FULL RECAP:
2025 SDLF Men's Summit Breakfast
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“One Step, One Leader, One Thing at a Time.”
This morning was about far more than breakfast—it was about ascending a mountain of purpose together. With more than 190 leaders gathered, the SDLF community united as brothers pursuing a higher calling: to be formed, sent, and empowered to transform San Diego one community at a time.
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Keynote Speaker: Vice Admiral Brendan McLean
Choosing the Hard Way—With God
Vice Admiral Brendan McLean challenged every leader with a simple but profound question:
Do you want to do this the easy way, or the hard way?
In Scripture—and in life—the “hard way” is rarely what God assigns.
More often, it is what we choose when we avoid what God asks of us.
But the message was clear:
God does not demand superhuman strength.
He asks for trust, community, and the willingness to begin, even when it’s hard.
Biblical Stories of the Hard Way
Jonah — running from the call
Moses — feeling inadequate and afraid
Gideon — weakness transformed into strength
These stories remind us:
We don’t have to be extraordinary—only faithful.
We don’t need to be superhuman—only willing to take the first step.
Psalm 27: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”
A Rare Example of the Easy Way: Naaman
Even when God offers the easy path, it still requires humility, trust, and surrender.
Community: God’s Blueprint for Facing Hardship
Throughout the Bible, one theme is constant:
Hard things are meant to be done together.
Faith grows when shared.
Burdens lighten when carried in community.
The impossible becomes possible when God’s people unite.
The Fulton Street Prayer Revival
A powerful historical example underscored this truth:
A movement that began with one man praying, then six, then dozens… and soon millions were transformed.
No famous leaders.
No organization.
Just ordinary believers taking a step of faith—together.
When believers unite in prayer:
The ordinary becomes divine
Hearts align
Action is inspired
Movements ignite
VADM McLean reminded us:
“Just get started and don’t obsess over the outcome.”
Mark 4:29 — We sow, and God brings the growth.
Luke 18 — Persistence like the widow.
Luke 17 — Faith the size of a mustard seed moves mountains.
Three Leadership Takeaways:
Just begin.
Every journey feels hard at the start.Trust God with the process.
We’re not asked to be extraordinary—only faithful.Lead from among your people.
Pray for strength and endurance; God supplies what we lack.
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Rollout of the “Just One Thing” Initiative
Presented by Lt. Col. Jim Ruvalcaba
SDLF is launching a unified mission across all chapters to serve youth at risk in San Diego with greater clarity, focus, and measurable impact.
Why “Just One Thing”?
Historically, chapters have served powerfully—but often independently.
This initiative brings all 15 SDLF forums together to pursue one coordinated vision.
Inter-Leadership Council
Formed by one leader from each of the 15 forums, the council will:
Coordinate collective action
Share progress and best practices
Measure spiritual and practical impact
Three Core Contributions of Each Leader
Labor — showing up to serve as Christ’s hands and feet
Finances — sacrificial giving to partner ministries
Expertise — using God-given skills and profession to strengthen nonprofits
Focused Partnerships
The first phase of “Just One Thing” centers on three key organizations:
Boys to Men Mentoring (B2M)
ABC Youth Foundation
First Gen Scholars
Each chapter will engage through relationship, mentorship, service, and measurable outcomes.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
— St. Mother Teresa__________________________________________________________
The Forum Experience: Encouraged. Equipped. Empowered.
Leadership Isolated No More
Studies show 72% of leaders feel alone—even while surrounded by people.
SDLF forums exist to change that:
A spiritual herd, a brotherhood, a place to run together toward Jesus.
Testimony: Roland Sland (SDLF partner for 15+ years)
Encouraged. Equipped. Empowered.
SDLF is where Roland is strengthened and uplifted.
What he learns transforms his home, ministry, and community.
He has been empowered to launch new forums and multiply the movement.
Testimony: Joe LaRusa (SDLF partner for 5+ years)
A Brotherhood. A Place to Simply Be Joe.
A circle where every man is not just a leader but a peer.
A setting for true fraternity, accountability, and vulnerability.
A community that sharpens, strengthens, and restores.
Through the forum, Joe discovered:
When God shapes one leader, He influences many through that leader.
SDLF: The SPIRTUAL Turbocharger
SDLF is not merely forums— it is a spiritual turbocharger that better equips, encourages, and empowers leaders to impact the leaders which act as the engines that empower Christ in San Diego!
SDLF equips leaders to strengthen:
Labor — how we serve
Expertise — how we use our God gifts
Expression — how we live out our call to Servant Leadership and mission
We were reminded once again:
God is not asking us to be superhuman.
He is asking us to be faithful, to take the first step, and to trust Him with the results.
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Thank You
To every leader who attended, served, prayed, or contributed—thank you.
Your fiat and answer to the call of servant leadership are transforming San Diego.
Again, a huge thank you to all who attended, served, spoke, and contributed.
SDLF wants to acknowledge the CEO of Penchecks, Spiro Prevolos, for beautifully leading our period of prayer and invocation to kick off the Summit!
Additionally SDLF would love to recognize CEO and President of the San Diego County YMCA, Todd Tibbets who acted as our Master of Ceremonies of this year’s Summit! His expertise in this field heavily engages the leadership and service aspects of the “SDLF magic” while proving very beneficial in our fight to ameliorate the suffering of youth at risk in San Diego!
Your fiat and your leadership is transforming San Diego, and we are so grateful to witness it. Here’s to continuing the mission of servant leadership. Let’s keep engaging, growing, and making an impact together!
Let’s continue the mission of servant leadership:
Engage. Grow. Lead. Serve.
One step, one leader, One Thing at a time.
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For more information, contact:
Matthew Booker, Executive Director 858-231-9152 / Matthew.Booker@cru.org
Please support SDLF and what we are on mission to do by getting involved in a forum (through contacting Matthew Brooker) or by donating to SDLF!