News Release

WARSAW —  On Wednesday, Jan. 22, Fellowship Missions will facilitate a 24-hour conversation between Eric Lane, co-founder and executive director of Fellowship Missions, and city officials, Fellowship Mission guests and residents, as well as the community at large.

“Conversations on a Bench,” a national event sponsored by Citygate Network, will take place on a bench indoors at The Gathering Place, 123 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw. Fellowship Missions invites anyone who has questions or wants to talk to Lane about the issues of homelessness, addiction and mental health to stop by the bench anytime during the 24-hour livestream, which starts at 1 p.m. Participants can also submit questions through an online forum, allowing the community to engage at their convenience, day or night.

Initially launched as a 24-hour event for one Rescue Mission in Fresno, Calif., “Conversations on a Bench” has now expanded to Fellowship Missions and 14 other rescue missions this year across the United States. The goal is a national movement that sparks transformative conversations about homelessness and related challenges.

“People often shy away from or don’t know where to start when it comes to addressing these critical issues. I challenge the community to come talk to me — let’s have real conversations, especially if you feel frustrated or hopeless about these issues. Talking it out is the first step toward finding solutions. Anything is on the table for discussion, and I welcome you to come and test me on that,” said Lane.

Through authentic, live-streamed interactions, “Conversations on a Bench” aims to break down barriers, inspire collective responsibility and elevate the role of Fellowship Missions and its ministries to beacons of hope and change in Kosciusko County and other communities across the country.

“Solving the issues of homelessness, addiction, mental health and related challenges can feel overwhelming. So, let’s talk about it. Ask the questions others are asking — especially the tough ones. I hope that my conversations with people can inspire new ways to work together as a community and garner more support for Fellowship Mission’s life-changing programs, ” Lane said.

“Only when we have a holistic understanding can we effectively address the issues and feel empowered and compelled to help.”

To join the live stream and submit questions, visit Fellowship Missions’s Facebook page at facebook.com/fellowshipmissions.