“Conversations On A Bench”: What To Know
September 30, 3.30 p.m.
Candlelight Remembrance To Honor Those Who Have Died; Sunrise Celebration to Usher In Hope For A New Day!
Conversations on a Bench, a 24-hour livestream at the Eugene Mission campus on the topic of homelessness, includes two special moments that you are invited to participate in: A candlelight remembrance and a sunrise celebration.
Event kickoff: Noon, October 9th
Candlelight Remembrance: 12 a.m. October 10th
Sunrise Celebration: 7:30 a.m. October 10th
The candlelight remembrance is a time to remember those who lost their lives on the street and the families who have carried on in their absence. We are inviting anyone who has lost a loved one to come to the Eugene Mission and participate in person. We will have luminary bags on which you can write the name of your loved one and a special message, and we will host a short remembrance service including music and a reading of the names we are honoring.
You can also participate online by submitting a name via the comments. To submit a name ahead of time, please email Communications Manager Kelly Rush at kellyr@eugenemission.org
Just as Jesus rose from the grave, we know that a new day brings new Hope. At 7:30 a.m. October 10th, you are invited to gather with us on campus for a sunrise celebration focused on the Hope of our faith and the promise that Jesus came to give us life, and more abundantly. The service will include Scripture reading and worship music from our local faith community.
September 12, 1:16 p.m.
Meet a Participant in our Lineup!
Meet Jake, a guest in the men’s Life Change Program. He’ll be sitting down to chat with Sheryl Balthrop, our Executive Director, for Conversations on a Bench.
The Bench is a 24-hour livestream in which Sheryl will be talking with people from across our community, including Eugene Mission guests.
“I want to shatter the stereotypes of people who come to this program,” Jake said. “You don’t have to be at ‘rock bottom.’ I had an addiction, but I also came here to start a whole new life path and build a community. Being here has changed my life immensely.”
The bench lineup so far includes people from every corner of Eugene. A few of them include:
Gabe Piechowicz, Founder and ED, Everyone Village
Ashley Espinoza, ED, Lane Workforce Partnership
Sarah Koski, Lane Transit District
Sam Polley, R3 Program grad and volunteer
Chava Kronen, housing specialist with Head Start of Lane County
Ian Stipe, Pastor at Ekklesia
If you want to participate and share your story on the Bench, click the “participate” button! Want to volunteer? Contact miket@eugenemission.org
September 3, 2.31 p.m.
Introducing "Conversations On A Bench"
The Eugene Mission is hosting Conversations on a Bench -- a livestreamed dialogue between our Executive Director, Sheryl Balthrop, and people from every facet of our community -- for 24 hours, right here on our campus.
In partnership with Citygate Network, a coalition of gospel Missions throughout the country, the initiative is an opportunity for people to sit down, ask questions, share stories and inspire understanding around the issue of homelessness in Eugene and beyond.
How does it work?
Sheryl will be sitting on a bench, sharing open and honest conversation with participants for 24 hours beginning at noon, October 9, through noon October 10. The conversations will be livestreamed and broadcast through several online platforms, listed below in the "how to watch" section.
Why does it matter?
Sharing stories can inspire action, understanding and spark Hope. We're inviting our neighbors, guests at the Mission, local leaders, healers, pastors and more to come share on a variety of topics, including recovery, policy, faith, housing and transformation.
Interested in sitting with Sheryl on the bench? If you have a topic in mind or questions on your heart, please click the button below:
How to watch the livestream:
Eugene Mission homepage: www.eugenemission.org
Facebook: facebook.com/theeugenemission
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@eugenemission377
You will have the opportunity to ask questions of any of our bench participants or our Executive Director, Sheryl Balthrop, by submitting a comment via the livestream.
Need more info? Contact Associate Philanthropy Director Julie Burket at julieb@eugenemission.org