Stories From Skid Row

Angel's first experience with Union Rescue Mission was when he dropped off some money for his father who had been in our program. He never came in, but would view the building from the outside. While he was working as a Bail Bondsman, he was also living a double life selling drugs. In 2013 he would finally enter into the doors of the Mission, not knowing what God would have in store for him...

James Ward and his family struggled with homelessness for years before landing at Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles, where he met Jessica Sutherland in 2012, and asked her for mentorship. Through this partnership, James kept his grades up and was admitted to Howard University, where he just completed his freshman year as a physics major!

Aaron Valencia, custom car builder, founded Lost Angels Children's Project in response to the rise of child poverty in Los Angles. No stranger to homelessness himself, he wanted to help in his own special way - by rebuilding a 1931 Ford Roadster and raffling it off on August 30th, 2014!   All proceeds will be donated to support homeless children at Union Rescue Mission and Grace Resource Center!

Sherrell and her children came to the Mission after a series of unfortunate and stressful events. With her son James being 17 years old, URM was the only place in Los Angeles where they could've come without breaking up the family.

Christopher Kai started our teen lifeskills class "Mondays at the Mission" over 3 years ago! Every Monday he and a group of dedicated volunteers offer up their time to inspire our kids to dream big dreams!

Part 2 of URM CEO Andy Bales' interview with Jeff Lilley, the president of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. 

On this week's podcast URM CEO Andy Bales gets a chance to interview Jeff Lilley, the president of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. Check out part 2 next week!

Here's Part 2 of Emmethia's story! Emmethia grew up in foster care - abused, beaten, and broken hearted. She tried running away, sleeping on the streets, until they finally moved her into a family that truly loved her. She tells her story on how she came to LA to help her daughter reach her dreams of entering into the entertainment industry. 

Emmethia grew up in foster care - abused, beaten, and broken hearted. She tried running away, sleeping on the streets, until they finally moved her into a family that truly loved her. She tells her story on how she came to LA to help her daughter reach her dreams of entering into the entertainment industry. 

Part 2 of our interview with John Ashmen, the President of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions!

John Ashmen, the President of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, shares how he came to faith through the ministry of his parents and how that propelled him into a lifelong passion for ministry himself! Tune in next week for Part 2 of our interview!

URM's Chairman of the Board David Dow has been involved as a board member since 1999! Earlier in his life, while he was working for CBS News, David saw much misery and poverty as he traveled throughout Middle and South America. These experiences greatly shaped his desire to help the broken people of Skid Row. 

Elder Dennis Bullock of West Angeles Church of God in Christ gives us his testimony of his earlier life of addiction and how God pulled him out of his downward spiral of destruction!

Betty Porto, Owner and Vice President of Porto's Bakery, swings by to chat with URM CEO Andy Bales to talk about the partnership the bakery has with the Mission!

Mike McIntyre joined the Mission as an IT employee just to get by during seminary. When he was asked to serve as a chaplain he promptly refused. But God had other plans... 

Frank Sontag, radio host at 99.5 KKLA, delivered his testimony to all of our March 2014 Men's program graduates. His very personal story was filled with brokenness which led to his reconcilation with the Lord. 

Alejandro, one of our youngest graduates at the Mission, tells us his story on how he came from Mexico to the Streets of Skid Row. 

Jeri Little, Director of Social Enterprise at the Mission, shares his story on how he went from businessman in Orange County to be an unpaid missionary in the country of Romania. Hear his story about how his obedience to the Lord led him to work on the streets of skid row.  

Since 1993, School on Wheels has helped homeless children throughout Southern California by providing education and other academic activities! On Skid Row, they pick up the children from Union Rescue Mission and the other missions to work one-on-one with their volunteers to ensure academic stability!  

Greg Brown, a hospitality care center case manager at the Mission, helps the guests who come off the streets by preparing them to enter into our CLDP program.  He shares about the loss of his mother, which led him down a path of disastrous decisions before God lifted him back up...