When Jonathan was released from South Central Regional Jail, he had nothing. No car, no house, no money and his family was hundreds of miles away. Fortunately, his brother travelled to Charleston to pick him up. He suggested finding a shelter to stay in until he could get things figured out. His probation terms required him to stay local. They searched the internet and found several shelter options in Charleston.
“When my brother showed me the Union Mission Men’s Shelter and I saw it was a Christian shelter,” says Jonathan, “I knew that was the place I wanted to try.”
Jonathan grew up back in Puerto Rico in a strong Christian household. Both of his parents were active in the church and raised their family with a Christian mindset. Even though choices Jonathan made in his adult life pulled him away from his Christian upbringing, he still felt
like he was a child of God.
“I arrived at the Union Mission Men’s Shelter and was greeted by the staff. They were polite and were welcoming. They also underscored the importance of following the rules of the facility and explained how I was welcome as long as I did so.”
Jonathan explains how his attitude changed after getting out of jail.
“I did not want to return to that life – a life of drug use, selling drugs, and other poor choices. I knew it was time to get back on track and rebuild my life. I also knew it was time to return to God. I had been running away for so long but now it was time to run to Him.”
Jonathan spent a total of 5 months at the Union Mission Men’s Shelter. During that time, he was provided meals, a place to sleep, and an opportunity to search for employment, and time to spend in the Word and in fellowship with other Christian men. Jonathan has been out of jail for a year and a half now and has almost satisfied the requirements of his parole terms. He works in Charleston in food service and in construction when the jobs are available.
“I have been blessed to find work and people who are willing to give me a chance. I was given a room at the house of my employer which has
really allowed me to save up money. I now have my own car and am looking forward to moving closer to my family in Florida when I am allowed.”
Note From the Author’s Perspective: Jonathan frequently returns to Union Mission Men’s shelter to visit and to give a financial offering. These offerings are frequent and substantial for a man in his position. When I interviewed him, I asked him why he felt compelled to give so generously to Union Mission when he was trying to save money to start anew in Florida.
“It isn’t my money first of all. It is God’s money. Only through his grace was I able to be where I am today. Second, I see guys like me all the time who are getting out of jail with nothing and nowhere to go. I want to tell them all, ‘Seek Jesus first then follow his guidance to get back on your feet’.
Union Mission is the voice I want to be to those men. I want to support them as much as I can as they try to do for others what they did for me.”
People express concern at times about our Men’s Shelter. The concern is that we are enabling men to continue living the way they do. They
are concerned that if we provide food and shelter then they will never improve. There is no doubt that chronic homelessness is an issue for
Charleston and every city in the country. There are also, however, men who are looking for a chance to start over. They just need some time to get things sorted out. They need a safe place to sleep and to eat. They need some wise counsel and advice on what to do next. They need someone to show them the love of Jesus. If Union Mission Men’s Shelter feeds and houses hundreds of homeless men each year and just one of them gives their heart to Jesus and starts a new life, isn’t all the expense worth it?
The Union Mission Men’s Shelter offers respite from the street. They offer hope and structure. They offer food and the Gospel. They need your
help with funding and volunteering. Please help them reach even more men in 2022.
