Moriah House Benefits from Video Release Party
Memphis Musician and American Idol Contestant Uses Video Release to Call Attention to Moriah House

With a song like "Wasted Rain" -- which calls attention to the issue of domestic violence -- Dani McCulloch made her video release party something powerful.

The former American Idol contestant and Memphis musician Dani McCulloch -- better known simply as Dani -- chose to use the opportunity to highlight Memphis Union Mission's Moriah House.

It seemed very fitting, given the subject matter of the song.

The accompanying music video was released at a private party at the Malco Paradiso on June 19.

Dani and her team used the party as an opportunity to talk about the work that Moriah House does in helping women who have suffered from domestic violence.

One of our Moriah House graduates, Melinda Hearst, shared her powerful testimony at the party, telling guests about how she had suffered from domestic violence and substance abuse, and how the Lord had used Moriah House to transform her life.

Please join us in commending Dani and her team for not only calling attention to an important issue, but using her talents to help a ministry that is helpign women in crisis.

If you'd like to watch the new "Wasted Rain" video for yourself, click here.

Seventh Annual Inner City Outreach
Memphis Union Mission and Church Partners Reach Out to Needy

For the seventh year in a row, Memphis Union Mission held its annual Inner City Outreach, and it was a tremendous - and fun - time of ministry!

Each night from May 19 to 23, we and our church partners ministered to over 400 needy men, women, and children from the downtown area.

Church partners from various parts of the city served dinner to our guests, and they provided the music, preaching, and counseling as well.

During the course of the week, 30 people prayed to receive Christ, and 39 prayed to redidicate their lives.

Volunteers also helped by praying for the event. In fact, one of our staff pastors (the very talented Steve Jessen) wrote a prayer guide to help our volunteers pray for the crusade.

Click here to download a copy of the 2008 prayer guide.

Please join us in thanking New Destiny Church, Forest Hill Community Church, Providence Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church (Southaven), and Collierville First aptist Church for partnering with us to make this important outreach event possible.

Local Corporations "Tee Off" to Benefit Mission
Third Annual Tournament at Windyke Raises Money to Care for Needy

Tee time was drawing near, but there was one more order of business before play: a story.

Marla McDonough stood before the 100 golfers and shared how she had once been addicted to heroin and homeless, but had experienced a transformation since coming into Memphis Union Mission’s Moriah House program.

Through that story, participants in the third annual Memphis Union Mission Heritage Golf Classic were reminded that the tournament would mean more than just raising money for charity.

 “A story like that helps remind them that they are having an impact on lives just by participating in an event like this,” said Scott Bjork, president & CEO of Memphis Union Mission. “I think it touched a lot of people.”

Marla shared her story just before the Mission launched its annual golf tournament, held May 12 at Windyke Country Club.

It was perhaps fitting that Marla give her testimony, as last year’s tournament raised money to install new playground equipment at the new Moriah House facility for women and children.

This year’s tournament proceeds did not go toward a specific project, but rather went to fund the Mission’s overall operating needs.

Several corporate partners helped make the event a success, including

• Fidelity Investments
• ServiceMaster
• Brim’s Snack Foods
• Wright Investment Properties.

In addition to 18 holes of golf on Windyke’s challenging east course, the tournament featured a hole-in-one contest to win $25,000 toward a car at Pat Patterson Volvo, and a $5,000 putting contest.

Nobody won either contest this year, but after sinking a 30-foot putt, participant Frank Herdzina came within a few inches of winning the 50-foot winning putt.

In the end, 100 golfers had a great time and helped raise funds to help feed and care for the city’s neediest people – people like Marla.

New Moriah House Officially Opens
Room Sponsorships Still Available

Memphis Union Mission is pleased to announce that it has effectively wrapped up its Moriah House capital campaign.

An open house was held in early May, and women and children are now residing in the new facility.

Moriah House serves women whose lives have been wrecked by domestic violence, substance abuse, crisis pregnancy, and clinical depression. The current facility is located in Midtown, but the new site is located on 4.2 acres of land in East Memphis.

Room and playground sponsorships are still available. Sponsorships are a great opportunity for churches, Sunday school classes and small groups to get involved in the lives of the women and children.

Click here for more information about sponsoring a room.

For more information, please contact Steve Carpenter at (901) 526-8403.