Who We Are | Our Mission | Staff | Board

Who We Are

Building Hope in the City is an independent Lutheran organization that seeks to strengthen urban ministry and mission in Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Formed in August 2003, Building Hope in the City owes its birth to God's blessings and grace at Trinity Lutheran Church, a thriving, 153-year-old LCMS congregation located just outside of downtown Cleveland. Since 1992 and under the spiritual direction of Rev. Jeff Johnson, Trinity has grown steadily in size and strength. The desire to share these blessings with other urban congregations drove the formation of Building Hope in the City as a separate mission organization.

Today, with its own dedicated board, staff and hundreds of volunteers, Building Hope in the City's efforts stretch from Cleveland to Akron and Cincinnati. The organization provides a broad new voice for urban missions and for the importance of God's People to be present in the city, sharing His Word and their witness to His redeeming love in Christ.

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Our Mission

Day in and day out, our passion is to connect Christians to urban mission by planting new ministries and helping renew existing ministries.

With God's grace, we seek to focus this passion in three areas:

• Church Planting

With a goal of planting five new urban worshipping communities in Northeast Ohio by 2012, Building Hope in the City is committed to reaching across urban cultures, ethnic groups and languages with the Gospel.

• Encouraging and Equipping Congregations to Embrace Mission Renewal

Building Hope in the City leads a variety of efforts to renew existing urban ministries including consulting services, leadership training for volunteers and pastors and offering proven know-how in outreach methods that help congregations connect with their community.

• Sending God's People to the City

Our volunteers and partnering ministries are the lifeblood of this organization. Building Hope in the City serves as a rallying point and springboard for hundreds of area Christians who want to engage their faith and service to the Lord in the new ways in the city.

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Staff

Executive Staff

Rev. Jeff Johnson - Executive Director

Brian Upton - Assistant Director

 

Missionaries, Program and Administrative Staff

Nicola Abuamsha – Arabic Church Planter

Nadia Abuamsha – Arab Missionary

Francois Banyeretse – African-Refugee Community Worker

Holly Roe – Director, Urban Family Learning Centers

Lesa Hess – Secretary to Executive and Assistant Directors

Luanne Bole-Becker – Manager, Refugee Resettlement Ministries

Kevin Williams – Ministry Developer, The International Friends Program at Luther Memorial School

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Board

Deb Griest - President
Bay Presbyterian Church, Bay Village

Peggy Forni - Vice President
Trinity Lutheran Church, Cleveland

Rebecca Raymer - Treasurer
St. Peter Lutheran Church

Bill Fecht
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Westlake

Erika Haskell
Bethel Lutheran Church, Middleburg Heights

Mark Zimmerman
St. Mark Lutheran Church, Chesterland

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Board

Leslie Gicei - President
Bethel Lutheran Church , Bath

Peggy Forni - Vice President
Trinity Lutheran Church , Cleveland

Rebecca Raymer - Treasurer
St. Peter Lutheran Church

Debra Griest - Secretary
Bay Presbyterian Church, Bay Village

Bill Fecht
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Westlake

Erika Haskell
Bethel Lutheran Church, Middleburg Heights

Mark Zimmerman
St. Mark Lutheran Church, Chesterland

Phil Neumann
Messiah Lutheran Church

Staci Lowell
Willoughby Hills Friends Church

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Building Hope in the City | 2031 West 30th Street | Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Phone: (216) 281-4673 | Fax: (216) 281-4406