The Atlanta Mission Board of Directors, chaired by Tom Wilkes, is pleased to announce that Tensley Almand has been selected as the next President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlanta Mission. Tensley will succeed Jim Reese who will retire effective July 1, 2022 after serving as President and CEO for 13 years.

For the last 12 years, Tensley has been the Lead Pastor of Decatur City Church, one of the eight Atlanta-area churches of North Point Ministries. His charisma and spirit were attractive to a very diverse population in Tucker and Decatur. He intentionally developed deep relationships with Decatur leadership and nonprofits to make Decatur City Church a pivotal part of the community. Tensley has led Decatur City from the start-up phase with limited resources, to a team of over 30 staff and contractors, hundreds of volunteers, a recognizable brand, and over a thousand people in attendance every week.

When Decatur City Church was selected to become part of North Point Ministries, Tensley joined the executive leadership of one of the largest churches in the US. That experience sharpened his leadership skills and will also be a vital support as he moves to Atlanta Mission.

“Tensely is a perfect fit to lead Atlanta Mission into the future as evidenced by his success in ministering and shepherding a high performing team and large church. He is a vision-caster, inspiring people to do something bigger than themselves and empowering them to do things they never imagined they could do,” shared Tom Wilkes.

Tensley was born and raised in Atlanta, a city he cares deeply about. He and his wife Laurie are parents to four children and are actively involved in their local church, their children’s schools and the community. They are excited for this next chapter in their lives posing the critical question, “How can we continue to make this city we love better because we’re here?” For Tensley, it’s evident that Atlanta Mission stands in the gap between broken people and destruction. “This community is better because of the work of Atlanta Mission, and I feel honored to be a part of that,” he shares.

Tensley will begin his career with the organization on May 2. “We are confident that Tensley will be able to continue the great work that Jim has humbly stewarded over the last 13 years,” Tom Wilkes shared.

“He is the right person for Atlanta Mission at this moment in time – to lead the organization as we continue to innovate and serve those facing homelessness with care and excellence.”

The Presidential Selection Committee is indebted to CarterBaldwin Executive Search for the expertise, extensive work and personal attention during the search process; their commitment to identifying the most qualified of candidates was invaluable.

For more information on Tensley’s transition and what comes next for Atlanta Mission, watch this video: