Uprooted Homeless Mission Invites Homeschoolers to Help
A Chattanooga agency serving the homeless is inviting homeschool families to assist in its abrupt move out of borrowed quarters at the Salvation Army building downtown.
The Union Gospel Mission has been bounced twice already from temporary quarters after it was forced to leave its longtime abode on East Main Street.
“This has been a time that our faith has been tested, fortunately we were granted an extension by the Salvation Army and we have until Monday (June 22),” said Jon Rector, director of the 59-year-old mission to destitute and homeless men. The original deadline had been Saturday (June 20).
“We have heard from many people in Chattanooga and the surrounding region that are praying for us and are putting us before the throne of grace even as we speak. Among them are folks who care so much about the family and the home life that they are a class to themselves — homeschoolers. I want them particularly to remember me and my men.”
“I want them to be interested in our work encouraging and caring for men whose lives are full of poverty, discouragement and disaster, and who are often very open to the message of Jesus Christ, having fallen very low in their personal circumstances.”
“Homeschoolers are at the opposite end of the social spectrum of homeless men, and therefore might have greater empathy for them than do others. Union Gospel Mission is all about pouring out God’s grace on them; right now we need a little mercy ourselves.”
Rev. Rector invited homeschool teen boys to help relocate the group’s property and stores. The time will be between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday. Union Gospel Mission’s borrowed quarters are at the Salvation Army at 800 McCallie Ave.
The ultimate destination of the nonprofit group’s property was not immediately known.