Legacy to Leadership: A Conversation With Mandela

Story by Debra C. Anderson

The Community Praise church (CPC) in Alexandria, Va., hosted a special program recognizing Black History Month and reflecting on the enduring call to justice, unity and faithful leadership. The congregation welcomed Ndaba Mandela, the grandson of the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, for a conversation that challenged attendees to move beyond remembrance toward meaningful action.

In a thoughtful discussion with Mandela, Claudia M. Allen, executive director of Adventist Peace Fellowship and the assistant director of the Anne Arundel County Office of Equity & Human Rights, noted the legacy of courage and reconciliation modeled by Mandela’s grandfather. in his talk, Mandela encouraged the audience to find the "Nelson Mandela" within themselves, the leader willing to bring the change needed to make the world a better place.

He said, "We all have the responsibility to be leaders. A leader is not a person who is the best [but] a person who serves his community. We have to be servant-led leaders."

While Black history Month invites communities to remember the struggles and triumphs of the past, Mandela emphasized that its deeper purpose is to inspire present-day action. His message echoed the biblical call to love one another and pursue justice with humility and faith.

The program also featured the CPC children's choir and a spoken word presentation by CPC meber MJ Sirls. Mandela was later honored with gifts from the Potomac Conference and proclamation from the City of Alexandria declaring February 1 as the "Mandela Legacy Day."