History of Yakima's Union Gospel Mission

     Excerpts from "The First Fifty Years" 

by Jim Gonderman

     1930's were hard years for many of the folks in the Yakima Valley. The early economic and physical wounds of the Great Depression were slow to heal. During these bleak days, as many as a quarter of the workforce was unemployed and a like number were working part-time. Those who found farm and ranch work could earn ten to fifteen cents an hour; experienced men might earn up to twenty-five cents an hour. The normal work week in those days was six ten-hour days, a mere 60 hour week! Men who worked on the railroad were envied in-as-much as theirs was an eight hour day, five and a half days a week. Section hands earned thirty-seven and a half cents per hour. Of course, it took two weeks to get your pay, but you got it all, the entire $16.50 of it, no deductions. The farm laborer on the other hand, could have his week's earnings any time after seven o'clock on Saturday evening and this, of course, gave him all day Sunday to spend his $9.00.

     Farmers and ranchers were hit equally hard. Wheat sold for as little as 33 cents per bushel; corn for as low as 19 cents per bushel. There were numerous bankruptcies as farmers and ranchers were unable to meet the expenses of raising their crops. Prices for apples and cherries were not high enough in some seasons to afford pickers, so the fruit was left to fall on the ground and rot.

     Residents across the entire Yakima Valley, including the 20,000 people who lived in the city of Yakima were forced to adjust to the difficult times. They did so by frugal living, raising back-yard gardens and often going without. It was a time when many folks were living on "the low side of the hawg!"  There was a growing need for everyone to join hands and talents during summer-time plenty in an effort to fend off winter-time hunger.

     The threat of famine wasn't the only problem facing the caring folks of the Yakima Valley. There was also a problem with alcohol. Excess consumption of distilled spirits, locally called "booze" or "hootch,", became a giant on the backs of many men who, without direction and purpose for their lives, allowed themselves to become overburdened and unable to stand because of the weight of excess alcohol. Yakima's Front street, hard by the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks, became a sordid part of town with drunken, disheveled and desperate men bogged down with drink, lost in the world without direction or purpose for their lives. Into this dreary time, the Yakima Union Gospel Mission had it's origin.

     The year was 1936; it was springtime when the Yakima Valley comes back to life after a cold winter. There had been talk within the Christian Community for many months and much prayer concerning what to do with the scene on Front Street. Now at last it seemed the time to act.

     Ed Dahl, Wilbur Lynn, C.W. "Ollie" Olson, Burt Thompson and Al Kocher met in the Fireside Room of the First Presbyterian Church on West Yakima Avenue to consider the plight of Yakima's Front Street derelicts. After much discussion and prayer Al Kocher suggested that they start a Rescue Mission and apply to the International Union of Gospel Missions in Kansas City (now the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions - AGRM) to become an affiliate with this international body.

     Great idea! However, it was agreed that action should be taken promptly in an effort to mitigate the problem at hand. Act now and apply later.

Ed Dahl, Bert Thompson and Ollie Olson each donated a silver dollar toward the cost of getting this new ministry started. Al Kocher agreed to organize and manage the new facility with the other men acting as Board Members. Wilbur Lynn took the three silver dollars and, along with a few more from his own pocket, negotiated a deal to rent a vacant tavern at 21 South Front Street in downtown Yakima, right in the heart of the problem.

All Board Members along with volunteers from the Christian Community worked together to install basic equipment necessary to prepare and serve meals. Part of the building would later be partitioned off to accommodate overnight guests.

The new Board recognized the need to establish a set of By-Laws; proffer a statement of doctrine and agree to basic business and Spiritual principles. Al Kocher was given the responsibility to originate these documents in-as-much as he would be the first Mission Superintendent.

     Board Members also contacted all interested Churches throughout the greater Yakima area to tell of their interests in establishing the vital ministry of Rescue on Front Street and to solicit prayers and support. The First Presbyterian Church was quick to promote support of the Mission and many of the congregation contributed clothes, food and money. Carroll Hull organized and presented Evangelical Services on many occasions during these fledgeling years. Early day teachers and preachers for the new Union Gospel Mission, in addition to Carroll Hull, were Dr. Charles Ghormley, Don English of the Gideons, Wilbur Lynn, Ed Dahl, Burt Pickens of the American Sunday School Union, C.W. Olson, Burt Thompson and of course, the Superintendent, Al Kocher.

     Long time Mission supporter and President Emeritus, John Huys man, recalls that the Union Gospel Mission opened doors to the public in September of 1936. Al Kocher conducted the initial Service, presenting a simple elementary message taken from I Corinthians 15:1-4, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Superintendent Kocher made sure that his first audience understood that the Gospel was the power to heal any broken heart and to rid any man from the ravages of sin, drink and despair and that anyone who would believe that Christ died to save him, could by faith, become a son of God and have the Lord's assurance of a home in Heaven. During the fall and winter months of 1936 and 1937, more and more Churches became involved in the ministry of rescue. God blessed the work continually, day by day, supplying food and bringing in men and women to minister with gospel songs and preachers to preach and also raising up men and women to prepare meals, clean the floors, and answer the telephone.

     The building was modified to accommodate cots for the over-nighters and of course, this added another dimension to the ministry: adding staff personnel to keep the dorm neat and clean and a laundry attendant.

     A basic format was established: men would first sit through a service after which food would be served. In this manner, all guests would be introduced to the Person of Jesus Christ and apprised of how he works in the hearts of the Christian to provide for the needs of the less fortunate. And many men did accept the free gift of salvation, experience the joy of sins forgiven and pick up the pieces of a shattered life to become good productive citizens with a growing love for God and His Word.