Incident Announcement | 6/2/2025Community Prayer Service | 6/5/2025Updates from Leadership | 6/5/2025See below a record of announcements and updates from Executive Director Craig Smith, which addressed and followed the June 1, 2025, stabbing incident.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”
A call to pray.
June 2, 2025 | Union Gospel Mission of SalemTo our community and supporters:
We want to formally notify you of some difficult news and ask for your support through prayer.
Yesterday evening on Sunday, June 1, Salem Police responded to a stabbing incident involving 11 people at Union Gospel Mission’s Men’s Mission. Police arrested a male suspect. The incident originated inside the building near the front entrance, and both staff and bystanders inside and outside the building were stabbed. One staff member is in critical condition and one client of our recovery program is in serious, but stable condition.
As you can imagine, our guests and staff are shaken up and grieving.
Already we are in conversation and meetings with staff and guests to discuss safety improvements, to the best of our ability, moving forward.
While we are fervently turning to the Lord in prayer, our healer and refuge, we are also grateful for the swift response of emergency personnel, including Salem Police Department, Salem Fire Department and Salem Health.
As UGM recovers, many are asking how they can help. We need your support in a way we never before have and ask for you to pray in this way:
Please pray for those who sustained injuries—pray that they will heal mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Please pray for our staff and guests—that they will be comforted and sustained amid something that cannot be easily explained.
Please pray that what the enemy meant for evil, God will turn for good.
Please pray that God would give us wisdom as we navigate an incident that is unprecedented for UGM.
Finally, please join us Thursday, June 5, for a time of community prayer and a message of hope from 10 – 11 a.m. at the UGM Men’s Mission Chapel located at 777 Commercial Street NE.
As always, UGM is dedicated to providing long-term solutions to homelessness and addiction for our guests through the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. While the Men’s Mission dayroom is closed this morning and afternoon, we plan to re-open this evening to continue providing care and resources to those who need sustained hope. Thanks to the amazing frontline staff and our dedicated volunteers at UGM, we were able to provide breakfast and lunch today.
With the exception of the UGM Mission Thrift Store, all of our other facilities remain open for services to our homeless brothers and sisters.
We will press on in our mission to help transform the lives of men, women, and children through the transforming grace of Jesus Christ, and we will not be deterred by the enemy. We know that God is sovereign, He is still good, and we are trusting Him.
Thank you for partnering with us, holding us in your prayers, and for your continued support.
Craig Smith
Executive Director
Bryce Petersen
Board Chair
Myron Jones
Director of Men’s Ministries
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Community Prayer and Worship Service.
June 5, 2025 | Union Gospel Mission of SalemThank you so much to everyone who showed up for an amazing prayer and worship service over our staff, our ministry, and our community.
We are so overwhelmingly blessed and grateful to announce the absolute miracle that both our staff members are stable. Though their recovery will be long and difficult, by the grace of God, they are both going to make it. Thank you so much to everyone for your ceaseless prayers over them.
For anyone who was not able to make it to the service, we will have more updates to come!
God bless, and thank you.
Update from UGM Leadership Team.
June 5, 2025 | Union Gospel Mission of SalemDear Friend of Union Gospel Mission,
We learned today that video footage of the tragic events of Sunday night has found its way into the evening news. As an organization we are extremely disappointed in the posting of this video and news story.
Although the video was obtained through legal means through the Marion County Court, we are concerned about the lasting impact it will have on the families of those who were injured and those who witnessed what happened. Unfortunately, it extends the trauma that many at Union Gospel Mission are experiencing.
On behalf of Union Gospel Mission, our leadership placed a call to the KGW newsroom to lodge a complaint and asked for the story to be pulled from the evening lineup.
With that in mind, we are asking you, our loyal UGM family, to continue to pray for the victims of this incident, the mission, and our community. In our community prayer meeting today, the Lord led the service and time of prayer, it was joyful and started the process of healing for our organization and our community – the points of prayer are listed here.
Pray for healing and recovery for the victims of this incident
Pray for the witnesses and loved ones who have been impacted
Pray for our staff for comfort, security, peace and boldness in the Lord
Pray for the continuing ministry of Union Gospel Mission
Pray that this incident brings us as believers into deep community
Pray that UGM will be a bright beacon of light in this very dark world
Pray for our volunteers, that they would increase in numbers
Pray with gratitude for what God is doing and will do through the UGM ministry
In Isaiah 41:10 it says, “So do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Union Gospel Mission stands strong, united in purpose and desire to serve our homeless brothers and sisters. We care deeply and passionately about our staff, and we are deeply grateful for your prayers and support.
Craig Smith
Executive Director
Myron Jones
Director of Men’s Ministries
Kathy Smith
Director of Women’s Ministries
Mark Hunter
Director of Community Engagement