School supplies from World Vision are a huge hit

In early August, Dallas Leadership Foundation's Neighborhoods Director Jamee Rodgers and Matthew Velasquez, along with three Paul Quinn College interns, painted and added needed supplies at Dunbar Elementary School. The school is located in Mill City, one of DLF's target neighborhoods. The elementary school lacked basic resources, and that's why DLF wanted to help.

Taking the lead in pitching in at the school led to a phenomenal leadership step by internationally known humanitarian organization World Vision. The Christian nonprofit has decided to donate school supplies for the Dunbar school supply closet. World Vision's contribution enables DLF to reload again after the new year with whatever is needed for the students, including furniture.

The support by World Vision, which works worldwide to break the cycle of poverty in families and communities, is another example of how Leaders Give!

If you want to know how you can take a leadership step by giving to the communities DLF serves, visit dlftx.org.

Do this first to become an unforgettable leader

Just like a newborn baby’s first impulse is to receive milk, a newborn leader’s first instinct is to give something. Giving is a leader’s natural inclination because Leaders Give!

To be a leader, one must give something: encouragement, motivation, instruction, comfort, time, or money. One who refuses to give refuses to lead.

From start to finish, Jesus’ model of leadership is based on giving. When Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana in Galilee, He gave His very first miracle.

While calling His disciples, they were frustrated after experiencing a failed fishing expedition. Jesus took the initiative and gave them encouragement to try again, released His power so that they could succeed, and invited them to become a part of something great.

After noticing Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector trying to see Jesus by climbing in a tree, Jesus told him that he was going to stay at his house that night. At that moment, Jesus gave a man despised by his community recognition, unconditional acceptance, favor, and friendship.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus gave a lot! Among the other things He freely gave were forgiveness, healing, inspiration, food, courage, grace, acceptance, knowledge, comfort, deliverance, revelation, instruction, an example to follow, hope, love, and, ultimately, His life. The gift of His life paved the way for salvation for all human beings. God led the way to redeem us and gave His Son Jesus to close the deal. He did it because God is the ultimate leader and Leaders Give!

Daily, Dallas Leadership Foundation’s leaders lay down our lives for the work God has called us to do in Dallas. We’re asking you as a leader to do the same by giving to DLF on Sept. 22. 2016, which is North Texas Giving Day. Give to help DLF continue to lead in neighborhoods, schools, and in and out of prison. Do it because that’s what we do: Leaders Give!

To learn how you can lead by giving today, visit dlftx,org.

Grace and sincere love -- ingredients for community transformation

·       On a Sunday morning last month, Wil McCall, president of Dallas Leadership Foundation, and Bryan Dunagan, senior pastor at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, met before an audience to discuss faith and race. Their conversation occurred during the aftermath of the fatal shootings of police officers in Dallas and civilians in Baton Rouge, La. and Falcon Heights, Minn. The day of the event at Highland Park Presbyterian, fatal police-related shootings were reported in Baton Rouge.

    

     
     Watch as these two men -- African American and Caucasian -- offer their perspectives in this video. Their conversation provides a glimpse of what it looks like when believers model the phenomenal love and grace of Jesus, and pursue authentic relationships with all people, regardless of race and class. 

   The more natural, and the more organic and sincere those relationships are, the more effectively the church can ignite transformation in Dallas' communities and elsewhere.

To learn more about the work of Dallas Leadership Foundation in the city's neighborhoods, visit dlftx.org.