1711 East Church Street, Union City, Tennessee 38261, United States
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
Community Service
SOUL FOOD CAFE
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
SERVICE SUNDAYS
If your Church, Sunday School, or Organization would like to serve our Community by hosting Soul Food Cafe on a First or Third Thursday of the month, just contact us. The cost of the menu is paid for.
SERVICE SUNDAYS
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
SERVICE SUNDAYS
From March-November, each 2nd and 4th Sunday we have an abbreviated worship service. (usually about 30 minutes)
We then go our and serve our neighbors with our hands and feet by showing them the love of Christ up close and personal.
We may do small construction projects for the handicapped or elderly. We may clean an widows home. We may tend to those with special needs. Our kids may visit the nursing homes with cards they made themselves. The goal is to practice real religion by getting out of the pew and Showing our love by "going into the ditch" instead of passing by on the other side.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
FEEDING OF THE 5000
C.R. is a Christ centered 12 step recovery program based on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. Our classes are gender specific. It is not just for people with addiction issues. Only about 1/3 of those in CR are alcohol or drug related addictions. Many of us suffer and are recovering from co-dependency, religious hurts, toxic relationship, sexual abuse, and so many other hurts, hangups, and habits.
FEEDING OF THE 5000
Kings and Queens Prom
FEEDING OF THE 5000
Each year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving the Obion County Ministerial Association host the Feeding of the 5000. We will give away about 1500 bags of groceries and that evening have a traditional Thanksgiving meal for 700-800 people from our Community.
Kings and Queens Prom
Kings and Queens Prom
Kings and Queens Prom
Everyone has IMMEASURABLE WORTH! Each May the REFUGE host the Kings and Queens prom for those in our community with special needs. This is one of the most memorable events. Each participant enjoys a scrumptuous banquet with their invited guest. Then we all dance. Our Kings and Queens are driven around in a Limousine. Then each participant is crowned King or Queen. If you would like to serve in this wonderful ministry contact us for more information. Check out the pics in the photo gallery. ...
How to Help the Homeless
Facts and Tips
Now that the weather is warming up you may see some homeless friends more often. Here is a list of facts about rural homelessness and some suggestions on how to help.
Facts:
1. There is no emergency homeless shelter within a 60 mile radius of Obion County. ☹️
2. A committee that included community leaders and pastors met several years ago to discuss the need and decided against pursing a shelter. There were many reasons. Funding, 24 hour supervision, and the fact that most of our homeless are locals were a few reasons for not pursuing a shelter. ⛪️
3. Most people (not all) in Obion County who are homeless have had housing locally in the past. 🏠
4. Reasons for homelessness vary but can include excommunication from family, mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and “couch hopping”. There are sometimes situations where someone had a tragedy or job loss and lost housing.😢
5. It is often the case that local churches or individuals will pay for a hotel for a few nights. Within a few days, the homeless are back on the street or at best staying with a friend. 🏩
6. Helping someone find housing and a job usually takes a minimum of 6 months from start to finish. 😳
7. To get a job a person needs I.D. To get I.D. you need a birth certificate or social security card. To obtain those documents, you have to have an address. 🧐 This “circle” can be a big problem for the homeless.
While all this may seem disappointing, there are productive things that can be done to help.
TIPS:
1. Do not give cash. Purchase food, clothing, blankets, gasoline, water, or hygiene products yourself and give it to them. This will assure that you are not enabling any addiction or mental health issue. ❤️
2. Get a list of local food banks and have it handy. Refuge Church provides meals on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. ❤️
3. If you engage a homeless person, decide ahead of time what your personal boundaries are with time and money. You may be asked to do more than you are willing to do. IT IS OKAY TO SAY NO. **Don’t forget that the process of help can last for months, if they are willing to get legitimate help. ❤️
4. Obtain a list of local recovery group meetings. Recovery groups may have access to rehab facilities or other programs that can help. ❤️
5. Pray with them. A CR guideline states “We are here to support one another, not fix another.” Jesus knows what they need and he sees them. One of the kindest things you can do for a homeless person is ackowledge their immeasurable worth in the eyes of God. ❤️
6. If you do desire to help over the long haul, get advice from those who have successfully helped the homeless find housing and jobs in the past. ❤️
