“Wagner Hills is a safe, beautiful place that provides healing and growth and transformation for people on the road to recovery.” Those are the words of Wagner Hills Executive Director Jason Roberts. Not surprising, given his role – but clearly…
Four years ago, I was laying on the street in the Downtown Eastside, about to try heroin for the first time. But then, I turned over and saw the UGM sign. If it weren’t for that, I believe I’d be…
“I do feel that tasting wine can be a profoundly spiritual experience.” Dr. Gisela Kreglinger was speaking at St. John’s Vancouver Church, but she is sharing that message in a number of settings while visiting Vancouver. Kreglinger, who grew up…
Raised in foster care, a child of alcoholic parents and residential school survivors, 47 year old Loretta John is no stranger to pain. But after overcoming alcoholism, addiction, homelessness and poverty, and after enduring decades of back-breaking labour work, Loretta…
Twenty-one years ago Mike Miller stepped off the bus in Vancouver with nine dollars in his pocket, looking for a fresh start. Despite his desire to break from his addiction and move forward in life, he ended up homeless, sleeping…
Wes Janzen has had a foot in two worlds for many years, shuttling back and forth between Langley and Ukraine. Here he has been a fixture at Trinity Western University for 33 years, as professor of music and director of…
Ah, Missions Fest! Always one of my favourite times of year, not far behind Christmas and summer holidays. There are other missions conferences around the world – including several directly modelled on ours – but few if any rival the…
On Tuesday morning, Nisga’a tribe member and residential school survivor Alex Watts will embark on his most noteworthy canoe journey to date. He will lead the ‘Nisga’a Friend’ in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s All Nations Canoe Gathering. Not only will Alex…
When Union Gospel Mission approached artist and Emily Carr University Instructor, Jeanne Krabbendam, about donating art to hang in the alcohol and drug recovery program’s building, she knew she could do much more than that. Through her vision, an entire…