Jeffrey was hurting when he returned from Afghanistan. You provided the help he needed. Many veterans return from active duty with scars only they can see. Jeffrey is one of them. A long-time Air Force reservist, Jeffrey’s last two deployments were in Afghanistan. When he came home in 2007, he suffered from PTSD. “It was... The post Springtime Brings New Life at the Mission appeared first on Memphis Union Mission ..read more

Steve was trained as a Marine. He knew how to persevere. He did what it took to support his wife and kids through honest, physical labor. As a fit man, he could see no harm in a little marijuana and a cold beer after a long day. But the occasional beer turned into a daily addiction and the marijuana turned into crack. His fall led him to leave his family, his work and everything he knew to focus on his addictions. One of his brothers joined him on this downhill path. They got a house together and down they went. As drug use continued, their money soon ran out. The property taxes went unpaid, a ..read more

Jeremy had a taste for drugs early, starting in high school using marijuana. That quickly led to cocaine and meth. By the age of 21, Jeremy had lost his driving license and his job and was sitting in prison for drug use and multiple DUIs. After prison, his case worker suggested going to Memphis Union Mission where he could learn to replace destructive habits with good ways of living. Jeremy went through the recovery program but admitted, “I only did it because it looked good on my record. I didn’t work the program.” When he left, he quickly returned to his old lifestyle. But the time he had sp ..read more

Memphis Union Mission is excited to announce the completion of Phase 2 of our new Opportunity Center, which provides emergency services for the homeless. We thank God for the donors that made this possible! If you would consider helping us finish our Phase 2 fundraising, click here: https://www.memphisunionmission.org/donate-to-the-opportunity-center-capital-campaign/ The post Mission Update: Phase 2 of the New Opportunity Center Complete! appeared first on Memphis Union Mission ..read more

Travis grew up in a dog-eat-dog life, with a family of addicts. He was introduced to drugs and alcohol at the age of 11, and spent time in and out of jail as a juvenile through his mid 20’s. Drugs had a daily hold of him, and they ran his life. He went to rehab a few times. With his natural charm and quick wit, he was able to convince the counselors he was fit to graduate. He had gotten to know the Lord in rehab but said he did not completely turn himself over to God. Life was good for a while. He got his GED and went on to graduate from college. He was married and had a young daughter. Then t ..read more

“Satan sneaks in a little at a time,” says Marsha. She had never had a drink until she was 25 and experienced some trouble in her marriage. “I found that when I drank, it took the pain away. But by the time I was 30, I was an alcoholic.” Marsha briefly separated from her husband, struggling with her addiction even after they reconciled. Then she lost her father — and a month later, her husband died suddenly. “My world fell apart,” she recalls. “I had gone from my dad’s house to my husband’s house, and I thought, ‘Where do I go from here?’” Lost in grief, Marsha heard about Memphis Union Missio ..read more

David sits in his home today as a happy man, surrounded by his supportive family. This Thanksgiving will be special for him as he looks back on his turbulent life with gratitude for what the Lord has given him. God was always there for him, even when his addictions got the best of him. He also knows he would not have a good and stable life without your support for Memphis Union Mission. He wants you to know … “Everything you do, I guarantee is a treasure in heaven. God is helping people through your donations.” David grew up in a loving, Christian home in Memphis. He enjoyed being a responsib ..read more

Al’s life began in terror. At the tender age of six, he witnessed his father brutally beat his mother. It rocked him to the core, and he never was able to shake the horror. Al’s mother, now single, took care of him, and he went on to graduate high school. He attended church and enjoyed reading the Bible. But he also enjoyed drinking and partying with his friends. Al soon realized he had a real knack for sales. He opened a retail store here in Memphis, which quickly grew to three stores. He was a success … nice cars, fancy suits, a girlfriend and two children he adored. Life was good. Unfortuna ..read more

Daniel had faced hardships since a young age. His father died when he was just nine. Though he still had his mom, he rebelled and ran wild during adolescence. By 23 years old, the consequences of bad choices had left him with nowhere to turn. He had burned bridges with family and friends and didn’t even have a place to stay. That’s when a friend brought him to Memphis Union Mission. Daniel not only had a place to lay his head and hot meals but also heard the Gospel preached each day during mealtimes. Within just a couple of weeks, Daniel was convicted and stirred to m ..read more

Devin grew up in a loving Christian home. His father was a minister, right here at Memphis Union Mission. He enjoyed being involved with the church and attending youth groups and bible quizzes. After high school, Devin started hanging out with a new crowd and at bars. He enjoyed doing activities outside of the church, and at first, it was fascinating. Over time, the casual social drink developed into full dependency on alcohol. He tried to be sober, but it never stuck. He struggled to understand why he couldn’t kick the addiction. It was a dark time, and detoxing was too big of a burden. At on ..read more