Meet Leo Abdella: ‘Social Entrepreneur’
Leo Abdella has been described as the “Ambassador of Compassion” for his leadership in aid to disaster victims and those enduring long-term hardship around the globe. He describes himself a lot more simply as “a sinner saved by the grace of God.”
Yet by using his more than three decades of business knowledge to manage the logistics of local, national and international humanitarian projects and disaster relief efforts, this “sinner” has helped save and improve thousands of lives around the world.
Leo Abdella, the ‘Social Entrepreneur,’ prescribes and practices a values-based business model to guide both for-profit and non-profit entities to financial viability and sustainability. “At the core of everything I do is the belief that values are caught not taught,” he says. “By that I mean, that if we truly want to change the world for Christ, we have to live in a way that demonstrates Christ in us.
“It’s ‘lifestyle evangelism’. You don’t tell people about Christ’s love, you put it into action. You live it!”
As believers we are called on to share our faith. The best way to do that is through lifestyle ministry, by meeting people at their point of need in the way Christ would.
Featured in Lloyd Reeb’s recent book, The Second Half: Real Stories, Real Adventure’s, Real Significance, Leo Abdella says, “I’m just an ordinary guy, who has been blessed to be successful in the business and non-profit world; but I have an extra-ordinary dream of helping others succeed in values-driven entrepreneurial endeavors."
"Through placing values at the core of the process, we can create a culture where businesses can thrive, compassion is practiced and fairness is a way of life. In doing so, we cannot help but create a more just and decent society.”
“At the same time, I want to share with non-profits the positive lessons I’ve learned during 30 years of involvement in the business community, so that those organizations can be financially sustainable without ongoing public and private funding."
“That ‘Shining City on a Hill’ still is a destination within our reach – not only for our nation but for all of humanity -- if we have the hearts to dream it and the will to turn that dream into values-based, financially sound, real-world action. Working together we can show people how.”
Leo Abdella: Turning dreams into action
Read about Leo Abdella in Lloyd Reeb’s book The Second Half
