by Ismael M. Belkoura and Marissa Greene, Fort Worth Report
November 2, 2026

Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County has a new temporary leader. 

The faith-based nonprofit that provides services for homeless persons announced Nov. 2 that Mitchell Ellis, 38, will serve as its interim CEO. Prior to his appointment, Ellis sat on the nonprofit’s board since 2024 and led security initiatives for Union Gospel Mission, according to his biography on the mission’s website.

“Serving on the board, I got to see it happen in practice. Coming up and visiting, volunteering and serving here, this place truly lives out what they say they do, and that was really refreshing to see,” Ellis told the Fort Worth Report. “I just felt like ‘Man, what a really great opportunity to be able to to pursue something that’s been in the works for the last 138 years.’” 

Ellis said his appointment as interim CEO came as the Union Gospel Mission board was seeking a leader to bring “short-term stability to the organization.” He expects to serve for 90 to 180 days with his current title and has not decided whether to accept the role if it was offered in a long-term capacity.

Union Gospel Mission’s former chief executive, Charles M. Wolford II, mutually agreed to part ways with the organization in September. Wolford joined the mission in 2024 after the nonprofit’s previous leader, Don Shisler, stepped into an CEO emeritus role for two years.  

The Report was unable to reach Wolford prior to publication. 

In a statement to the Report, Caroline Samis, board chair of Union Gospel Mission, said Ellis was the right person to lead the nonprofit during its transition.

“His experience as both a business owner and a law enforcement officer brings valuable perspective and leadership to this role,” Samis said. “The board was unanimous in its support of Mitchell, and we are incredibly grateful for his willingness to step in and serve. We look forward to working alongside him as we continue the important work God has called this Mission to do for our community.”

Ellis previously had a 13-year career with the Fort Worth Police Department. During his time in law enforcement, he worked as a patrol officer in a tactical unit and spent four years as a detective in the Crimes Against Children Unit. He worked closely with the Alliance for Children of Tarrant County, the District Attorney’s office and Cook Children’s Hospital, he said. 

He and his wife then became entrepreneurs, first with Airbnb and later creating La Palmilla Texas Hotel, a boutique resort and wedding venue in Glen Rose. He also served as an executive leader for two pipeline services companies.

Ellis is a member of Paradox Church, located in downtown Fort Worth, which has partner ministries with The Net, Fort Worth Pregnancy Center and the DASH Network. Looking ahead, Ellis said he hopes Paradox and Union Gospel Mission can work together. 

Describing his new appointment, he said it was an honor to be a part of an organization that acts as a lighthouse for people in need.  

“We’re a beacon of hope for people, and they’re maybe facing the hardest time in their life, and I think the most important thing is just continuing, continuing that legacy,” Ellis said. 

Ismael M. Belkoura is the nonprofit editor for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from North Texas Community Foundation. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org.

Marissa Greene is the faith and fellowships editor at the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org.

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

This article first appeared on Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. ""