We Are Blessed Beyond Measure

blessed
Les Feldman

What an exhilarating and humbling experience to host the GOOD NEWS, 5th Annual “Leading Charities and Foundations” the high water mark of our mission statement to serve those who serve.

I’d like to say it’s our labor of love when in truth we actually love to labor; knowing the impact that it may have can be profound in our community. 

We begin the process each summer in June by pouring over the previous years’ responses to our invite list of charities and foundations  and whom to invite to the current cover shoot. We review seemingly endless mission statements. 

Each year we invite our “Audience of Peers”: Founders, Executive Directors or CEO’s. 

blessedThis year we pared down our invite list by over 30 percent, losing some through self-imposed COVID restrictions, casualty of the economy or being more selective in mission statements. We’ve learned through the previous four years who to partner with in the same spirit of village.

South Florida is blessed to have incredible leadership, but it all starts with the Almighty God and how He moves, imbues and selects leadership for His Kingdom.

What a blessing to be hosted this year by Elizabeth and Senior Pastor Bill Mitchell at the Boca Raton Community Church. Pastor Mitchell warmly welcomed all with his unique insight and encouragement for the long and winding road that must be traveled as faithful servants. We are grateful for the annual remarks from Stephan Tchividjian, Co-Founder and President of The National Christian Foundation (NCF), on how we do life together and how we all play a part.

What is remarkable is the God-given talent that has been assembled here in South Florida to lead these featured charities and foundations. Everyone in attendance listened in awe as each person rose at their assigned seat to self-introduce their Charity or Foundation and a brief mission statement remark, passing the microphone from person to person row by row presentation style. 

Love. Heart. Commitment. Indefatigable Spirit.

Thanksgiving has never been so profound.

 

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south” (Psalm 107:1-3 ESV).

 

Each year I remark with pride how we delight in bringing charities that seemingly work in anonymity, in the shadows or so it seems into the sunlight of our readership to encourage our readers in print or online GoodNewsFl.org digital edition to read the mission statement and “click” the optimized ads, check out the website and donate to the cause if you can? The section begins on page 27. 

I would be remiss to not acknowledge and express our gratitude to all of our annual host Churches, and particularly this year to BRCC, Group Pastor Cameron Free and Group Director Carl Crispin for their invaluable spirit in making our annual Cover photo shoot so incredibly smooth because of their accomplished professionalism and willingness to add to the remarkable day the best and most joyful to date. 

Before I wish you all a spiritual Thanksgiving, I am filled with gratitude for what we do have in abundance is HOPE, that we are granted another day to serve. 

 

To the GN team: To the tireless and dedicated Editor Shelly Pond, Art Director Milton McPherson, VP Marketing Director Buddy Helland, Controller Betsy Hackney, Master Photographer Justus Martin, SocialMedia Ariel Feldman, Editorial Assistant, Eric Solomon, and brand new VP Corporate Engagement MikeDenker. I am humbled and blessed to team with you. You bring new meaning to my life in publishing, to God be the glory .

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Les

Read more about Les Feldman at: https://www.goodnewsfl.org/staff/leslie-j-feldman/

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