Welcome Home. Here, Us, Now.
A space for all of us seeking what's real and sacred in a world that rushes past the soul.
Welcome Home. Here, Us, Now.
Interviews Inside The Welcome Center
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Welcome And What You Will Hear
SPEAKER_03Welcome home, Hear Us Now, a podcast of the Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County, a space for all of us seeking what's real and sacred in a world that rushes past the soul.
SPEAKER_02I'm Eric Engelman, a volunteer at UGMTC, and your co-host, president and CEO of UGMTC, Charles Wolford.
Tour Setup And Three Conversations
SPEAKER_03I was given a tour of the Welcome Center at Union Gospel Mission in Tarrant County. Afterward, I set up in a meeting room and interviewed some of the people I met on that tour. Here are parts of the three interviews.
Ebony On Outreach And SOAR
SPEAKER_03I am in the Welcome Center at Union Gospel Mission in Tarrant County, and with me is Miss Ebony. Hi.
SPEAKER_04Hi, how are you doing?
SPEAKER_03I am good. Thanks for coming by. We're visiting the well, I got it I got invited to the Welcome Center like three times in one podcast episode. And so it was like um hard to turn down. So packed up some gear and came out.
SPEAKER_04We're glad to have you.
SPEAKER_03Well, thank you. I did a tour led by Mark. At the time, you looked like you were in and out of the dignity room and doing some other things. Are you an outreach person here?
SPEAKER_04Yes, so I am part of the outreach team. I've been in homeless services for about 11, 12 years. So I've experienced with a lot of things regarding our community and what to focus on and what their barriers might be. And I do specialize in SOAR, so I'm SORE certified, which that helps clients apply for Social Security benefits and retirement and other things in that area.
SPEAKER_03It looks like you look after uh you outreach folks look after a lot of different details on behalf of the the people you're serving.
unknownYes.
SPEAKER_03Excellent. How did you get to UGM?
SPEAKER_04So I came from Partnership Home, which was Terran County Homeless Coalition, and then I knew about UGM because I've been in this population from a long time. I started off with Catholic charities, so I kind of knew what their mission was and what their purpose was going to be. And so I believe in their goal, their long-term goals for our outside friends. So they were one of my long-term community partners.
SPEAKER_03Excellent. So you already had kind of a relationship with Union Gospel Mission. You're kind of dedicated to the Lancaster area.
SPEAKER_04I also serve the Arlington area. We partner up with Arlington Police Department, and we have an outreach there every first and third Monday of the month at the new library downtown. And so it's other organizations that are at that site, and we're able to help people that are walking in that's in need of resources, uh, maybe SNAP benefits, the things that I specialize in, like Social Security, um, and ongoing services.
SPEAKER_03So you're dedicated to this population. How long has God had you around Lancaster with your heart in it?
SPEAKER_04Um so I say about eight years, eight years in the Lancaster area. Um, but I I'm originally from California, so I know I'm from the Bay Area, so that looks different. But the Lancaster area, eight years.
SPEAKER_03Excellent. Um do you think there's a big difference between uh Lancaster and the part of California are you from?
SPEAKER_04Yes. Um I do feel like in the Bay Area, San Francisco area, homeless look different. It's I feel like it's less resources that we have there. Um sometimes I wish I can take my work and bring it there to see how I can help out the homeless population in that area. So I do um I do see that it is the need of more resources and then back home.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Okay, so Lancaster is important to you, but you just called California home.
SPEAKER_04Home, yes. Home is always gonna be home, you know?
Why Recuperative Care Matters
SPEAKER_03I've I was impressed with my tour here uh at what you guys are doing now and the space that you have built out for the future, the future medical support that you guys have. There are there are a number of rooms that are ready for uh recuperative care. Recuperative care, right? And you have something that was a pharmacy and is now gonna be more a clinic and uh place for interns to practice their knowledge.
SPEAKER_04Yes.
SPEAKER_03That that'll be that's good. So uh what do you think about the the changes going on at the Welcome Center?
SPEAKER_04Um I think we're it's we're we're rocking and rolling, you know. Um we kind of just got thrown in here, you know, to see when we first opened and we wanted to see how it was all gonna all come together. And I'm very proud of how it is coming together. Um I think it's gonna be a great thing once everything comes together and we're gonna see how much traffic we get, you know, as far as the recoupative care and see how many people need that help. And it's very needed right now. You know, a lot of people get released from hospitals and they don't have nowhere to go to recoup, you know, and so that is very awesome. Um, I love that part. And then we have counselors here. So once all that comes together, I just I know I know it's gonna be great because it's great now. Everything's rocking and rolling now. So yeah, so I'm so proud.
SPEAKER_03Excellent. Well, is there anything else you want to talk about while you're you got headphones on and a microphone in your hand?
SPEAKER_04And I'm just proud to be here, you know, proud to be here and just uh looking at the long-term goals here. So I think it'd be wonderful. I think you know, everything's gonna come together and um we're gonna be able to help more people. That's that that's the goal.
SPEAKER_03I noticed uh a lot of the rooms are, you know, future something, future office. I think that's pretty, pretty healthy. Uh just say this is this is set aside for the future that uh that we're working toward.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so you can get a visual look of what my ideally might be there, you know. So that's I'm just happy and to see that I'm a part of this. So uh yes, and God is good. So I'm amazed.
SPEAKER_03Well, may I pray for you and a little bit for San Francisco. Father in heaven, in Jesus' name, your kingdom come, your will be done. Thank you for Miss Ebony, and thank you, God, for your call on her life. Give her a little bit more of the love, joy, peace that comes from you through the blood of Jesus, through the giving of the Spirit, through the reassurance of being in your family. And thank you, God, you have not given Miss Ebony a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind, and bless her home wherever she is. Thank you.
SPEAKER_04Thank you so much.
Mark On Calling And Burnout
SPEAKER_03And I'm back with Mark. Mark, how are you doing? I'm good, sir. How about you? I'm doing great. I had that whirlwind tour with you handing me off like a baton Dacia, and we saw what's going on now and what is being built for the future. How'd you get here? How did you get to get to UGM? You got a couple minutes to tell us? Of course. Of course.
SPEAKER_01I have, of course, my background is in social work. Graduated from UTA with my degree in social work, mainly with the focus in child and adolescent development. So that's what I did for a while. I was a school social worker in Crowley ISD, Birdville ISD, doing those different outreach, home visits, school social work jobs along that way. I social work is a strenuous job, joyful, loving, fulfilling, strenuous, kind of burned out a bit, and moved along to TCC for a while, handled their child care program, built their child care program with a $1.2 million grant they handed us at TCC, was able to connect the five physical campuses as well as their digital campus to different child care providers at a discount, sometimes up to 80-85% discount to help out the parents at TCC. Moved from there to Lockheed Martin, getting further and further away from social work, what God has called me to do. Worked at Lockheed and Martin for about two years, and then that's Lockheed Martin right here in Arlington. Yes, sir, right there in Arlington. I worked at the one in Fort Worth, the main campus right down there in Fort Worth. Yes, sir. And just it was it was good work, good people working there, but when you're far away from what God has called you to do, you just have that feeling on the inside of just emptiness. And so I've always had a love for Lancaster, our homeless community, our neighbors that we have outside, and then having the opportunity to come here at UGM, which is like an answered prayer, asking the Lord, like, how can I make a bigger impact and then boom? Here's the Lord opening the door for me to come on in to UGM.
SPEAKER_03Well, neat.
SPEAKER_01Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_03So so you talked a little bit about burnout and emptiness. Yes, sir. I guess those things maybe are kind of related. And what is it about you're doing right now? Are you burning out? Are you uh empty? What's what's going on?
SPEAKER_01I I honestly am more filled at a position that I have been in my kind of work career thus far. I enjoyed myself when I was a school social worker. I still have the families and children that I have a relationship from my initial caseload back all the way 2015-2016. I still have parents and children from my caseload reaching out, hey, Mr. Mark, we're struggling with this. Do you have a resource for that? So that was fulfilling. And then the emptiness was more when I wasn't in the social work field. So once I wasn't able to be hands-on, helping somebody, kind of like I am now, I'm allowed to go out into the encampments and get face to face with our homeless friends, our community that we have out there, and be able to make that impact that God will like us to do. Because one of my favorite scriptures is God, when he tells us that which you've done to the least of us, you've done unto me. So I take that by heart. That's what I live by as I'm going around throughout the day. How I treat our homeless neighbors that we have outside, and God is seeing how I'm treating them. That's how He sees me treating Him.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and it sounds like that nudge of how you've been treating people is something that's been with you a while.
SPEAKER_01Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_03And that was the part that at the technical job, at the big industry job, that that's not what was uh Yes sir.
SPEAKER_01It's just a disconnect. You you like that personal touch, that personal feel and being able to be fulfilled, do God's will and God's work to be able to go out there and help someone. I joke me and my mom laugh all the time. She's like, You had all the the grades, the degrees and everything. Why didn't you go to be an engineer? And I told her every opportunity I had, you had me at Ronald McDonald's house or volunteering at the Special Olympics or doing Habitat for Humanity growing up. So it was just naturally in me and ingrained through my mother and father having me go out and help the less fortunate as I was growing up. So as I got to this adult age, being able to make those decisions on my own, it was just second nature to enjoy and be out there and helping those other people that need it. Yes, sir. And he's not done. At all.
SPEAKER_03Okay, let me give you a choice. You can either pray for the podcast or you can tell me what scriptures you have tattooed on your arm.
SPEAKER_01I will return that with a question to you. I have nine. Well, just tell me, tell me about John 15.
John 15 And Serving Others
SPEAKER_03What do you got there?
SPEAKER_01You got two of them from John 15. Two of my favorite ones that kind of go along with how I how I live, how I see life. I have John 15 and 5, and John 15 and 13. I can read John 15 and 5 to you. It says, I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. That's just how I live life. Without God, I can't do anything. I need to stay attached to Him, whether that's me waking up, praying first thing in the morning, reading the Bible plan, praying throughout the day as I help the people God has placed in my life, I won't have the strength or the ability to do anything he's called me to do.
SPEAKER_03And then And and part of that remaining in him turns out to be a little bit it impacts your career choice. Yes, sir. And what you're doing for whom. Yes, sir. Doing it for the least of these, you do it for me. Yes, sir. And that's uh very related to your your abiding in him.
SPEAKER_01Amen. Yes, sir. And then uh we said John 15 and 13. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03John chapter 15, verse 13. Mark Mark is raising up his right arm, reading the address upside down, and he wants to make sure he gets it right, so he's looking it up in his self. Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_01Greater love has no no one than this than to lay down one's life for one's friends. Amen. Yes, sir. God calls us a friend, Jesus called us his friends, and of course we know that he laid down his life for us. All right.
SPEAKER_03So well, thank you, brother. Uh of course. Uh uh I bless you where it's any of my business. I bless you in Jesus' name. I appreciate that. And uh may may He may you continue to abide and when the Lord cleans and prunes so that there may be more fruit that uh you you come through those times with bless you, bless your ministry.
SPEAKER_01I appreciate you. Thank you so much. Amen. God bless you.
Joel Explains Intake And Fit
SPEAKER_03Across the table from me is Joel. Joel, how are you doing? I'm I'm doing good, thank you. You're here at the Welcome Center?
SPEAKER_00Yes, sir. Intake specialist. How long have you been doing this and how did you get here? I uh worked here at Union Gospel Mission since uh November 10th, 2025. So uh about five months. Previously I was working at True Worth Place uh around the corner. Uh it's a day shelter attached to Presbyterian night shelter, did that for nine years, and I made scan cards uh over there. Then uh the the company I was working for, Partnership Home, got out of the direct client services game, and I really like working directly with clients. I uh left there at the end of October and transitioned smoothly over here to Union Gospel Mission. It's what I I like to do. I like to uh help people. Um when I was young, my dad said there are too many takers uh and not enough givers. And he said, No matter what you do, give uh back to your community and you can always sleep at night. Before this, I worked at child protective services. My mother was the executive director of Women's Haven, which is a shelter for battered women. And uh my dad worked at the VA clinic. Uh uh the VA had a methadone clinic uh a couple blocks away from here. And he also worked as a medical director at Millwood Hospital, uh, which is a drug and alcohol rehab slash psychiatric hospital.
SPEAKER_03So this is a family thing. This is your family has always been giving more than taking, especially in the area of of direct client services.
SPEAKER_00Yes. For for many years. Uh probably and I was a case manager uh at Presbyterian night shelter as well for a couple years.
SPEAKER_03Sounds like you heard of some of the stuff that Union Gospel Mission is doing and it's more like what you used to do, and you got over and started working here. What's the difference between let's say your job and Mark's or Miss Ebony's?
SPEAKER_00Ebony and Mark do outreach, and uh they'll go out and find somebody on uh the street, maybe they'll get a referral to g find uh somebody and they talk to them, provide them uh resources. I do intake so either Ebony and Mark will bring somebody back, I do i intake and get them uh hooked into Union Gospel Mission Across the Street, whether it be over as an overnight guest or as a resident in one of the programs across the street. I do all the I do all the paperwork and the interview, make sure they're a good fit for the program. And uh once they're deemed a good fit, then you bring them in as a resident.
SPEAKER_03So you're a critical stage in the chain there. You got some good working relationships.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. A lot of our partnering agencies uh I've had past contact with over there at TrueWorth Place when I was working for a partnership home. Almost all of the partnering agencies when they come in, they they see me uh and they're like, Yay, Joel's over here now. And so I I have uh I have connections. I know people. Yeah. Excellent. And I worked with Ebony uh for many years at Partnership Home.
SPEAKER_03So you've kind of dedicated your life toward a population, toward a job, toward something that God was calling you to, and you managed to keep doing it.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I'm I'm absolutely more comfortable in a homeless camp sitting on a milk crate than I am uh in a boardroom wearing a suit and tie.
SPEAKER_03Well, you're in something close to a boardroom, but we're not in suits and ties. That's a good deal. Well, uh let me pray for
Prayer And Closing Blessing
SPEAKER_03you. Yes, sir. Father in heaven, in Jesus' name, thank you for Union Gospel Mission, Tarrant County. Thank you for the Welcome Center, and thank you, God, for Joel, his experience, his contacts, and the love that you give in and through him. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Amen.
SPEAKER_00Amen.
