Dallas Mayor Leppert Calls on Faithful to Aid Southern, Western Dallas‎

"We neglected the southern and western parts of our city. That imbalance has cost us over time," Leppert said Thursday to a crowd of more than 200 people gathered for the annual Metrocrest Mayors' Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Galleria hotel. "If you're a Christian, you have to evoke an understanding and an empathy ... to address the challenges, the needs in these areas."

But social justice will also be found in economic success.

"The city is not going to be successful unless we capitalize on that great asset in the south in terms of land, in terms of human resources," the mayor said. "We're not going to move forward if we don't have everyone feeling engaged or feel ownership."

Leppert, a member of Park Cities Baptist Church, made a passing reference to supporting a planned Dallas Convention Center hotel, although he primarily generalized his political comments. He did, however, talk extensively about his own faith, and how it informs and inspires his work as a public official representing people of all political, social and religious backgrounds.

"We're engaged in some pretty interesting political battles in Dallas," Leppert said. "Prayer becomes that critical element to seeking that direction and strength."

Even his decision to run for mayor in 2007 was made in part following a conversation with his pastor, who suggested that more Christians need to seek public office.

"That was pretty significant in that discussion ...when we decided to go forward and run," Leppert said. "The Lord puts out a message to us, and lays out a path for us, but he only does it one step at the time."

When engaged in politics, elected officials must retain the perspective of why they sought power in the first place, Leppert said.

"Our real goal in life is not to satisfy ourselves. Our real goal is to prepare ourselves to be with Him in eternity," Leppert told the crowd. "The message of Christ, I think, is really simple: It is to forgive us for our past, to give meaning to the present and to give us a promise for the truth."