Mission Moments - Snapshots from the Soul
Every person who passes through the doors of City Union Mission has a unique story to tell - every man, every woman, and every child. Some stories are gripping, some are interesting, and some are heartwarming, while others are heartbreaking.
We have captured several stories that may change the way you view homelessness forever. Here is your chance to take a glimpse into the lives of a few of our precious clients, volunteers, and donors. We hope you will take a minute to engross yourself in these powerful testimonies. Please place yourself in their shoes, and join them in their past sorrows as well as their newfound joy.
Craig
“It was all just too overwhelming.”
John 16:33
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
Life was going really great for Craig. He had been raised in a religious home, so always wanted to be a good person. That was part of what motivated him to go to school to become a pharmacist. He wanted to help people and felt like this was a good way. He married and the couple soon had 3 daughters. He appeared to be on the top of the world.
But then his world caved in when he developed mental illness. “It was such a shock. We had been married about 6 years at the time. I didn’t understand what was happening to me. The stress affected my ability to do my work. I ended up losing my profession. My marriage began to crumble. It was all just too overwhelming.
I went to live with my mom after the marriage dissolved. I had taken some part-time work with UPS and did some billing for a doctor to make ends meet. That worked till mom became ill and then I had no-where to go.
I started drinking alcohol. I was drinking constantly, all the time. I can’t imagine anyone thinking this was a fun thing to do. I just wanted to die. I was drinking so much that in the mornings I would vomit. I had to get some alcohol down in order to stop the shakes so I could function. Nobody wants to do this.
After I tried to commit suicide I checked myself into a mental hospital, but I didn’t get the help I needed. I tried all kinds of things, other rescue missions, AA, but nothing worked. Finally I came to City Union Mission.
When I came I was on probation with some DUIs. I had been working at a chicken place part time and then I hurt my arm, so I lost that job. I didn’t know what to do. CW Rucker, my Shelter Case Manager, told me I should consider the Christian Life Program. I really didn’t know anything about the program but decided to go ahead with it. That hurt arm turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Lee Berns, the Director of Men’s Ministries, told me my problem was that I had a spiritual disorder. I didn’t like that very much, but for some reason I stayed…maybe because I had tried so many other things that hadn’t worked.
Looking back I can see that was my problem. I had centered my life on my family and my profession…good things, but not the best. I had thought I could somehow keep control over all the pieces of my life. That didn’t work out too well.
Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
When I put Jesus first, and centered everything else around Him, life started to make sense again. I started to seek Jesus instead of other things and felt the pieces of my life coming back together. It’s a good feeling.
I realized that I had had an awful lot of losses around the time of the onset of the mental illness. My Dad had died of lung cancer plus all four of my grand-parents had died. I lost my profession and my marriage. And I had no anchor.
What’s different now is that Jesus is my anchor, my center. The Christian Life Program has given me a whole different way of thinking about things. The structure in the progam provided with what I needed so I could gage my progress mentally, emotionally with the counseling, and medically. I really needed that.
My plan for the future is to take one baby step at a time. I don’t want to ever go back to where I was before. I plan to get involved in the transitional living program. I’ve heard lots of great things about it. The first step is to get back into the work force and get some stability, and then maybe I’ll think about going back to school to get my pharmacy license updated and renewed.
There’s a lot to look forward to now. By the time I graduate from the program I will be off probation. That’s such a good feeling. I have seen my daughters a couple of times and am praying for reconciliation with them. They are fantastic kids!
The most important thing that I want people to know is that Jesus Christ needs to be the center of their life. Once you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior you’ll understand what He’s done for you and how much He loves you. He’ll accept anyone no matter what that person may have done in the past.”
And that’s really good news!
If you are feeling overwhelmed, please click here. Knowing Jesus will change your life.