History and Purpose

The Union Gospel Mission has been serving and meeting the needs of the Least, the Last and the Lost of the Yakima Valley since 1936.In the mid 1930s many older men displaced by the Great Depression came to Yakima. Without jobs and without hope, they turned to the bottle to drown their sorrows. Front Street developed into a “Skid Row” that became the gathering place for many outcasts and alcoholics.

Concerned Christian citizens began the Yakima Union Gospel Mission with 3 silver dollars and vision to help make a difference in their community. Their purpose was that the Mission provide food for the bodies and hope for the spirits of the homeless men gathering near the railroad tracks. In those early years the Mission's ministries expanded to include overnight shelter with showers, and then a long-term rehabilitation program.

-Al Kocher started in September 1936 as the first superintendent for three years.

-Jimmy Wahlbrink served for the next 25 years from 1939 to 1964, when he died.

-Vern Elwell provided leadership for 3 years from 1964 to 1967, when his life was ended by a car accident.

-Roger Phillips began his term as superintendent and then as Executive Director in February, 1968. He retired on May 31, 1997, after more than 29 years of service.

-Rick Phillips succeeded his father Roger Phillips on June 1, 1997.

In 1970, Dr. Ralph Hill helped Roger start a Dental Clinic with donations from various dental practices and supervised by a volunteer group of dentists and nurses who donated their time and talent to help alleviate pain.
As the Mission continued, it became evident that it could no longer cater primarily to single men, but was in need of space for families needing shelter. In October 1969, an adjacent two-story building became available. It took 100 two-ton truckloads to clean out the old “HERBS FOR EVERY ILL” building before construction could take place. God used Roger Phillips’ vision and his carpentry skills to reconstruct an old building into something useful and full of purpose. In 1972 the family shelter was completed and dedicated to the Lord.
Early 1976 saw a remarkable development beginning to take shape. Two different Yakima churches offered the Union Gospel Mission two adjacent campsites, which included some twenty buildings. The camp was renamed Lost Creek Village Camp. It has been a blessing not just to inner-city youth but also adults, retreat groups, church youth and family camps from all over the Yakima Valley and beyond.
In 1988 Roger Phillips’ son, Rick Phillips, decided to follow the example his parents had set and came to help in an expansion project called the “Holtzinger Building.” The ever growing ministry of the Mission demanded more space, and the 90,000 sq. ft building looked like the Lord’s answer. On May 1, 1990, the building was 2/3rd’s complete when a spark from a welder’s torch set off one of the largest fires in Yakima’s history.
While ministry continued in the old Mission building, another development emerged much to everyone’s surprise. Roger Phillips has been approached by the Yakima School District about possibly buying the old Madison School building and using it for a Youth Center. Not really sure if this was what the Lord wanted, Roger suggested that the Board make a ridiculously low offer of $28,000 for the half a city block and building, about one-seventh of the fair market value. The offer was accepted, and in 1989 the Mission Youth Community Center emerged in an area that was known as “the drug hole.” After four years of looking for a new home for the Mission’s ministries, Roger Phillips was given Board approval to bid on a rundown motel at 1300 North 1st Street. The Mission bought the motel on the county court house steps in 1994 for the exact amount that was received from the insurance fire loss settlement on the Holtzinger building. In the Lord’s timing He provided a great location with easy access, a better facility, and more property for future expansion.
In 1996 Roger Phillips saw a window of opportunity for ministry in the Yakima County Jail. A chaplain was hired and a cooperative effort with the Department of Corrections was established to provide a life changing experience and exposure to the truth of God’s word as a basis for living. The “God Pod,” a section of the County corrections facility, was set aside for the chaplain’s intensive Christian training of inmates volunteering for his course. A Spanish language pod was added to the ministry in 1998.
After nearly two years, and thousands of hours of volunteer and non-volunteer labor, the new Mission facility was renovated to usefulness. By faith, a warehouse and shop and 6 R.V. hook-ups for Mobile Missionary Assistant program volunteers were added on the property. Finally, in May 1996, the Union Gospel Mission moved to the location at 1300 North First Street.
Clinic facilities at the new location were used by the dentists and foot doctor right away. In January of 1997 a Medical Clinic staffed by the volunteers doctors and nurses began seeing patients.
In 1997 after 30 years as Executive Director of the Yakima Union Gospel Mission Roger Phillips retired. Rick Phillips having worked with the Mission for 9 years as assistant director stepped in as the new Executive Director.
In 1999 the Union Gospel Mission ministry was expanded to provide a program for single women. Carolyn Lund helped to establish a much needed Women’s New Life Program for up to 6 women located at the 1300 N. 1st St. facility.
As donations kept pouring in to the warehouse, Rick Phillips felt it necessary to find new ways and outlets to distribute clothing and house hold items. Instead of throwing away good items that our clients didn’t need or want Rick was encouraged by Mable Millard to have a garage sale. In July of 2000 at the old 13 S. Front St. facility volunteers set up tables filled with usable donated items. In a day and a half over $3,500.00 was raised from odds and ends and some collectibles. As a result of the successful sale The Olde Lighthouse Shoppe was opened. The outlet was designed to help cover the overhead costs of maintaining the building, provide ministry training opportunities with our clients and support ministry in general.
Over the years the Board of Directors had considered a few different industry options as a means of extending our New Life Program to include on site job training. In 2003 New Hope Industries was started with the purchase and remodel of Cal Clark’s property & warehouse. Rick Phillips hired Jack Peters, who had experience in the child nutrition school lunch programs locally, to head up a central kitchen with the ability to provide lunches to small private schools. Mission New Life Program Graduates and qualified homeless individuals would have the opportunity to learn, develop a working track record and earn a wage. New Hope Industries started providing lunches to Riverside Christian School in March of 2004.
Other ministries the Mission provides to the community include clothing, furniture, and household items distribution, Christmas gifts for children and guests, personal care facilities such as showers, laundry facilities, and haircuts. Supplemental food is given to those needing it through the regular, and holiday food box program. All of the Mission’s services are provided without charge to the recipient.