United Ministries Wrap

Celebrating 50 Years of Serving Greenville

VOICES OF

Transformation

“People come to us in the midst of crises, and we meet them where they are.”

LIZZIE BEBBER

“I fell in love with tutoring at United Ministries because it gives me a sense of purpose.”

GARY BARNHART

“I didn’t know what to expect, but my family felt welcomed in the churches where we were housed.

We adapted well.”

CATALINA HAWLEY

“United Ministries has always asked,’What can we do to assist our participants?”

DAVIDA BRYANT

[Through their work with IHN, Catalina and her family are thriving – and working to achieve their financial goals.]

Fred earned his GED and was supported

by Employment Readiness in getting his CDL – “I wanted to be a good role model for my kids.”

FRED LEWIS

“UM staff was there every step of the way.”

JEREMY KELLY

1970

A H I STO RYO F

Transformation GUM changes its name to United Ministries (UM).

Crisis assistance expands to include medication assistance.

The Place of Hope, a day shelter for homeless people, and the Employment Readiness program are begun.

1980 1990 2000

Greenville Urban Ministry (GUM) was founded by the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and focused primarily on serving those in crisis.

Beth Templeton becomes Executive Director in 1983 (continuing through 2007).

The Life Skills Program (now Adult Education) is begun.

UM defines their service model to include Survival, Stabilization, and Barrier Removal programs.

With the assistance of Westminster Presbyterian Church, United Ministries purchases and dedicates the Learning Center at 503 Vardry Street.

UM adopts a new mission statement: United Ministries provides life-changing opportunities for people in Greenville County who lack education or employment skills, who are in financial crisis, or who are homeless.

UM begins implementing the integrated service model, focusing on long term financial selfsufficiency. This leads to the creation of a matched savings program, and the addition of a financial counselor and a mental health counselor.

2010

The first Uniting for Change Luncheon is held in 2015.

2020

United Ministries celebrates 50 years of serving Greenville.

United Ministries announces a new Executive Director, Lizzie Bebber, who joined the organization in April.

United Ministries activates a response to the COVID-19 crisis in Greenville.

United Ministries and Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (GAIHN) join together, expanding housing for homeless families, and UM announces a new identity.

FAC E S O F

Transformation For 50 years,

United Ministries has extended Greenville’s generosity to our neighbors who need it most - from the indigent and homeless to families working to make ends meet.

United Ministries’ programs work

Most importantly, this work has a

to assist with crisis needs as

longer-term impact – on individual

well as to empower people to

lives and on our collective well-being

develop financial self-sufficiency,

– as people break free from cycles of

an achievement that can be truly

instability to fully participate in the

transformative for individuals

work and life of Greenville’s thriving

and families.

community.

Join with us

in making transformation possible – for individuals, families, and our community.

CO N S I D E R B E CO M I N G A M O N T H LY D O N O R $25 a month will cover a GED student’s testing fees. $50 a month will provide 12 bags of food for families in your community. $200 a month will provide a participant scholarship for the medical coding QuickJobs at Greenville Tech.

Any amount provides life changing opportunities for those seeking a hand up at United Ministries.

Together we can create a Greenville where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. www.united-ministries.org/donate