Brooke Hempell and Susan Robinson have both been on a personal journey to understand the complexities of race in America through the truth of Scripture.
As Brooke performed years of research into ethnicity in the Church and Susan walked out cross-cultural relationships in her family and her friendships, their hearts were broken and stirred into action.
From this posture, they conceived The Race and Redemption Podcast to help white Christians move from questions to change.
Brooke Hempell
Brooke Hempell is the wife of Christian and mother of 13 year old Morgan and 10 year old Gabe. Their home is Atlanta, GA where they actively serve with organizations focused on racial redemption (One Race and programs through New Life Covenant Church in English Avenue), church planting (on the boards of Redeemer City to City and Metro Atlanta Collective), education (supporting Students to Scholars and launching a high school for their children's classical Christian school, Heritage), and their own church, CityChurch Eastside in Virginia Highlands.
The Hempells are passionate about hospitality and regularly host friends and strangers in their home for a meal or a stay. They enjoy living in community with other individuals and couples who reside in their home on a short- or long-term basis and explore what it means to mentor and disciple each other daily.
Brooke spends her days (and some nights) leading as Barna Group’s Senior Vice President of Research, where she has the privilege of deeply studying topics that are important to Christians and ministries, such as the next generation, racial justice and diversity, vocation and calling, and changing ways that Christians engage with their faith. Her team works with ministries, churches and non-profits to help these organizations understand and track faith trends and American and global perspectives on faith and cultural issues, and Brooke regularly speaks on these topics at conferences and in digital broadcasts.
Susan Robinson
Susan Robinson is the wife of Josh and the mother of 15 year old Kyla, 12 year old Meira and 11 year old Amos. They reside in Atlanta, GA with their big hound dog Deacon.
After graduating with a double-major from Auburn University, Susan had a successful career in PR and Advertising that she put to rest when she was promoted to the position of "Mommy" in 2005. Marriage and motherhood launched Susan into a season of personal inner healing that opened up her eyes to the power of the Scriptures and prayer over trauma.
To become more equipped to serve others in their own healing, Susan has become a certified facilitator by the American Bible Society’s Trauma Healing Institute and she completed the Ministry of Pastoral Care training intensive course on Inner Healing Prayer at Wheaton College.
Today Susan teaches, speaks and also ministers through personal prayer sessions in Atlanta. She has launched prayer teams and ministries in schools, churches and groups but she also enjoys individual time being mentored and mentoring women. She is passionately involved in racial redemption in her home, friendships and her city through organizations like Peace Prep Academy and One Race ATL.
She's a part of Passion City Church where she serves on the leadership team of The Grove women's ministry and as the leader of the Grove Prayer Team. Susan is also a part of Passion Conference where she trains and leads the Intercessory Prayer Team in 24/7, unbroken intercession for college students and young adults.