Dave and Suzanne are the kind of couple that, on the surface, are opposites: Dave is a contemplative software developer, Suzanne a dynamic educator and researcher in the field of youth mental health. “She's outgoing and I’m the introvert,” Dave says. But underneath the surface, their values are deeply aligned — as Suzanne puts it, “We’ve always felt called to support missions and bring others into that in gentle ways.”
Both Dave and Suzanne were raised in homes where caring for others was modelled and prioritized—and both were introduced to Union Gospel Mission at a young age. Dave’s youth group participated in several UGM services in the 80s, while Suzanne led Trinity Western’s Friday night street ministry as a young adult. The couple met at church, and by then their practice of giving was solidified: at their wedding reception, in order to request the newlyweds kiss, guests were invited to make a donation to UGM.
Now 26 years married with two grown children, the couple focuses their energies on inviting others into the habit of intentional generosity. Dave has volunteered in the UGM kitchens and the Thrift Store, while Suzanne has been including her friends in caring for an underprivileged community in Cabo San Lucas. “There’s no running water, there’s no electricity, and it’s so easy not to see the shocking poverty that’s literally beside the airport,” she says. “So much of life is just looking outwards and finding the opportunities to do what you can.”
Through her work studying trauma, Suzanne has seen time and time again that God’s heart for people is simple: every single person matters. “Every person experiencing homelessness is somebody's child,” she says. “We all want to be acknowledged: to be spoken to, listened to, seen, understood.”
The couple’s support of UGM is anchored in their belief in God’s goodness. “The Bible asks us to love God and love our neighbours,” says Dave. “Those are two things that last forever. When we give, it’s not because God is short on money — it’s because when we give, it changes our hearts.”
Everyone has a part to play in helping people overcome poverty, homelessness, and addiction. Learn more about how your giving can change lives and transform generations at ugm.ca/hearts-city.
