At the heart of the United States Capitol Complex, during the international interfaith conference “United in Liberty: The Rise of Spiritual Diplomats,” led by Pastor Mark Burns, we had the privilege of speaking with Pastor and Bishop Leon Benjamin for a timely and thoughtful conversation on faith, leadership, and national unity.
Leon Benjamin is the Senior Pastor and Bishop of New Life Harvest Church in Richmond, Virginia, and the founder of The Real Remnant Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For more than twenty-two years, he has faithfully served as a pastor, shepherding his congregation with a strong commitment to biblical teaching, community engagement, and spiritual growth. A Gulf War veteran, former Democrat, community activist, and national evangelical leader, Pastor Benjamin has also served as a media spokesperson and faith-based adviser at the national level, including participation in the Faith-Based Initiative support team during the 2016 presidential transition of Donald Trump. He also operated as a surrogate during the Trump campaign and administration and was among a group of evangelical leaders who served as informal advisers during that period.
Bishop Benjamin previously served as Chairman of the Republican Party of Richmond City and was the Republican nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 4th Congressional District in 2020, 2022, and the 2023 Special Election. He is the founder and president of Coalition of Leaders United (CLU), as well as the founder of United2Pray, a national weekly prayer movement bringing together pastors and faith leaders across the country.
In this interview, Pastor Benjamin shares his perspective on what “spiritual diplomacy” truly means — the ability to confidently represent one’s faith while engaging others with compassion, respect, and a commitment to solutions. He speaks about the importance of unity across faith traditions, the partnership between spiritual and civic communities, and the role of personal faith in shaping principled public leadership.
Drawing from over two decades of pastoral ministry, Pastor Benjamin emphasizes that authentic leadership begins with lived faith — compassion received, compassion extended. His message is clear: meaningful change begins when people of faith come together, address real challenges, and work toward solutions that uplift and serve all people.
This conversation highlights how spiritual conviction, pastoral leadership, and civic responsibility can intersect to foster healing, dialogue, and cooperation across communities and nations.
For more information about the conference, visit the official website:
https://interfaithconf.org/
More information on the Spiritual Diplomats initiative:
https://www.spiritualdiplomats.org/
ALLATRA International Public Movement Official Website:
https://allatra.org/