When was the last time you watched the evening news? Reports of violent crime seem to overwhelm the newscast, leaving you feeling helpless and hopeless. But what if you learned that there is an organization that consists of street mediators in our city? And that it's led by a man who follows Jesus and strives to end conflicts before they turn deadly?
Thell Robinson III is the founder and CEO of Halt Violence, a nonprofit with locations on both the east and west sides that seeks to “save lives through street mediation and change lives through mentorship.” Thell’s personal experiences led him on a journey to eliminate gun violence. In spite of being raised in a typical home in Washington, DC, Thell became a father at the age of 18 and began selling drugs. With another daughter on the way, he moved to Columbus for a fresh start and quit college. Then, to make ends meet, he began purchasing and selling cocaine again, resulting in his incarceration.
After living a life infused with fear and violence, Thell is now on a mission to stop gun violence in our city because his life has been transformed by Jesus Christ. Today, he’s a husband, father, and trauma counselor, and founded Halt Violence in 2014 with the vision to “squash beef in the streets.” Thell’s desire is to both save lives and ensure the youth of Columbus can prosper. “When you can stop this beef, this gun violence, you can save two families from trauma. One, the family of the deceased, and two, the family of the perpetrator, who could be killed or imprisoned.”
After meeting Thell, it’s hard to believe that he once lived a violent lifestyle. While passionate about his work to bring peace to our streets, he’s calm and even-tempered. He has the unique ability to mediate dangerous altercations because he was ”once one of them, but now I’m changed… and they respect that.” He has been transformed by Jesus and now aims to do His work. The scripture tells us “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” Matthew 5:9. In his role as a peacemaker, Thell wants to give God the glory for the success of Halt Violence, and this posture has yielded tremendous results. 75% of conflicts they mediate are resolved without violence. Citywide, the Major Cities Chiefs Association has reported “the number of violent crimes in Columbus during the first half of this year was 41% lower than the first half of 2023, making it the sharpest drop for any major city in the country.” Last year, Ohio Governor Mike Dewine recognized the importance of their work by awarding Halt Violence with a $282,000 grant to support their mission both in Hilltop and Olde Town East and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Thell recognizes that putting an end to gun violence is a community effort. His team works hard to build trust in Columbus’ most crime-ridden neighborhoods. When they’re notified of a conflict, they humbly approach the scene and ask how they can help. Because they’ve built trust and developed friendships in the neighborhood, they often know the citizens they’re stepping in to assist. People in the community know Thell understands their situation: he was once embroiled in the same lifestyle. He shares that anyone who feels called to street mentorship needs to first submit to proper training: “The key to surviving is humility, because you have three generations out here killing one another … so respect is the universal law.” His story, although painful, has also helped him build rapport with community organizations, who’ve begun to send him referrals because they trust him and his team. In the soil of his bitter past, our heavenly Father has sprouted new life and a new mission in Thell. He’s quick to give Him the credit for the success of Halt Violence and the connections they’ve forged, “It’s strictly God, playing chess and moving these pieces around, bringing people into these agencies.”
Columbus’ Christian community has also shown up to support Thell and Halt Violence. Thell cites relationships with Rhema Christian Center since 2016, New Birth Christian Ministries where Halt Violence was founded, and Corinthian Baptist Church, which opened their doors to the organization's gun violence prevention community event. When Halt Violence meets someone on the street who needs rental assistance or has other immediate needs, Thell knows there are a few pastors he can call to help out. In addition to giving financially, the body of Christ can also volunteer to assist with tasks like bookkeeping, tutoring, and mentoring to support the nonprofit’s mission.
Please pray for the Lord to provide Thell and Halt Violence with quality staff and board members, and to give them favor with partnering organizations and those they’re trying to help. Additionally, pray for the safety of Thell, his family, and the street mediators of Halt Violence. The Lord is at work in our city; may we “turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it,” Psalm 34:14.
Do you have a heart for those struggling with substance abuse, incarceration, or who are re-entering society after serving time? Are you called to serve at-risk youth? Please follow this link to learn about our networks and how you can serve these populations alongside other followers of Jesus in Columbus.