Terence Lester (PhD, Interdisciplinary Studies, Union Institute and University) is a minister, speaker, community activist, author, and founder of Love Beyond Walls, a not-for-profit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization. He received his PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Public Policy and Social Change from Union Institute and University. His campaigns on behalf of the poor, including #LoveSinksIn (which provides handwashing stations for the poor) have been featured in USA Today, Black Enterprise, Essence, and Reader's Digest. They have been viewed by millions of people globally on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS News, NBC, Upworthy, and "The Bright Side" with Katie Couric. He was named by Coca-Cola as one of their History Shakers.
Terence has delivered countless sermons and speeches at conferences, churches, and schools around the country. He has served on the ministry staffs of Word of Faith in Austell, Georgia, New Life Presbyterian Church in College Park, Georgia, and is a communicator at West Ridge Church. His books include When We Stand, I See You, Getting Past Stuck, Simple Prayers for Hurting People, and Identity Theft. He has also coproduced a biographical documentary based on his book The U-Turn Project: Answering the Call.
Terence has also received numerous awards for his community activism including the Empire Board of Realtists Distinguished Service Award (2017), SCLC Social Advocacy Award (2016), Atlanta Voice's 50 under 50 honor (2016), the True to Atlanta Award presented by the Atlanta Hawks (2016), and the Fulton County Schools Service Award (2015). He and his wife, Cecilia, and their family live in Atlanta.
Read how Terence and his daughter, Zion, are mobilizing youth to serve their communities.
