Graduation Day: Six people to graduate from Union Gospel Mission ’s LifeChange addiction recovery community

Portland , OR- As a new building goes up on NW Third and Burnside to more than double Union Gospel Mission’s LifeChange addiction recovery program, six people will graduate from LifeChange on Saturday, February 11.

The six graduates represent the largest graduating class in the 12-year history of the LifeChange program. In LifeChange, residents live and work at Union Gospel Mission and learn to overcome addiction as well as learning marketable skills and self-sufficiency. LifeChange is Christian based and is a comprehensive and long-term approach to recovery. Residents grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually. This graduating class spent between three and four and half years to successfully complete LifeChange.

Four out of the six graduates were meth users, the other two had tried meth, although meth was not their primary addictive substance. All of the graduates had a decade or more of drug and/or alcohol use.

The graduation celebration will take place on Saturday, February 11, at 1:00 pm and Portland Foursquare Church at 1400 S.E. Ankeny in Portland .

The LifeChange graduates are: Sandy Golding, Mike Grubbs, Darren Ketcherside, John Parsons, Russell Silver and David White.

About Union Gospel Mission: Union Gospel Mission has been “feeding the hungry and restoring the addict” since 1927. Union Gospel Mission provides meals for the homeless and needy and operates LifeChange, a long-term addiction recovery community. In LifeChange, residents live and work at Union Gospel Mission for four years and learn to overcome addiction and build new lives. For more information about Union Gospel Mission and LifeChange contact 503-274-4483, or visit online at www.ugmportland.org