Churches rally for mission
<p>Several pastors have come together to support the Union Gospel Mission in Coeur d'Alene. From left are Gary Fox, Mike Rima, Dan Staeuble, Dan Christ and Tim Remington.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Several pastors and churches in the Kootenai County area are banding together to support the new Union Gospel Mission Center for Women and Children.
Many of these churches will be collecting a special offering on Sunday in hopes of funding the first year of operating expenses at the center expected to open in August.
"UGM is the church," said Mike Rima, pastor of Lake City Community Church. "We are the church. We're rallying around UGM because these guys are uniquely gifted and qualified to provide healing environments for very broken people that, quite honestly, we as the body of Christ must learn to do better."
The UGM Center for Women and Children, under construction at 196 W. Haycraft Ave., will combine short-term emergency shelter for women and children in crisis with long-term residential recovery.
Lake City Community Church will be putting a unique spin on the Sunday offering - inviting the congregation to give one day's pay - all of which will go "beyond the four walls of the church" to minister to hurting people. The concept of one day's pay provides the opportunity for everyone to give sacrificially according to their ability.
Gary Fox, pastor of New Life Community Church, said the collaboration between churches is not a one-time event.
"We're trying to mobilize every individual to do their part, so for us as a church, that's volunteering, that's getting involved with the practical aspects of this ministry," said Fox.
Other pastors behind the effort include Dan Christ of Coeur d'Alene Assembly, Kurt Staeuble at Coeur d'Alene Bible and Tim Remington of The Altar.
Christ said they all have the same goal.
"We want to see lives that are broken be put back together by the grace of God," he said. "This gives us a real tangible way to be engaged in compassion."
Christ said that when he announced the offering to his congregation and explained it would be a joint effort with other area churches, the sanctuary erupted with applause.
"It's not just sacrificing funds from time to time. It's tangible, hands-on serving, mentoring, embracing. Compassion actually means to suffer with people," he said.
An open house at the UGM site in Coeur d'Alene is set for 4-6 tonight and 11-3 Sunday.
Infomation: www.ugmspokane.org/kootenai/ or (509) 535.8510.