UGM honors men, women completing program

Twenty-eight men and women who completed Union Gospel Mission’s Recovery program were honored in a commencement ceremony at Lake City Church on Tuesday.

To complete the program, participants had to reach a series of milestones on the 16-month-long journey, including maintaining sobriety, completing a job practicum, acquiring a job and moving out.

"Many UGM Recovery participants bring with them years of substance abuse and have deep wounds from childhood trauma or domestic violence," a press release said.

This year’s commencement marked a new beginning for James Bureau and other participants.

Bureau, one of this year’s honorees, came to UGM for a meal and a bed but said he received much more.

Bureau heard about the LIFE Recovery program and decided to give it a try. “What changed for me? First of all, it was trust. And love. Being honest, you know. I had to be honest," he said.

Bureau said he learned to be honest about himself and assume responsibility for the choices that led to his homelessness and addiction. A therapy technique referred to as "psychodrama" helped him forgive himself and those who had hurt him.

UGM’s clean-and-sober requirements helped him clear his mind and body of drugs and alcohol, and Bureau said he learned to replace toxic habits with healthy relationships.

“I have good friends now," he said. "They’re like family. That’s something I’ve never had before.”

Today, Bureau has a job, an apartment, a car, no warrants, no guilt and a community of honest, supportive and loving friends — all because he didn’t just stay for a meal.

"He did the hard work necessary to turn his life around," a press release said. "And UGM provided every resource he needed."