NOVEMBER 2014 | Vol. 19 No. 1

Olympia Union Gospel Mission | 360.709.9725 | 413 Franklin St NE, Olympia WA 98501 | OUGM.ORG

OLYMPIA UNION GOSPEL MISSION — Restoring hope...Transforming lives since 1995

These gals were thankful for the housing provided by the Mis-sion while they get back on their feet. They visited the clothing bank to pick up some warm blankets that donors had provided.

GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.

Rhett - Because of the Mission, I am off the streets and in the Life Transfor-mation program, I am getting my smile back with the help of the dental clinic, I get to see my children, and I am sober!

Joy - I’m thankful that there is a place God provided when I needed it the most.

Lynette - I am thankful for friends and for the people who volunteer at the Mis-sion. Without them I would be hungry and cold.

Jewels - I am thankful for my new friends and family in Christ and the opportu-nities the Mission has given me to serve at the short

term shelter by helping single women get off the streets.

Sean - I am thankful to have a roof over my head and odd jobs to help pay for my gas. Although I live in a van, I know I have it better than so many other people.

Ricky - I am thankful to be alive and out of jail, and have a place (the Mis-sion) to go to stay safe and warm.

Jay - I’m thankful for my health and for the open doors at the Mission where I have been able to recouper-ate!

Susie - I am thankful that I get to come to the Mission and serve.

Darlene - I am thankful for the Mission where I can go early in the morning to get out of the cold and the rain.

William - When I was down and out and all of my belongings had been stolen, the Mission helped me to get back on my feet and I am now able to head back to family in Louisiana.

Kurt - I am so thankful to have a place to stay and to be a part of the men’s program.

Rob - I am using the services at the Mis-sion because I just got layed off from my job. I am able to save money until I can get back up on my feet.

Dewy - You can’t beat the hot coffee, clothes and warm food!

Michael - I am thankful that the Mission was there for me while I was homeless. I now have found a room in a house, with the help

of the Mission’s staff. I am VERY thankful to have a roof over my head, for the first time in two years of being out on the streets.

Glen - I am thankful for the Mission, it is my place of comfort and I know when I am here I will always feel loved and be safe.

Writing to you about what I have to celebrate this Thanksgiving is a real challenge without taking up the whole Newsletter. God has been so gracious to me person-ally and the Mission collectively. When I hear what our clients are grateful for: “no longer sick with the flu and living on the street, having found a room with a bed after sleeping on the sidewalk for two years, that the Mission provides me with a place to stay and a warm meal, that the Mission believed in me and gave me a chance to recover from addiction and get to know God” I am embarrassed to tell you what I am grateful for, because I take for granted that I will go home to a warm, safe house, plenty to eat, a loving wife, all built on a strong relationship with God.

There is one thing that I love to express is my gratitude for: your financial, prayer and volunteer support for the Mission and more importantly the men, women and children that the Mission serves. I am grateful that you chose to invest some of the blessings that God has given you into the lives of damaged and broken human beings; if it were not for God’s grace, this could be any of us.

So on the behalf of these men, women and children forgotten by the rest of society let me wish you a most joyous Thanksgiving Celebration with Friends and Family as we look forward to the celebration of Christmas.

If you missed it, you missed one of the biggest rock ‘n’ roll shindigs in town last month. There were over 30 dental profes-sionals that came together on the stage

at the Washington Center in downtown Olympia October 18, singing and dancing. There was a lot of hootin’ an hollering from the audience as familiar dentists

strutted the stage with guitars, dance moves and lots of dee dee dees and dah dah dahs.

Having been there for almost every re-hearsal and the concert, one would say that the show just kept morphing and getting better every practice. The main cast of “characters”, in-cluding Dr. Bath, Dr. Kern, Dr. Psaltis, Dr. Persinger, Dr. Peterson, and Dr. Russell were the underpinning of the eve-ning’s antics. They rewrote the words to familiar tunes like Traditions from “Fiddler

on the Roof” to The Mission, or Don’t’ Fear the Reaper to Don’t Fear the Dentists and on, and on, and on. They followed acts like Debbi’s Dance that brought the house down with over 40

Western stylin’ tap dancers weav-ing in and out never missing a move to the rockin’ 18-member Olympia Jazz Senators keeping the energy high so that the audi-

A Little Bit Country...A Little Bit Rock 'n' Roll

No-Fee Dental Clinic Benefit

“I came to see my dentist”

“I never miss a show”

“I think it gets bet-ter every year”

Were those really

dentists under all that long

hair?

Loren “Skip” Steffen, Execu tive Direc tor

Olympia Union Gospel Mission | 360.709.9725 | 413 Franklin St NE, Olympia WA 98501 | OUGM.ORG

ence could barely stay in their seats!

At one point in the show, the spotlight beamed on a very grateful Linda Barrett, the No-Fee Dental Clinic Manager, who addressed the audience and perform-ers thanking them for their support, by saying “Without all of you our doors would not be open.”

Combined, the dental professionals pro-vide over $600,000 worth of volunteer emergency dental care in a year at the clinic and through sponsors and individu-als donors the dental benefit raised over $40,000. (Visit Facebook to see pictures)

Give thanks to the Lord,

for he is good; his love endures

FOREVER1 Chronicles 16:34

CONCERT SPONSORSUnderwriting Sponsor ($2,000 +)Belmont Enterprises, Inc. Construct, Inc. Dr. Jerry Giddings Skip & Barbara Steffen

Contributing Sponsor ($1,000 - $1,999) Anchor BankCapital Heating & CoolingFirst Citizens BankHeritage BankSouth Sound BankOlympia Federal Savings Providence St. Peter Hospital

Supporting Sponsor ($500 - $999) Cabinets By TrivonnaLaw Offices of Harold D. Carr Olympia Emergency Services, PLLC Scott HomesTumwater Automotive Tumwater Auto Spa TwinStar Credit Union

Friend ($250 - $499) CCI Solutions Columbia BankOBee Credit UnionState Farm Insurance, Peter Mattich

CONCERT IN-KINDJerry Kvale Stormans, Inc., Ken & Kevin StormansValley Athletic ClubDr. Mary Ann VetterWestwood Baptist Church

CLINIC DONORS$10,000 +Jack & Mary Jo BelmontDr. Stephen B. KernNorthwest Endodontics, Drs. Albert Goerig & Michael Behnen $2,000 - $9,999Dr. Steven AlexanderCooper Moss Advanced DentistryPatricia & John DavisPatty & Wait DalrympleDr. Thinh HoDr. Eugene PeeplesThurston-Mason Counties Dental SocietyDr. Michael E. Werner

$1,000 - $1,999 Dr. Joseph Y. De Jesus Judith & Dean GregoriousJoyce HancockCindy & Sonny MikeOlympia Prostho- dontics & Cosmetic DentistryPeterson & Cammack Family and Cosmetic DentistryDr. Greg & Mary Ellen PsaltisRussell & Bode Family DentistrySaint John’s Episcopal ChurchSmall to Tall Pediatric Dentistry

$500 - $999 Dr. John & Cheryl DevinyB. Timothy Dolby DMD, RetiredCaroline & Michael EstcourtDr. Andy & Liz KapustDr. Mikael KautskyDr. Youngeun Kim & Robert HousleyDr. James & Margaret HutchinsonMcDonald DentistryJoella & Patrick PyattSouth Sound Oral SurgeryDr. James WilderDr. Kyle Winter

$250 - $499 Jodie & Stephen BoltJessica & Andrew ChristensenDr. Lee EdwardsDr. Charles FankhauserKip JohnsonLynda LeachDr. Levi Green, South Sound Family DentistrySteve RyserPacific Dental ArtsJohn & Sallie ParrMarilyn & Joseph PlahutaDr. Don & Alice SampsonFranklin & Sung ThompsonUnited ChurchesJoan & Bob Wubbena

CLINIC IN-KINDRich DeGarmo, RPhPacific Dental Arts, Inc - Greg WallaceDr. Eugene PeeplesProvidence St. Peter HospitalZiemek Dental LabHicker DentalSouth Sound End-odontics, Dr. Garry MyersDr. Robert HaegerDr. William Peterson

GRANT SUPPORTUnited Way of Thurston County

FOUNDATION SUPPORTThe Community Foundation of South SoundWashington Dental Service Foundation

Olympia Union Gospel Mission | 360.709.9725 | 413 Franklin St NE, Olympia WA 98501 | OUGM.ORG

Healer, Lover, Provider

Written by volunteer

A Little Bit Country...A Little Bit Rock 'n' RollA staff member from the Mission re-cently had a phone call from a woman that was at the end of her rope and didn’t want to live any longer. She was homeless for the first time in her life. Injured at work she had lost everything and had been living in her car for the last four months. At the age of 52 and unkempt looking, she knew that no one would hire her for work. Staff told her to immediately come to the Mission and a bed would be provided for her at the Nest. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone and then crying, she said, “I have been looking everywhere for help and you are the first person that has come to my rescue.”Your financial help has provided a short-term shelter for women at the Mission, affectionately known as the Nest.

UNDER THE OVERPASSWritten by Mike Yankowski Reviewed by Donna Morse

The street corners of our cities are becom-ing more and more places where homeless gather. Some play guitars, or other instru-ments, hold signs asking for handouts, or just shout out their needs. They are often dirty, smelly, unpleasant in manner, or odd in behavior. They are addicted to drugs or alcohol or both, needy, immoral, often dishonest, perhaps even wanted by the law.

So how on earth are we to react to this growing display of needy humanity on our streets? As those with faith in God, what would He have us do to help? Our reaction is important.

Under the Overpass is the story of two Christian young men Mike and Sam, who took to the street with nothing more than cheap sleeping bags, a backpack and a guitar each. For five months they lived on the streets of six major cities in the U.S. They panhandled for food, slept wherever they could, and be-came acquainted with a variety of souls who were homeless. They took on that unkempt

demeanor and uncertain existence of the streets. It was an eye-opening experience. Their obser-

vations as insiders living the homeless life are insightful for us all.

Mike and Sam made it a point to attend a church every Sunday no matter their condi-tion. The reactions they received were en-lightening, sometimes enraging, sometimes humbling. They lift a mirror to the faces of Christians and give us pause.

The book closes with sound suggestions based on the experiences of these two young men, both observers and par-ticipants in life on the street. “We’re respon-sible to help others toward hope in Jesus’ name.” said Mike. “But we are not responsible for their choices.” He goes on to say that loving in Jesus’ name is something we are to do; food, water, clothing; and time are valuable ways to help.

How would God have you show His love to those on the streets? What would He have you do?

A journey of faith on the streets of America

There are times when I look into the day room and I am overwhelmed with the sea of broken lives. Lost souls dam-aged by addictions, or daily plagued with mental illness or shaped by years of abuse. If I let myself mentally contin-ue down that path I would soon become as despondent as those I ache for. BUT GOD stops me in my tracks and brings light to a humanly, hopeless situation. He reminds me, “Your’re not here to ‘fix’ anyone but to point them to the One who can ‘fix’ them.” Sometimes He lets me briefly gaze through his eyes and see His marvelous works.

Just recently I saw The Great Healer intervene for a woman who arrived at the Mission in a very, distressed, mental state. Agitated and fearful she had refused medical help in the morning but by the afternoon she had agreed to go the ER. The next day she returned to the Mission, having received medication to help her anxiety, and could remember a family member’s phone number so she called them. Relieved to hear from her they came and got her off the streets of Olympia.

Another glimpse into the Lover of our Soul’s care came as He led an elderly lady to the Mission who needed help to get off the streets. She had no addictions and never expected to find herself on the streets… but there she was. We were able to help her locate shelter and start the process of finding a home. Listening to her testimony of God’s faithfulness in keeping her safe on the streets and directing her to the Mission would warm your heart.

Last week I saw how The Great Provider furnished a young man, whose health has been deteriorating rapidly over the last few months, a ticket home to his family where he will be cared for and not sleeping on the cold sidewalks of our city.

These are little glimpses, short peeks, into God’s faithful gifts to those whom He sends through the Mission doors. So I will choose to look into the day room with the lens of thankfulness and praise for His gifts and continuing care.

HOLIDAY MEAL $1.75

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LIVING OUT OF A CAR

Photos by Tom M.

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 7:17

Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDOlympia, WA

Permit No. 624

IN MEMORY OFCraig Lowe, from DSHS c/o Mardy Franks from Diamanta TornatoreJudy Schultz, from Carol & Chad Sherrell Jane Sayler, from Betty Jean BrownDeborah Kay Liss, from Don & Grace Webster from Mary Horton & Sheryl Holdaas from Aunt PennyEdward Marinig, from Mike & Sharon BoringRay Forcier, from Ruby Benjamin from Robert & Esther Higley from Patricia Wilson from Susan Porter Cathy Kee, from Wally Kee

Deenie Dudley, from Leah Cochran

6:30pm ~ Fellowship & light appetizers7pm ~ Program Stories from those we serve Accomplishments & vision for the future Andrew Christensen, President Loren “Skip” Steffen, Executive Director

...(He) is upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. Heb.1:3b

MISSION NIGHT OUT Thursday, November 13, 2014Join us!

Lacey Community Center