Renewal Story: Charles

“I thought I could do it on my own,” Charles says. He had grown up churched, but as he got older, he no longer turned to God. He now sees that was a mistake. A series of illnesses cost Charles on job after another, and he ended up on the streets of Fort Worth. For several years, he struggled to find a place to sleep, something to eat, even a friend to talk to.

The summers, Charles recalls, were the worst times to be homeless. “It was unbearable. It’s really hot, and there’s nowhere to shelter. You’re out there sweating, and you’re in desperate need of a shower. You’re not eating properly, and that takes a toll on you. It’s an experience I don’t want to go back to. It’s bad.”

It was so bad that, last August, Charles finally admitted he couldn’t do it on his own anymore. “I heard about the program at UGM-TC and decided to better myself.”

He’s glad he did… especially as summer is heating up!

“I’ve taken every class here you can imagine,” Charles says proudly. “I’ve learned so much. And I love Alpha. If you keep listening every Thursday, you’re going to put it in your everyday life.”

When he reflects on his years of homelessness, he is deeply grateful for your gifts to UGM-TC. Without your support, he says, “I’d still be out there, wandering the streets, struggling to find my way. It was hard on me, being out there, because I knew I could do better. I needed a place like this where I could plan things out.”

Now a proud program graduate, Charles is living on his own and loving every minute of it. His plans include working as a handyman and most importantly, staying in step with God. “I won’t let go of His hand this time. I know I can’t do it on my own. I need something greater than myself.” Thanks to you, Charles found that at UGM-TC.