Today we’d like to introduce you to Tensley Almand.
Tensley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Tensley was born and raised in Atlanta. He and his wife Laurie are parents to four kids – Will, Jake, Eli and Hallie. Prior to Atlanta Mission, he had been in vocational ministry for almost 20 years and for the last 12, was the Lead Pastor of Decatur City Church, one of the eight Atlanta-area churches of North Point Ministries.
He graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Master’s of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
As the President and CEO, Tensley believes that God led him to Atlanta Mission.”Ultimately, to me, coming to Atlanta Mission is the great answer to: What should I do with who I claim to follow, and what I claim to believe?” It’s a question that once turned the world upside down and eventually led him to an even more exciting but terrifying set of questions: “What’s next? How can we continue to make this city we love better because we’re here?” Tensley believes Atlanta Mission stands in that crucial gap between broken people and utter destruction and that our city is better because of the work that Atlanta Mission does.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been deeply meaningful, but I wouldn’t call it smooth.
I came to Atlanta Mission from a church-based ministry context where influence often flows through vision, teaching, and relationships. Leading a large, complex organization like Atlanta Mission required me to stretch in new ways: operationally, financially, and structurally. Overnight, the scope expanded: compliance, facilities, staffing, budgets, systems, city-wide partnerships, and the weight of stewarding an institution that has served this city so well for decades.
One of the early struggles was learning how to slow down just enough to listen to the organization’s history, to long-tenured staff, to partners, and to the realities of homelessness and addiction at scale. Vision alone isn’t enough in this work; it has to be translated into systems, processes, and sustainable execution. That learning curve was real.
Another challenge was navigating the tension between urgency and patience. The needs are immediate, people are hurting right now, but lasting transformation takes time. Learning when to push and when to build carefully has been a refining process.
That said, the transition has also been deeply clarifying. At its core, this is still ministry. It’s just ministry expressed through leadership, stewardship, and community collaboration. Over time, I’ve grown to really love the complexity because behind every system, every decision, every dollar, are real people and real lives. I truly believe Atlanta is better because of the work we do, and not just for some, for everyone!
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been formative and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I believe the challenges themselves have made me a better, more grounded leader for this season and for this calling. I’m exactly where God wants me to be.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
If You’re Asking About Me Specifically:
I lead Atlanta Mission, one of the largest and longest-serving organizations addressing homelessness, addiction, and poverty in our city. At a high level, my work sits at the intersection of vision, systems, and people. I’d like to think I’m helping an organization with a deep legacy adapt, grow, and stay faithful to its mission in a rapidly changing city.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a single project, it’s the shift in posture we’ve made as an organization. We’re moving from operating in more of a silo to working more collaboratively across the city. We’re also actively reimagining what a modern, trauma-informed, Christ-centered rescue mission can look like for the next generation.
What sets me apart is that I bring together pastoral leadership and executive leadership. I’m deeply formed by ministry, but I’m equally committed to discipline, data, systems, and accountability. I care just as much about how we lead as what we build.
At the end of the day, I’m most proud when the people around me, our staff, partners, and the men, women, and children we serve, feel dignity, hope, and ownership in the work. If we’re building things that outlast us and truly serve the city, then we’re doing it right.
If You’re Asking About Atlanta Mission Specifically:
Atlanta Mission exists to help people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and poverty find long-term transformation, not just temporary relief. What we do goes far beyond emergency shelter. We provide safe housing, meals, recovery programs, workforce development, family services, and ongoing support, all designed to help people rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.
What really defines our work is that we focus on pathways, not just programs. We meet immediate needs like food, shelter, and safety, but we’re equally committed to addressing the root causes that keep people stuck, like trauma, addiction, lack of skills, and relational isolation. Our approach is trauma-informed, holistic, and deeply relational, recognizing that lasting change happens when people are known, supported, and empowered over time.
We’re also known for being a collaborative partner in the city. We don’t believe homelessness is something any one organization can solve alone. So we work closely with other nonprofits, faith communities, healthcare providers, employers, and civic leaders to strengthen the overall system of care and reduce gaps. That posture of partnership is core to who we are.
What I’m most proud of is how Atlanta Mission has evolved while staying rooted in its calling. We’re honoring a long legacy of faith-driven service, while reimagining what a modern rescue mission can be: one that blends compassion with accountability, faith with best practices, and urgency with long-term vision.
What sets Atlanta Mission apart is that we combine scale, depth, and hope. We serve thousands of people each year, walk alongside them for the long haul, and never lose sight of the belief that transformation is possible for every person. This work is about more than services, it’s about restoring lives and helping our city flourish.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Absolutely. I tend to pull from a small, trusted set of resources. I’m a big Patrick Lencioni fan: “The Advantage”, “Five Dysfunctions of a Team”, “The 6 Types of Working Genius”. I also love Jim Collins’ “Good to Great”. You can tell, I’m a bit of a leadership nerd. I spent 12 years learning alongside Andy Stanley and still consider him one for the best Bible teachers and leaders out there. So, I spend a lot of time listening to him. More than anything, I’ve learned that our inputs shape our outputs. So, I try to balance spiritual formation, leadership, and human perspectives in the things I read or listen to. I also really enjoy reading or listening to people I disagree with. I find it helps me grow as a person and as a leader.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.atlantamission.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/atlmission
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlantamission
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atlmission
- Twitter: https://x.com/ATLmission
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/AtlantaMission
