The Union Gospel Mission’s drug and alcohol addiction program has many facets to it. It includes hundreds of hours of classroom study, scripture memorization, and one on one counseling with licensed professionals. Many months are dedicated to their specific addiction, and the anger that is so often associated with it.

So often people focus on just the alcohol or the drugs, and don’t realize that addicted behavior has many other debilitating side effects.

Another challenge is often the lack of genuine role models in a person’s life. More often than not, men come to us with little or no self confidence, and in many cases have never successfully finished or accomplished anything in their lives.

Here at the Union Gospel Mission, men come to realize that their lives have real value, and that through God’s strength they can begin to accomplish new things. They are encouraged to set goals and many begin to look at the future with optimism for the first time.

One of most popular classes is taught by Mission director Tim Lane, and is called “Hero’s of the Faith.” In this class, men hear stories about people past and present that have overcome obstacles to achieve amazing things. Each week pastor Lane tells a story about a different character in history, who through strength and perseverance overcame seeming less impossible odds.

These stories of tremendous hardship and great victory, inspire the men and give them a sense of purpose. It encourages each person to begin to dream of what might be possible in their own life, and that staving off addition is just a door, that will open to a new life filled with excitement and real purpose.

We also use this time to bring in guest speakers from our community that have also overcome challenges, and are now leading successful lives.

“Hero’s of the Faith” is just one of many ways we are showing love and commitment to men that have been given up on by society, and through these powerful stories we believe lives can be permanently changed.