Introducing our new director

For the last three years, Johnny Winkle has worked with Lazarus, coming alongside our friends experiencing homelessness in Atlanta. While many in our Lazarus community know Johnny, we thought it might be helpful to interview him and help you get to know him and his family a little better.

Let’s start with that classic Lazarus question: where are you from?

I grew up in Oxford, Mississippi, and moved to West Cobb/Marietta in the metro Atlanta area when I was in middle school. I went on to UGA for college, and then lived overseas and in Kentucky before moving back to Atlanta in 2004.

Tell us about your family.

My wife, Amy, and I met in Kentucky and have been married for 19 years. We have two daughters, Emily (12) and Abbey (7), who keep us laughing and on our toes. They would also want me to mention our sweet 15 year-old miniature dachshund, Libby, and our two parakeets, Sunny and Skye.

How did you get connected with Lazarus initially?

Amy and I have been coming to Trinity Anglican church since 2008, so I heard about Lazarus and volunteered a few times. I went downtown with volunteers to be with evacuees who had relocated to Atlanta after severe hurricanes, and then I jumped in to help out at a Super Bowl Party & Chili Cook-off and a Christmas Dinner.

Even though I wasn’t a regular volunteer, I immediately connected with the heart and approach of Lazarus, and was thrilled to come on staff three years ago. Working closely with Ben and Alli has had a significant impact and given me the confidence to lead Lazarus into this next season.

What prior experiences do you think prepared you for this new leadership role with Lazarus?

My work experience has primarily been in the non-profit ministry world, so that has been beneficial. My training in intercultural studies and experience living overseas in Kazakhstan and England have equipped me as well. Even though those are different contexts, the approach is similar as we seek to come alongside our friends living on the margins in dignifying and life-giving ways.

As you look ahead, what do you see for this next season for Lazarus?

After having to scale back our activities some last year because of the pandemic, our initial goals are to reestablish our reach and impact here in Atlanta. We want to boost our volunteer opportunities with more weekly teams and more of our annual events that we couldn’t hold last year.

I am excited to continue to team up with partner organizations around Atlanta who are also working with the homeless community. Collaboration has long been a value for Lazarus, but after this past year with COVID-19, there seems to be a stronger sense of working together in the city.

It reminds me of that African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Any final thoughts?

Alli and Ben have done an incredible job of establishing who we are and what we about these last 20 years - kinship and dignity. They have also cultivated such a strong community of volunteers. I am thankful to stand on their shoulders, and look forward to working with the amazing people in the Lazarus family as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our city.