b'recapTwenty-four hours well spentby Sarah RiegerKnox Area Rescue MinistriesA vision that launched in 2017 at Winchester Rescuehomelessness and its root causes. Participants included Mission in Winchester, Virginia, has grown into a coast- neighbors, civic leaders, pastors, program graduates, to-coast movement aiming to break down stereotypes,current mission guests, and community members. humanize stories of struggle and resilience, and People sat down. They shared stories. They asked real highlight the work of rescue missions and life transfor- questions. And communities paid attention.mation ministries. Most people dont know where to begin when it Conversations on a Bench, a 24-hour livestream eventcomes to addressing the challenges of homelessness, designed to spark dialogue about homelessness andsaid Tom De Vries, president and CEO of Citygate its root causes, recently generated more than 1,400Network. This event invites communities to ask ques-conversations on benches, raised over $275,000 fortions, share concerns, and talk openly with local ministry local ministries, drew more than 1.3 million livestreamsleaders serving in the trenches every day. When we and impressions, and reached an estimated 584 milliontalk honestly and listen purposefully, solutions begin to people through media coverage and press releasesemerge, and hope takes root.across North America. Each participating ministry hosted its own 24-hour On October 910, 2025, 70 CEOs sat on 70 bencheslivestream, broadcasting from benches just outside theirrain and shineacross the United States, creatingministries. Simultaneously, Citygate Network carried spaces for unscripted, face-to-face conversations abouta national broadcast from Fresno Mission (Fresno, Orange County Rescue Mission33'