Watch

Urban Confessional Provides Free Listening on the Street

Creator:
Published:
March 27, 2024
January 18, 2019
Watch how this organization was created with one objective: helping a stranger by listening.

This week Grotto catches up with Benjamin Mathes, who runs a movement called Urban Confessional. People who are part of the movement (in 80 countries around the world) stand on street corners with signs that say "Free listening."

"It's a humbling experience to sit there with somebody," he shares. "Being heard is so close to being loved."

Video Transcript

Benjamin Mathes, founder of Urban Confessional and acting coach, Los Angeles, CA.

I'm Benjamin Mathes. I run a movement called Urban Confessional, where we stand on street corners in about 80 different countries around the world and we hold signs that say, "Free Listening" — and we just let people say whatever it is they need to say.

In 2011, I found myself in a really low place. I was looking to heal myself and ground myself through serving other people. One day, a homeless guy asked me for some money, and I didn't have any, but I said that I could pray with him. And so in the middle of the street, we sat there — and we're together, and I thought, This was really healing. I thought, What would be the closest thing to free prayer that I could do? And I thought, maybe free listening.

I've learned a lot more, I've connected more deeply with people. Some people will sit down with you for hours and share what's really deep inside with them, and it's a humbling experience to sit there with somebody while they do that. Being heard is so close to being loved, and most people cannot tell the difference, and I think that that's what we're doing.

If you're looking for more ways to give back, subscribe to Grotto Network.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
March 27, 2024
January 18, 2019
On a related note...
Jesus' Favorite Podcast EP 9: Celebrating His Goodness with CeCe Winans

Jesus' Favorite Podcast EP 9: Celebrating His Goodness with CeCe Winans

Grotto, Ebony Moxey, Javi Zubizarreta

3 Lessons from this Pandemic That Might Shape Our Future

3 Lessons from this Pandemic That Might Shape Our Future

Chuck Lamphier

Make Community Mean Something in this Pandemic

Make Community Mean Something in this Pandemic

Ben Wilson

Chasing New Fitness Goals? Unlock the Power of Accountability

Chasing New Fitness Goals? Unlock the Power of Accountability

Claire Krakowiak

7-Language Radio Show in Zambia Spurs COVID-19 Awareness

7-Language Radio Show in Zambia Spurs COVID-19 Awareness

Grotto Shares

Nonprofit Combats Racial Disparity in the Bail System

Nonprofit Combats Racial Disparity in the Bail System

Grotto

Answering Violence with Forgiveness

Answering Violence with Forgiveness

Grotto

How Volunteering Led to an Unlikely Friendship

How Volunteering Led to an Unlikely Friendship

Manda Carpenter

How I Found My Crew in College — Without Drinking

How I Found My Crew in College — Without Drinking

Dan Masterton

What 'Dune' Teaches Us About Scarcity and Social Equity

What 'Dune' Teaches Us About Scarcity and Social Equity

Hanna Van Elk

How This Nun is Helping Immigrants at the Border

How This Nun is Helping Immigrants at the Border

Grotto Shares

A Lesson in Patriotism from Ukrainian Refugees

A Lesson in Patriotism from Ukrainian Refugees

Stephanie DePrez

The Perks of Shopping at Your Local Farmers' Market

The Perks of Shopping at Your Local Farmers' Market

Lauren Fritz

How Do You Go on a Date?

How Do You Go on a Date?

Grotto

Transforming Skid Row with Stunning Street Art

Transforming Skid Row with Stunning Street Art

Grotto

How I Talk About Faith on Social Media

How I Talk About Faith on Social Media

Molly Cruitt

Voices of Synod 2018 | Bill Staley

Voices of Synod 2018 | Bill Staley

Grotto

Our Favorite Thing About College Football Season

Our Favorite Thing About College Football Season

Grotto Shares

How To Thrive in Isolation, From a Cancer Survivor

How To Thrive in Isolation, From a Cancer Survivor

Mary Beth May

Empowering Women to Tell Their Own Story

Empowering Women to Tell Their Own Story

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.