I love the Christmas season. I love seeing Christmas lights all over town – at Riverfront Park, through the downtown core, and along Wallace Road. I probably start listening to Christmas music around the middle of October, and I continue to listen to a few songs throughout the whole year (more on that later). This year my family went to our first Winter at West to watch my daughter and the many other talented musicians and singers perform. It was incredible! I’m sure many of you had moments during this past season that helped you both pause and appreciate the season. The decorations, the traditions, the music – all of these remind us that there is something very different and special
about this season.
My favorite Christmas song is “O come, O come Immanuel.” This is a song I listen to year-round. I love how it can feel both dark, and yet hopeful at the same time. Dark, and yet hopeful sounds like a January in Salem/Keizer to me. When we first moved here in January of 2012, I was surprised at how early it got dark. I would drive home from work around 5:30pm and every streetlight would be illuminated! However, in the midst of the darkness, because it was January, I was hopeful. Not because of my optimistic “New Year: New Me,” perspective. I was hopeful in the midst of the darkness because of Immanuel: God with us. This reality changes everything.
God is with us when we feel lonely and scared. God is with us when we receive good news about a promotion at work. God is with us when we hear about a life-altering diagnosis. God is with us when our child receives an acceptance letter to their dream university. God is with us, lovingly making all things new. I believe this is the most important message to embrace from the Christmas season, and I hope it encourages you.
I am very excited about the future here at Salem Leadership Foundation. I had the great honor to work alongside Sam Skillern for the past year, and this along with my 25 years of leadership in faith-based organizations, has uniquely prepared me to lead the organization forward. SLF will continue to do the work of building connections in neighborhoods and capacity in nonprofits. We will bring community groups and organizations together to seek collaborative solutions. We will encourage and empower leaders all across our community. We will remind you that God is with us, lovingly making all things new.
Because of your prayers and financial support – see the other side for more details on this – SLF is poised to continue doing great work into the future! Thank you for being a part of Salem/Keizer becoming the healthiest community in all of Oregon – truly a city of Shalom.
Grace and Peace,
Kyle Dickinson
RainFest 2025 coming soon!
On Monday, February 24th, a group of brave women and men will gather to conquer the elements at Salem Golf Club for our annual golf tournament, RainFest. On Saturday, March 1st, another group will gather at TopGolf in Hillsboro. Both experiences gather groups of people who are excited to help promote and support the ministry of Salem Leadership Foundation. If you are all-weather golfer, RainFest is for you. If you have never swung a golf club, TopGolf may be the better event for you. SLF has chosen to hold these golf fundraisers in February/March in order to not compete with other nonprofits in the area who hold their golf tournaments in the Spring or Summer, and to raise funds during a typically slow season of giving. This year our fundraising goal is $140,000. If you would like to sign up to play and raise funds in support of SLF in either RainFest at Salem Golf Course or TopGolf in Hillsboro, you can do so at www.salemlf.org/events/rainfest/ If you would like information about being an event sponsor, please email Kyle at kyle@salemlf.org.
Year End Match (YEM) update
Because of the generosity of many faithful partners, the $85,000 Year End Matching challenge was met, and over $170,000 was raised in support of SLF’s programs and services. Because of your generosity, SLF is starting 2025 in a very strong financial position, which is truly a blessing as our organization transitions its executive leadership. The SLF board of directors and staff are so grateful for your ongoing support during this season, and we look forward to sharing in the joy of what God will continue to do through this ministry! Please know that we consider you an extension of our team, and that we are also praying for you. Blessings on the New Year!
