One Night Like Tonight

One night is a unique, sleep-out fundraiser and awareness event for The Rescue Mission. Everyone is encouraged to sleep outside for one night in solidarity and support of the ever-growing population facing homelessness. As groups share their experiences and raise funds, they become part of providing vital services to our neighbors in need.

The Rescue Mission provides participants with the tools and resources they need to help plan each sleep-out event. Everyone is encouraged to gather friends, family, colleagues, or fellow church goers and share their experiences on social media! This year Praise Point Church in Willshire, Ohio raised over $1200 and gathered 15 participants from their youth group to take part in One Night.

“I had heard about this event over the years through WBCL and wanted to get our teens involved in service,” said Jarred Hallman of Praise Point Church. “Our youth program has a foundation of Honesty, Obedience, Wisdom, and Service, so this fit perfectly with our vision for youth ministry.” The teens donated items that they made, such as wooden signs, local honey, and t-shirts, along with acts of service like yard work and babysitting. These items and services were then placed in a month-long silent auction at Praise Point Church and the entire congregation took part!

“We enjoyed the actual One Night event and camped out at the church,” Hallman said. “We were able to set up a projector outside with a fire pit and used the resources provided by The Rescue Mission.” Hallman’s group sang songs of worship, listened to testimonies provided on the website and discussed what they saw and how they understood homelessness. “One idea that came from our discussions,” said Hallman, “was for each family in the teen group to be able to pray specifically for a person staying at The Rescue Mission.”

When contemplating the experience Hallman stated “I would encourage anyone to join in the One Night event… It allows us to look outside of ourselves and see how we can be more like Jesus.” The fifteen 6th through 12th grade students from Praise Point Church made an incredible difference this year, and we are grateful. Thank you to everyone who participates in One Night. Your engagement is crucial as we continue “to provide, through the power of Jesus Christ, a home for the homeless, food for the hungry, and hope for their future.”