CELEBRATED THIS MONTH...
Fourth of July - July 4th
Nelson Mandela International Day - July 18th
DESTINY CALL TO ACTION :::
::: PROMOTE PEACE THROUGH SERVICE
by Rev. Linda J. Ivey, MSW & Founder of YDH
While traditionally, July is a time for vacations and relaxing, it can also be a time to help others in our community. Nelson Mandela once requested that his legacy be honored through community service rather than birthday celebrations. So, on July 18—Nelson Mandela International Day—we pay tribute to his life's work by dedicating time to those in need through community service.
Mandela, like many prophets, was persecuted for his belief that we are all made in the image of God and that God is no respecter of persons. In 1963, Mandela, the leader of the liberation movement against apartheid, was imprisoned for 27 years. Unfortunately, most of Mandela’s ministry was done from his prison cell, but like Paul, Mandela never gave up or gave in to his persecutors. Even as a political prisoner, Mandela advocated for human rights. Like Martin Luther King, he never stopped declaring that we are all one in Christ Jesus and should be treated fairly and with respect. Mandela wrote about the harshness and cruelties of apartheid, which gave white South Africans rights, but made it illegal for black South Africans to have the same rights and privileges given to their white neighbors: jobs, housing, transportation, health care, education, and fresh food.
In 1990, after world-wide outcry, Mandela was finally released from prison and in 1994, he became the first black President of South Africa until 1999. His first official act as president was to dismantle South Africa’s apartheid government system. The world still struggles with indifference and inequality. Mandela, like Jesus, believed each person has the potential to change the world by extending, love, grace and kindness. Start where you live: take a friend to bible study or to your Sunday church service, host an outdoor bible study, encourage community service on your family chat, Facebook or IG page by giving a shoutout to a worthy community project, take a friend with you to volunteer and serve at a food pantry, or help harvest vegetables at a community garden.
Remember, Christ said, when you have done it for the least of these, you have done it for me.
Nelson Mandela International Day...
...A Call to Service, Peace and Unity
by Ashanti Raysor
Of the many holidays we choose to celebrate each year there are a few that become forgotten. With those few comes Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrated on the 18th of July, honoring the life and legacy of a leader whose commitment to justice, equality, and human dignity transformed not only a nation, but inspired generations across the globe. Mandela’s journey reminds us that lasting change is built through courage, forgiveness, and a steadfast belief in the power of people working together.
The United Nations established Nelson Mandela International Day to encourage individuals to dedicate at least 67 minutes of service to others—one minute for each year Mandela devoted to public service. While this act may seem small, it reflects a powerful truth: meaningful change often begins with simple acts of kindness and compassion.
In a world often divided by conflict, misunderstanding, and uncertainty, Mandela’s message of reconciliation remains as relevant today as ever. He understood that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, respect, and opportunities for all people to thrive. His leadership demonstrated that healing communities require both accountability and grace, and that unity is strongest when built upon mutual understanding.
As we reflect on Mandela’s legacy, we are challenged to consider how we can contribute to peace within our own communities. Community service is one of the most tangible ways to put our values into action. Whether mentoring a young person, volunteering at a local organization, supporting a neighbor in need, or simply extending kindness to someone facing hardship, every act of service helps strengthen the fabric of our communities.
At Your Destiny Is Here, Inc., we believe that creating positive change begins with individuals who are willing to serve, uplift, and empower others. Nelson Mandela’s example reminds us that each of us has the ability to make a difference, regardless of our position or circumstances. Through service, we foster connection. Through understanding, we promote reconciliation. Through collective action, we build stronger and more peaceful communities.
This Nelson Mandela International Day, let us recommit ourselves to being agents of hope and healing. Let us choose dialogue over division, compassion over indifference, and service over self-interest. Together, we can continue the work of building a world where peace, justice, and human dignity are not just ideals, but realities for all.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.” — Nelson Mandela
JULY NEWSLETTER
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