Introduction to Union Rescue Mission
When Union Rescue Mission started 135 years ago, horse-drawn wagons scooped up wayward souls around downtown Los Angeles and delivered them to a nearby haven, where they might get a bowl of soup and a dose of prayer. Today, the mission on San Pedro Street in downtown Los Angeles fights to bring a measure of relief in the midst of what’s believed to be the biggest encampment of homeless people in North America. It offers food, shelter and myriad programs to try to lift up those who are struggling.
An Unlikely Quarter of Help
In the midst of such overwhelming need, help has come from an unlikely quarter — an Orange County mega-church. For the last several Sundays, a busload of congregants from Mariners Church have driven to Union Rescue Mission to offer love, prayers (and the occasional hygiene kit) to people used to being ignored. “In a large church like ours, we’re reminded that we are all created in God’s image,” said Jorge Molina, the Mariners Church pastor who helped bring the O.C. to L.A.’s most troubled neighborhood. “We can’t forget we are here for the whole city, for the whole country,” for everyone.
OC Takes Over Sunday Services in LA
Mariners maintains congregations around Orange County. Collectively, the membership ranks among the largest in California. The church’s first venture into Los Angeles began late this fall, when the Union Rescue Mission’s leaders asked whether their southern neighbors would be interested in running Sunday services. Molina grew up in El Salvador. He had seen people living in dire circumstances. But the reality of skid row — block after block of cardboard hovels, with people adrift, many fighting inner demons — stunned him. “I did not even realize there were places like this in the U.S.,” he said. “I felt safer in a Third World country than I did here.” But he and Mariners’ senior pastor Eric Geiger also felt certain: “This is where Jesus would come to church.”
A Chicago Native in the City of Angels
On a recent Sunday, a video connection with the OC allowed Geiger to preach to about 110 people in the Union Rescue Mission chapel. He showed a video of the 60-year-old “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and reminded people how Linus described the true meaning of the holiday. Geiger told them that Linus finally could leave his beloved security blanket, wrapping it around the Christmas tree, when he found true protection in Jesus Christ. That brought a round of “Amens” from the Rescue Mission congregation. A few minutes earlier, Steve and Olivia Button, church members from Aliso Viejo, had been on the sidewalk when Ernest Fenner came whipping along on a scooter. Fenner stopped to see what all the balloons outside the Union Rescue Mission were about. He stayed to talk to the Buttons, then later huddled with them at the front of the church. Fenner, 64, said he had left his native Chicago because he didn’t feel welcome. He’s doesn’t trust many of the other tenants at his nearby residential hotel. But at least on this day he appreciated being seen by a couple of strangers. “That’s why I say here in California, they got the name right, the City of Angels,” Fenner said. “Because, there are angels out here.” He promised that he’d do himself up for the following Sunday, saying, “I guarantee you, I’ll put my teeth in next time.”
Other News
Heavy rains cause flooding in the streets of San Francisco as a storm system pummels Northern California. A major atmospheric river storm hitting Northern California is expected to move through the state and bring SoCal its worst Christmas storm in recent memory. Forecasters are predicting the storm will bring five straight days of rain through the holiday, bringing widespread flooding and travel risks. The 9-year-old who was reported missing in October has been found dead, a relative confirmed to The Times. A months-long investigation ensued after Melodee vanished during a road trip with her mother, who was taken into custody Tuesday morning. Doctors are warning that the virus, fueled by a new strain, may be especially hard on kids this year. State and county data shows a surge in concentrations of flu detected in wastewater in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a rising test positivity rate in L.A. County and Orange County.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Mariners Church and Union Rescue Mission is a heartwarming example of how different organizations can come together to make a positive impact on their community. By providing support and resources to those in need, they are helping to bring hope and relief to the people of skid row. As the City of Angels continues to face challenges related to homelessness and other social issues, it is inspiring to see groups like Mariners Church and Union Rescue Mission working together to make a difference.
FAQs
Q: What is Union Rescue Mission?
A: Union Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization that provides food, shelter, and other services to people in need, particularly those experiencing homelessness.
Q: What is Mariners Church?
A: Mariners Church is a mega-church based in Orange County that has recently begun partnering with Union Rescue Mission to provide support and resources to people on skid row.
Q: What kind of services does Union Rescue Mission offer?
A: Union Rescue Mission offers a range of services, including food, shelter, and various programs aimed at helping people get back on their feet.
Q: How can I get involved with Union Rescue Mission or Mariners Church?
A: You can visit the websites of Union Rescue Mission or Mariners Church to learn more about their work and find out how you can get involved, whether through volunteering, donating, or other forms of support.
