The Dyersburg-Dyer County Union Mission was incorporated on October 16, 1961, with a group of volunteers concerned with meeting the needs of those less fortunate. These needs included providing food, temporary shelter, Bible studies for adults, youth programs, Christmas food baskets, Christmas toys for children, clothing, and household items, all for needy families.
During the first ten years, the Mission program found its home in various locations.
In 1970, with its first full-time director, other programs were developed; also, already-established programs began to grow, and continue to grow even today. These outreach programs required staff and a host of volunteers. They included counseling, radio programs, distribution of Bibles and literature to nursing homes and jails, and a very important role in uniting and coordinating churches, other charitable agencies, and government agencies in meeting the needs of local families with rent, utilities, etc.
Then in 1972, with a more permanent facility at 207 W. Cedar, a Youth Detention Center was de-veloped in coordination with the Dyer County Juvenile Court. The first Mission office was also located in this facility.
In the Fall of 1974, a new facility was built which contained a new clothing department (instead of an old house); a food pantry; two offices for emergency assistance such as rent, utilities, medi-cine, transportation, food, counseling; a transient lodge to sleep six; a kitchen and dining room to feed approximately twenty; a chapel (sixty seating capacity); and a storage and processing room to keep clothing articles to give needy families and fire victims. This facility’s Open House was held April 1, 1975 .
In 1975, the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Mission was organized to encourage ladies throughout the area to volunteer their time and services to promote the many programs of the Mission. This vol-unteer group is active and valuable to the work today.
In the Fall of 1978 a warehouse was added to this facility to expand the program to provide furniture to needy families plus storage for out-of-season clothing, approximately 30’ x 60’.
In the Spring of 1983 a new facility was built, on land provided by Dyer County (a 50-year lease), to expand the youth ministry. Instead of a Detention Center, our emphasis had gradually changed to a home setting.
In April of 1983, New Life Youth Home was completed, to provide a Christian atmosphere in a rural setting, to provide personal care for up to twelve teenagers re-ferred through the Department of Youth Development and the Department of Human Services.
In June of 1983, our old DetentionCenter became our Family Shelter to provide a temporary shelter for local, transient, or homeless families. Two sleeping rooms are available today.
On October 1, 1987 a satellite ministry in Halls, Tennessee, began, with a clothing and furniture store and family assistance, along with an office to assist local families with rent, utilities, food, etc., such as in Dyersburg. UPDATE: In the Fall of 1989, the Halls Mission moved next door to its first location, using the old location as a warehouse and expanding the size of the store for better ministry capabilities.
Because of growth in our entire program, in the Spring of 1989 our office space was increased, which decreased our chapel and meeting room. Also, a computer was purchased to handle our client files on needy families.
In June of 1990, our programs expanded to include New Life Youth Camp, a summer program to involve at-risk kids referred through twelve area schools. This camp program involved various fun-packed activities in a rural setting, activities such as swimming, horseback riding, Bible stories, singing, nature walks, archery, fishing, boat riding, games, crafts, videos, breakfast, lunch, snack, and more. In our first year over sixty volunteers gave their time to make it a very successful program.
In March of 1991, this part-time summer program working with at-risk kids became a full-time program with a full-time Youth & Family Life Director. A new van was purchased to transport these youth to various functions, along with vans from churches and other agencies. This program, like all other programs, depends heavily upon volunteers and community involvement plus a dedicated staff.
In August of 1996, due to an increasing need for community support of developing and existing programs, the position of Director of Development and Volunteer Coordinator was created for the purpose of developing support for the Mission, helping recruit volunteers, and coordinating investment management. Currently the Mission has 15 full-time and 13 part-time employees.
On September 10, 1996, the Community Café was opened, replacing the existing noon meal program. This opening expanded the Monday-through-Friday noon meal to include women and children and also recruited churches for volunteers to help with serving and clean-up.
On May 4, 1997, the new Mission Youth Center, located on Church Avenue behind the Mission, was dedicated. This 9300-square-foot facility is a place where the Youth & Family Life Ministry can be carried out year round. This center, where after-school programs began in August 1997, consists of a gymnasium and activities-and-learning center with classrooms, lounge, kitchen, and offices. There will be hundreds of at-risk kids who will benefit from this new center, where staff and volunteers can meet with, offer support to, and mentor them on a consistent and long-term basis. With the opening of the new center, a new Youth & Family Life Director was hired, along with the new position of Youth Coordinator, to help carry out this expanded ministry.
On August 14, 1997, the Dyersburg Thrift Store was opened to help create extra income for Mission ministries. Now located at 207 West Cedar, this store offers for sale donated clothing, crafts, and gift items appealing to a more diversified clientele, with the purpose of bringing in more revenue for expanded Mission programs.
November 1, 1998: The CommunityFoodCenter was opened, also at 207 West Cedar, through the renovation of a part of the existing Family Shelter. This enabled the Mission to store more food for more hungry families and also to better utilize food for all Mission food programs.
On March 12, 1999, the Halls Union Mission, in an effort to improve ministry and having outgrown its facility, moved across the street and added the Halls Boutique to appeal to a broader range of clientele. More space was needed in order to minister more effectively to more people with food, clothing, household items, and furniture.
October 4, 1999, One + One Mentoring began, matching Christian adults (age 21 and up) with at-risk kids (age 7 and up). Adults give at least 1˝ hours weekly for at least 1 year with each child – Making a Difference in the Life of a Child.
On May 1, 2003, the Hidden Treasures Thrift Shop was opened at 219 South Mill to help expand Mission services by providing clothing, furniture and household goods and at the same time create extra income for Mission ministries. On September 30, after five months of successful performance under a lease agreement, the building in which Hidden Treasures operates was purchased.
New Life Youth Home closed June 2006 due to changes in DCS guidelines, allowing Mission energies and resources to be re-directed to assisting more at-risk children through Family Life ministries.
2007 - Major remodeling and increasing size of kitchen (Community Café); new Barn, fencing, and other improvements at Camp, along with a roadway and some site preparation for new RetreatCenter
2008 – Making plans to better serve the needs around us
