Less than 10 days after becoming homeless for a second time, the Union Gospel Mission is preparing to move into a new residence. Pastor David Kell with the Signal Hills Community Fellowship, located at 124 Signal Hills Dr. at the foot of Signal Mountain, offered his entire church while making a $150,000 in-kind donation to the mission.
Jon Rector, executive director of the Union Gospel Mission. said, “We have a statement of support by the church’s members and Pastor Kell. It is our understanding they made this generous offering to the UGM because their church’s support was shrinking and they were concerned they couldn’t continue to finance its upkeep, but they wanted the buildings and chapel to continue with a meaningful ministry.
”
The UGM is financially responsible for the balance of the church’s principle - approximately $60,000. A lease has been signed and the mission is slated to move in later this week.
Mr. Rector said, “We feel really good about this. We looked at a number of different properties all over the city, but the folks here were so generous in offering this property, which has everything we need with little or no remodeling, we feel God has moved us in this direction.”
.
The mission will no longer be offering emergency shelter due to its location and lack of transportation. Instead, it will concentrate on its residential programs which work with 25 men.