudafed)
• Advil/Ibuprofen
• Tylenol/Acetaminophen
• Multi-vitamins
• Cough drops
• Benedryl/Diphenhydramine

Please consider partnering with City Union Mission to provide basic medical care for these clients.  If you are interested in finding out more about Medical Services and volunteer needs please visit our website HERE.

(Written by Lucy Akins, Medical Services Supervisor at City Union Mission)

Christian Life Program Men Grow in New Patterns of Righteousness

Some of the men on the Christian Life Program are there because of some adverse or difficult life circumstances, but virtually all of the men on the Christian Life Program are in recovery because of bad choices and/or struggles with addictions of some sort. Hiding, covering up, lying, manipulation are very much issues they have to address to experience God's grace and healing.

 The men on the program are not allowed to have outside jobs for the first 85% of their time here on the program. In place of an income, they are provided with either $5 or $10 a week as an allowance, depending on where they are in the program.

Recently, a CLP staff member was distributing weekly allowances to the men. One client was accidentally handed 6 one dollar bills instead of the 5 he was to receive. The client counted his money and handed a 1 dollar bill back, saying he should only have 5.

Shortly after that, another man was handed $10 when he should have only been given $5. The staff member had inadvertently read the wrong line. The client handed $5 back to the staff member, saying he shouldn't have received that much.

Shortly after that, the staff member was speaking with another client about his allowance. The allowance roster indicated he should receive $10. The client was in the last part of his program and had just gotten a job. He had an income now and knew that was when allowances stopped. He could have taken the $10 allowance and no one would have known the difference, but he did not.

What was meaningful about these three instances was that each man could have gotten away with something to their advantage and to someone else' loss. But because they listened to a still small voice from the Holy Spirit, they did not yield to their normal patterns of hiding, covering up, lying or manipulating. They were setting new patterns of godliness, righteousness and holiness. Each of the 3 men was thanked as each incident happened and encouraged in what the staff member saw in their personal growth.

What a privilege to be in the ministry of the Kingdom of Christ! New creations!

(Written by Bret Kroh - Assistant Administrator of the Christian Life Program at City Union Mission)