Voices from the Streets

In this special episode of Voices from the Street, Pastor Robert Briggs sits down with two remarkable young women serving at Union Gospel Mission: Angela Stetsenko and Rebekah Lathrop. For the first time, Pastor Briggs welcomes two staff members into the studio at once to share their unique stories of faith, calling, and service.

Angela, originally from Ukraine, and Rebekah, a Sacramento native, open up about their childhoods, their...

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Voices from the Street, Pastor Robert Briggs sits down with Cliff West, a staff member at the Sacramento Union Gospel Mission, to share the remarkable story of his life — a testimony of brokenness, survival, and ultimately, redemption through Christ.

Cliff opens up about his childhood marked by poverty, abuse, and instability, growing up in the Inland Empire of Southern California. From ...

Join us on Voices from the Street, the inspiring radio ministry of the Sacramento Union Gospel Mission. In this special episode, Executive Director and pastor Robert Briggs welcomes staff member Matt Biro to reflect on faith, transformation, and service.

Matt shares his journey—from a comfortable California childhood, through deep loss and addiction, to a life reclaimed by the gospel. Hear how grief claimed both his parents within w...

In this episode of Voices from the Streets, Pastor Robert Briggs speaks with Union Gospel Mission chaplain Alan Birdsall about his unlikely journey from a self-indulgent college lifestyle to a life transformed by Christ. Alan shares how God used a gospel video on Facebook—posted by a childhood friend—to open his eyes to sin, grace, and salvation. Now serving on the frontlines of gospel ministry in Sacramento, Alan discusses the pow...

In this heartfelt episode of Voices from the Streets, Pastor Robert Briggs sits down with his executive assistant, Masha Galchenko, to explore her remarkable journey from war-torn Eastern Ukraine to a life of ministry in Sacramento. Masha shares her immigration story, her conversion to Christ through the preaching of R.C. Sproul, and how she found her calling in serving the city’s homeless through the Union Gospel Mission. Gain ins...

In this powerful episode of the Union Gospel Mission podcast, Executive Director Robert Briggs sits down with Chris Morris, Director of Chaplaincy at UGM Sacramento. Chris shares his compelling story—from a turbulent childhood and military service to years of wandering in sin and finally being transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Listeners will be moved by Chris’ honest reflections on brokenness, addiction, near-death experien...

In this moving episode of Voices from the Street, Pastor Robert Briggs sits down with Cesar, a member of the Union Gospel Mission’s kitchen staff, to share his incredible story. Born and raised in Sacramento, Caesar’s early life was marked by family struggles, gang involvement, addiction, and nearly a decade in prison. Through it all, God's grace was at work. Listen as Cesar recounts his powerful journey from despair to salvation, ...

This episode of Voices from the Street continues the compelling testimony of Pastor Tony Arnds, hosted by Pastor Robert Briggs of the Sacramento Union Gospel Mission. It picks up after Tony’s dramatic conversion and his wife’s subsequent salvation, both of which happened while they were living and working on a ranch in Montana. Eager to grow, Tony devoured Scripture, especially Philippians, and began Bible college while still worki...

In this conversation, Pastor Robert Briggs interviews Pastor Tony Arnds about his life, ministry, and journey to faith. Tony shares his upbringing in a non-religious environment, his early influences, and the significant turning point in his life when he encountered Jehovah's Witnesses. This led to his conversion experience, where he felt the power of God's Word and the conviction of sin. The discussion also touches on the impact o...

Pastor Robert Briggs interviews Christian Okeze, the chief chef at the Union Gospel Mission, about his journey from Nigeria to the U.S., his struggles with addiction, and his transformation through faith. Christian recounts his relocation to Oakland, his addiction to Percocets, and his multiple arrests. After being released from prison in December 2023, he sought refuge at the Union Gospel Mission, where he found spiritual and phys...

Robert Briggs, the Executive Director of the Sacramento Union Gospel Mission, hosts a radio show featuring Christian Okeze's testimony of faith and transformation. Christian shares his background. He was born in Nigeria, lost his mother at eight, and moved to the U.S. with his family. He recounts his father's passing at 21, which led him to raise his younger sister and face personal challenges, including addiction. Despite these st...