At Salem Leadership Foundation our vision is that Salem/Keizer would become the healthiest community in all of Oregon, truly a city of Shalom—peace and wholeness in all relationships. I never get tired of sharing this vision with others because it sparks questions. A friend of mine recently pulled me aside after a meeting and asked me why I talk about Shalom all the time. Below is part of what I shared…
I first learned about Shalom as a young college pastor, growing in my understanding of God’s heart for justice. There was a group of us studying several Old Testament references of Shalom, and the best example was found in Jeremiah 29:4-7. To set the scene, the Israelites had been taken into captivity, and they were struggling to adapt to their new surroundings. How were they supposed to continue their traditional practices in this strange, foreign land? Should they rebel and choose violence? Should they shrink back and disengage?
The prophet Jeremiah comes to the people with these words: This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
In this story, Shalom is experienced in creating meaningful interpersonal relationships (which bolsters mental health and promotes belonging), cultivating the land and partaking in its produce, and collectively pursuing the peace and prosperity of the city. It’s very clear: when the city prospers, you too will prosper.
SLF is in the practice of pursuing the Shalom of Salem/Keizer because we believe our organizational and individual flourishing is connected to our community’s flourishing. We look for and encourage Shalom in neighborhoods, with churches, and with nonprofits. When these communities thrive, we all thrive. It is my conviction that God is constantly renewing all things, including us, and it is a joy to join Him in that work. This is why we love talking about (and pursuing) Shalom.
So now I ask you…Where are you seeing Shalom? How can you pursue flourishing in our community for the sake of our city and yourself?
For the Shalom of the City,
Kyle Dickinson
Executive Director
How the CaN Network is Restoring Leaders in Salem
Pastor Danielle Daly, Court Street Christian Church
I could have become another statistic of burnt-out pastors post-pandemic, but joining the SLF Churches as Neighborhood (CaN) Centers Network was a significant factor in helping me change that trajectory.
When I began attending the CaN Collab (the team who plans the CaN meetings), it quickly became a monthly highlight on my calendar.
I had been leading through difficult circumstances, but on those Wednesday mornings our table was filled with laughter, sincere listening, and inspiring conversations. In this new context, I rediscovered parts of me that had been lost in the ministry grind. The loneliness of survival mode was replaced by belonging and friendships. Attending the CaN Lunches introduced me to people and information that widened my perspective about ministry in Salem. My healing as a leader was not a dramatic turning point, but a gradual shift through the compounding investment of time with SLF staff, role models, and mentors. God gets the credit, along with the fellow leaders who listened compassionately, spoke wisely, and connected me with resources.
As we unite in SLF’s vision for making Salem-Keizer the healthiest community in Oregon, I’ve witnessed how the CaN Network is nourishing leaders. Thank you, SLF. My family, my church and my soul are blessed by your ministry.