Cleveland Couple Lead Dynamic Discussions on Race from the Lens of Scripture
JUSTIN AND LEAH, FOUNDERS OF NEW CITY CLEVELAND, TAKE THEIR (G)RACE MATTERS CONVERSATION TO A NATIONAL CONFERENCE.
Justin and Leah Ross, co-founders of New City Cle (NCC), a faith-forward nonprofit leading community development efforts in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood, are a vibrant and passionate couple, spreading the message of biblical racial justice in their community and beyond.
As a bi-racial Christian couple raising a growing family of four children, they have a unique and personal perspective on racial reconciliation, which is why they offer ministries to educate, connect and serve those eager to open up their hearts for a dialogue that can often be tough to navigate. It is through these ministries that the two of them are deeply connected with Dr. Vatreisha Nyemba, Director of Community and Leader Development at Building Hope in the City (BHITC). Dr. Nyemba has befriended their mission and invited the couple to join BHITC’s LIFT (Leaders in Faith Together) program.
“When we got married, I had not done any reading or critical thinking about racial reconciliation,” says Justin. “I lived the experience first with Leah and our families. This led to me going back and fully entering topics of race and faith. It became something very personal, which is part of the unique experience we bring to this conversation...it is truly a lived experience with racial reconciliation.”
Throughout 2023, Justin, Leah and Dr. Nyemba have gathered Christians from across the region for sessions they have titled (G)Race Matters. These evenings of community conversation thread the connection between race and justice and how the Bible links the two concepts in understanding God as a reconciler of all people to Himself and each other through Jesus. The sessions, which explore scripture from Genesis to Revelation, are filled with heartfelt stories, genuine exchanges and eye-opening realizations.
To date, over 100 BHITC friends, volunteers and partners have attended a (G)Race Matters session in Cleveland and recently opened it up to a new audience. Justin and Leah had the opportunity to bring their (G)Race Matters presentation to the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, and their impact was nothing short of inspiring. CCDA annually gathers 1,500+ city ministry practitioners for its conference.
“Personally and for NCC, biblical racial reconciliation is always at the center of what we do, and it is already an integral value within CCDA,” said Leah, who adds that so often in conversations about racial reconciliation, the biblical viewpoint and narrative is ignored or left unexplored. “God’s heart places a huge value on justice and He commissions us to join Him in it. That needed conversation is part of our personal story and is what makes our hearts catch on fire.”
Similar to the presentation in Cleveland, Justin and Leah’s workshop at the Cincinnati conference was centered around the idea that the Bible does not speak against racial justice, but rather supports and encourages it. As the couple
shared their journey of how they started New City Cleveland and the challenges they faced as an interracial couple, the audience was moved. Many could relate to the struggles of navigating through society’s prejudices and stereotypes, but Justin and Leah’s strong faith and unwavering love for each other and their cause gave hope to many. Several workshop attendees offered to partner with New City Cleveland to bring the workshop to their city or organization. “We are both so encouraged to see this material as valuable and as meeting felt-needs in the body of Christ,” they said.
To learn more about New City Cleveland and how their mission is being carried out alongside Building Hope in the City, visit NewCityCle.org.
BHITC’s LIFT program provides support, mentoring and consulting to faith-forward ministry leaders in Cleveland who are leading emerging and growing organizations. BHITC’s goal for LIFT is to form a network of well-equipped city ministries in Cleveland over time. To learn more, contact Dr. Vatriesha Nyemba at vatreisha@buildinghopeinthecity.org.
