Meet David

The love YOU share

At City Union Mission’s New Life Center, an unexpected oasis of growth is flourishing—over 30 species of plants and vegetables are thriving against the backdrop of urban life. This vibrant garden, teeming with life, is more than just rows of greenery; it symbolizes resilience, hope, and the transformative power of faith.

Tending to this garden is David, a participant in our New Life Program. David’s journey is deeply rooted in the soil, not just of this garden but of his past. David’s love for farming traces back to his childhood on a farm, where he first learned the rhythms of planting, tending, and harvesting. For David, returning to the earth feels like coming home. The garden is more than a task—it’s a sanctuary. It’s a place where he connects with God in quiet moments of prayer, feeling the divine blessing upon the work of his hands.

David was once a business owner, however, beneath the surface of his success, David struggled with a drug addiction that eventually brought his business and personal life crashing down. At his lowest point David and his family turned to City Union Mission, realizing they couldn’t do it on their own.

Seeking a fresh start, David and his family joined the New Life Program (NLP) at City Union Mission, which offers families and single women a comprehensive, Christ-centered path to recovery and transformation. The long-term NLP focuses on whole-person health and rehabilitation, providing participants with foundational classes in healthy recovery, life skills, and Biblical studies. Through individualized case management, counseling, and one-on-one discipleship, participants create their own personalized healthy living plans. The goal of the NLP is not just recovery but life-changing transformation, with the aim of achieving stable housing and viable income to live and thrive. Participants like David and his family live in the New Life Center, which offers private apartment-style living spaces with shared kitchen and dining rooms, fostering both community and independence.

The garden’s flourishing growth mirrors David’s own progress and resilience, showing that new life can spring forth from the most unlikely places. As a loving father and husband, David finds joy in nurturing both his family and his garden, drawing strength from the parallels between the two. With a generous heart, he delights in sharing the vegetables and harvest with others, seeing it as a way to give back and bless those around him. His journey and his garden are beautiful testaments to the ways City Union Mission supports individuals and families in cultivating new beginnings.

Hope lives here.