Hundreds of city leaders came together for the 43rd annual Long Beach Leadership Prayer Breakfast on Friday, Oct. 9, to reflect and celebrate hope in the Long Beach community.
Hosted by the Long Beach Rescue Mission, attendees enjoyed a morning filled with prayer, recognitions and inspirational speakers. AC Green, a former member of the Los Angeles Lakers and an NBA champion, and founder of the AC Green Youth Foundation, served as this year’s keynote speaker. He shared the journey of his career, which later led him to help mentor at-risk youth.
Local leaders, neighbors, and community members come together for the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jeff Levine, President and CEO the Long Beach Rescue Mission, hosts the 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Local leaders, neighbors, and community members come together for the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Local leaders, neighbors, and community members come together for the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Chief of Police Wally Hebeish and Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan perform the Flag Salute during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Local leaders, neighbors, and community members come together for the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Shaun Chisholm offers a prayer during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Local leaders, neighbors, and community members come together for the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Chief of Police Wally Hebeish and Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan perform the Flag Salute during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jeff Levine, President and CEO the Long Beach Rescue Mission, hosts the 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The LA Lakers AC Green delivers the keynote address during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The LA Lakers AC Green delivers the keynote address during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Local leaders, neighbors, and community members come together for the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Chief of Police Wally Hebeish greets supporters during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The LA Lakers AC Green delivers the keynote address during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jeff Levine, President and CEO the Long Beach Rescue Mission, hosts the 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Chief of Police Wally Hebeish and Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan perform the Flag Salute during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Matt and Judy Cullen receive the Community Leadership Award at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Shaun Chisholm offers a prayer during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The LA Lakers AC Green delivers the keynote address during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Local leaders, neighbors, and community members come together for the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Matt and Judy Cullen receive the Community Leadership Award at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Matt and Judy Cullen receive the Community Leadership Award at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jeff Levine, President and CEO the Long Beach Rescue Mission, presents the Community Impact Award to members of the Trauma Intervention Program at the 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The LA Lakers AC Green delivers the keynote address during the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Local leaders, neighbors, and community members come together for the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s 43rd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Long Beach on Friday October 9, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
“Keep doing the good things; keep making a difference,” Green told the room full of community leaders. “Keep making an impact and keep being a champion in your space.”
Green applauded the work that the Long Beach Rescue Mission does. The nonprofit works to be a place of healing and hope serving the greater Long Beach community by “improving the quality of life of the hurting and homeless through loving and equipping them to be reconciled to themselves and God,” according to its website.
Jeff Levine, president and CEO of the nonprofit, said that the event hopes to encourage and challenge people to make a difference in Long Beach.
“Our heart and our time here this morning is that you would be both encouraged that God sees you,” Levine said. “But that you would also be challenged to ask, how would God use you in this coming season of growth?”
More than 400 people converged in the Westin Hotel in downtown Long Beach on Friday morning for the prayer breakfast. Guests included city and county officials, and representatives from nonprofits and businesses across the city, among others. This year’s theme was “Celebrating Hope.”
“Please be the champion for someone today,” Green said as he ended his speech. “Be the champion for someone today, make it your goal, make it not only your vision but your passion, and make someone’s day.”
During the event, Long Beach Rescue Mission also presented awards to community leaders Matt and Judy Cullen, and nonprofit Trauma Intervention Program for their work in the community.
The Cullens received the 2026 Community Leadership Award for their work with the mission and other organizations in Long Beach, such as Precious Lamb. TIP of Long Beach received the 2026 Community Impact Award for its work supporting individuals and families during the traumatic events.
Throughout the event, Levine also shared the accomplishments of the Rescue Mission, highlighting the opening of the nonprofit’s youth shelter for young men, Timothy House, and its outreach program, Search and Rescue.