MEMPHIS LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

Memphis Leadership Foundation -  A Heart for the City…

I heard a preacher tell a funny but true story recently. He said he knew of a ministry that wanted the whole world to know the good news of Jesus Christ. So they started distributing tapes telling about Jesus to starving people in poor countries. The preacher looked up and said “Only problem was the starving people tried to eat the tapes instead of listening to them.” His point being that if you don’t meet others physical needs it’s real hard to meet their spiritual needs.

I think that story may sum up the mission statement of the Memphis Leadership Foundation (MLF) “To holistically meet the needs of urban poor men, women boys and girls who live in under-resourced communities.” Holistically means to deal with wholes rather than parts. MLF seeks to meet the physical, educational and spiritual needs of the poor here in Memphis. MLF serves as a behind the scenes fundraising, administrative and training arm for 18 ministries around town with combined budgets of well over $7,000,000! You may not have heard of MLF but you may have heard of some of the ministries it has started and continues to work with. Street’s Ministries and Memphis Athletic Ministries are just two of the more well known organizations that got their start through MLF.

MLF was founded in 1986 by Dr. Larry Lloyd the current president of Crichton College. MLS’s leader these days is Howard Eddings. Howard is a native Memphian that attended Melrose High and The University of Memphis. He has spent his whole life serving the Lord, other people and this city. “I did briefly work as a carpenter for a home builder… I liked the work and it paid the bills but I never felt I was what I really needed to be doing.” So he started working for Young Life in 1984 a ministry he had been volunteering for. In 1990 he left Young Life for MLF and now serves as its President. I asked Howard how he developed the skills to run such a large organization with such a large budget. “I have kept people close to me that have poured their lives into mine. People like Ken Bennett, Eli Morris, Larry Lloyd have been mentors to me and are still close friends. I have practiced servant leadership. I am not afraid to get advice from others that may have more expertise in a certain area…” In other words others have poured their lives into Howard enabling him to pour his into others.

MLF functions like this some ministries are fully operated by MLF others become there own entity but still use some of MLF’s services like administrative support and others have completely gone out on there own but still partner with MLF and support it’s mission. MLF seeks to reach youth, build homes, help families, create jobs and equip leaders. It does this by providing funds to existing urban churches and Christian organizations, partnering with urban churches and Christian organizations to start new ministries, serve as a conduit for suburban and urban churches to work together and empower indigenous leadership. Eddings says “So many people have a vision for a ministry to help

 

 the poor but they don’t have the fundraising skills or the organizational skills or the contacts or what ever. That’s where we step in we can supply all that while they focus on what they do well. As time goes on some of these ministries learn these skills and go out on there own, others remain under our umbrella it just depends on the certain situation. We also serve as a conduit for the suburban churches that want to be involved in urban ministry but need guidance in the best way they can help.” 

I have always said that if you feel the calling to get involved to help the poor you should follow your heart. I can think of no better way to find a ministry that tugs at your heart strings than through MLF. If juvenile crime is your passion there is MARRS, if it’s the plight of immigrants or refugees there is MNM, if health care is your issue there is CCHS, if its jobs there is ECOP, if it’s housing there is NHO or if its education check out Act Six. Space does not permit me to mention all the ministries under MLF’s umbrella but check out there web site www.mlfonline.org and I promise you find many ways you or your church and get involved.

I like the people at MLF don’t believe you have totally helped a person if you haven’t shared the good news of Christ with them. But after hearing the preachers story and learning about MLF I now see that a big part of that sharing is to be holistic in your approach.