This is the third time Richard has stayed at the Union Gospel Mission. The first time he stayed about a week after losing a job he had held about a year. The second time he stayed a few weeks after being laid off from a job he held for about four months. Each time he came in he knew there was a program with guys trying to get their lives together, but it was not for him. After all, he would only be here a short time, just long enough to find another job.
Richard was a musician, a percussionist by trade. For most of his life he traveled on tour all over the country. If he was not on the road with his music, he had no trouble getting work in construction. But Richard did have a problem. He liked his drugs, and alcohol. He had been doing both since high school. Life on the road did nothing to help his addiction. Soon the long times away and the substance abuse took its toll on Richard’s marriage, and it fell apart. It also took its toll on Richard’s health and he soon found himself in the hospital thinking he was about to die. Richard said “I was ready to die; I just did not want to go to Hell.” Soon he made his way back to the mission and spent the
weekend hanging out with Mike our night supervisor. He asked Mike about the New Foundation Program and on December 8th 2009 he went in to talk to Gary Rowell, our Executive Director. Gary asked Richard if he wanted to serve Jesus Christ. Richard said yes, and his life has not been the same since.
Richard is now on the program at the mission and using his construction skills for the betterment of the mission. He is taking classes and has joined a church he really enjoys.