Something that has struck me again in this context is that the LF movement around the world draws in really fun and brave people, who are willing to have the hard conversations and counter the dominant culture in order to really bring hope and transformation to vulnerable and marginalized people in their cities. It is my great honor to bring to you the faces of the LF movement in Africa.

Here are the first videos, and I will be posting more as sort through all that we captured.  You'll have to forgive my shakey camera work-- I'm new to filmmaking.  Our team is currently having the conversation of how to capture some of the innovation that we witnessed there, and connect it to the LF network in the U.S.

I share these videos, pictures, and stories with you, with the hope of encouraging and inspiring you, as well as to foster a sense of oneness and solidarity with the broader global LF movement. 

If you know Annie, you can probably picture her going into some sort of zone of hypnosis as we walked through Burgers Park, and came across this drum circle. I'm guessing the rest of the world around her disappeared as she changed her course toward the drum circle, sat down, and just started drumming. As I am a completely non-musically gifted person, that sort of natural movement is like witnessing miracles. She picked up the beat in no time, of course.

This is a Swahili worship song, led by Gideon and Sheth from Nairobi, Kenya, Annie from Tacoma, Washington, Seba from Maputo, Mozambique, and Stanley from Pretoria, South Africa. This was one of the moments that moved me beyond words.

If you're wondering why Seba is texting during the song, I would ONLY imagine it has something to do with the guesthouse they are building next to a wildlife park as a revenue engine for their leadership foundation work.  :-)  This group was so innovative-- we at the network office are exploring ways to expand communications in order to connect them with the U.S. LF network.

This is the group from the local leadership foundation in Kinshasa, DRC.  Here they led all the participants at TLF's Institute for Urban Ministry in a song and dance.  The IUM is similar to the U.S. LF National Training Institute. The next day, this same group participated in the Building to Last Consultation in Pretoria, with 9 other developing or established LLFs from across Africa.  You will see Anna, their CEO, playing bass in the back.

Greetings, Leadership Foundations!

When millions of people are watching, what have we learned to do from our beloved founder of Leadership Foundations, Reid Carpenter?  WE DO SOMETHING CRAZY!  That's what we do.  And we take the opportunity to draw people's attention to something even more important. 

People.  God's Love.  Justice.  Vulnerable Children.  Powerlessness.  Transformation.

Today is an exciting day. Today is the first day of Tshwane Leadership Foundation's Better World Village in Pretoria, South Africa!  The Better World Village is a unique initiative in Tshwane which coincides with the FIFA Soccer World Cup, and invites visitors and locals into a space where we can imagine a better world for all people.

Tomorrow, the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup begins, and millions of people will be watching and partying in celebration of this exciting global event.  As millions of people flood to cities in South Africa to attend the FIFA World Cup, Tshwane Leadership Foundation is drawing attention to the millions of vulnerable, powerless, disenfranchised people in South Africa, and engaging leaders to heal the brokenness.  HOW they have chosen to do this is incredible, and I invite you to view the attached program, which details the comprehensiveness of their vision and event.

In addition to this, I invite you to view the month-long devotional written by our very own Stephan de Beer, leader of Tshwane Leadership Foundation and of the LF movement in Africa.  For those of you who have met Stephan, you know the depth of his reflection on the work of local leadership foundations, and God's healing power in cities.  For those of you who have not met Stephan, it is my deepest pleasure to introduce you to him through his attached writings.  I hope that each of you are blessed in the daily struggle of transforming your city for the glory of God.

Over the next month you will hear from me from time to time, as I travel with a small team of U.S. Leadership Foundation representatives to join Stephan and other African LLF leaders in South Africa.  My hope is that you will feel a oneness of spirit, vision, and excitement in the work you are doing in your cities.

Warmly,

Sarah L. Fortin
Director of Communications & Membership
Leadership Foundations
mobile: 651-216-4384
www.leadershipfoundations.org