REDDING, Calif. — Good News Rescue Mission CEO Jonathan Anderson is spending 24 hours on a bench, available to talk to anyone.
He is part of a nationwide initiative where several hundred rescue mission CEOs are also spending 24 hours on benches to engage in conversations about various topics, including homelessness, addiction and mental illness.
Anderson emphasized that the goal is not to seek agreement but to foster understanding without animosity.
“We don’t have to have anything in common, any of that. What we need to do is just be able to have a civil conversation with the intention that at the end relationship’s been developed. And so if we as a community can break down stereotypes, break down stigmas, have conversations with each other, build relationships through disagreements, man, how much healing is brought to our society as a whole,” said Anderson.
He invites community members to stop by for a conversation and perhaps bring some hot coffee. Anderson will remain on the bench until noon tomorrow.
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