Dear Friends of Leverage Ministries,

Around this time seven years ago, Leverage Ministries was born. A small group of men, led by the vision of Mike Musick, came together with a shared burden to reach the abused, abandoned, and arrested youth of Central Florida. Shortly after, I was invited to serve as the first director—and as they say, the rest is history.

One of the very first young people we met was a boy named Alan. His story has stayed with me ever since. Alan’s father had just been deported to Mexico, where he was immediately arrested and sentenced to life in prison. I’ll never forget Alan climbing into our van for Breakfast Club one morning and saying, “I’ll never see my dad again—but to be honest, I had only met him once.”

Alan’s mother faced her own challenges, and he moved from place to place, never living in the same home for more than a year. But during one of Leverage Ministries’ first overnight camps, Alan made the decision to trust Jesus as his Savior. From that moment on, he became a faithful part of our ministry—attending every single camp we’ve hosted and staying connected through all these years.

Many of our volunteers know Alan’s story and how difficult his life has been, but as one of them once said, “I don’t think Alan has ever had a bad day.” Despite everything he’s endured, Alan always manages to find joy.

Today, Alan is 18 years old. Last summer, he joined us once again for camp, and it was an incredible week. Shortly after, one of our local business partners offered to buy brand-new shoes for every boy in our program. The very last pair we delivered was—of course—Alan’s.

By then, he was living somewhere new, but we tracked him down and surprised him with a pair of Nike basketball shoes. His eyes lit up. He looked at me and said, “Pastor Scott, this is kind of funny—years ago you taught me how to walk with Jesus, and now you’re giving me the shoes.”

He hugged me and said softly, “I don’t know where I’d be without you guys. Thank you for showing me how to walk with Jesus.” Before I left, he gave me another hug and whispered, “These are my only shoes. The ones I wore to camp fell apart when I got home. You always have perfect timing—these are the first brand-new shoes I’ve ever had.”

Stories like Alan’s are the reason Leverage Ministries exists—to reach and disciple young men who need to experience the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

This year has been financially challenging, as our expenses have continued to rise. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us through a special year-end gift, so we can continue reaching young people like Alan? You can give online at www.leverageministries.org or by mailing a check (payable to Leverage Ministries) in the envelope provided.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” - Philippians 4:6

Thank you for your prayers, your generosity, and your partnership in this ministry.

In His Service,

Scott Hirdes

From our family to yours, may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, a blessed Christmas, and a joyful New Year!

Dear Supporter,

Just a few short months ago, we celebrated Father’s Day—or, as some in my family like to call it, a Hallmark holiday. Traditionally, it’s a day filled with greeting cards and gift cards (in my case, usually to Bass Pro—thank you, David and Joel!).

But this year was different. Midway through the day, I received a phone call from one of the boys we had just signed up for camp. I had only met him twice before. When I answered, I said, “Hi, Nick, how are you doing? What’s going on?” He replied, “Not much. Can’t wait for camp. Just wanted to call and tell you Happy Father’s Day.”

I had never had a kid in our ministry do that—especially one I had barely met. He went on to say, “I just wanted to call and tell you that. I can’t wait for school to be out and camp to start.”

When camp began, I quickly learned that Nick was a handful. He didn’t want to listen, picked fights, argued constantly, and disrupted the program. Week One was tough. Week Two was no different; if anything, it was worse. By the time we started our final week of camp, I was honestly questioning why we had brought him. Part of me thought I should have given his spot to someone else.

But on the very last night, Nick came up to me and said, “I trusted Jesus as my Savior. I’ve been battling this decision all summer, and I finally said yes to Jesus. Thank you for taking me to camp. I can’t believe you didn’t send me home. Thank you.”

Then he added, “Oh, one more thing—you remember when I called you and said Happy Father’s Day? That was the first time I had ever said that to anyone. I hope and pray that one day, if I get married and have kids, they’ll say that to me. Thank you for finding me. And for the second time, Happy Father’s Day.”

We can’t thank you enough for your support of our mission to reach the least, the last, and the lost young people of Central Florida. Please continue to pray as we begin our fall ministries. I am grateful for every young person who said yes to Jesus this summer, resting in the promise of Romans 10:13: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

In His Service,

Scott Hirdes

Director, Leverage Ministries

Dear Supporter,

A short time ago, we held one of our biggest events of the year—the Roger Evans Memorial Golf Classic. This event plays a vital role in our ministry—not only as a fundraiser, but as a way to build awareness and share our mission with the community as we continue to reach at-risk youth.

Just days before the event, I began to lose my voice. By Monday morning, the day of the event, I couldn’t speak a single word. I was completely voiceless. To be honest, I was frustrated—maybe even a little angry with God. Didn’t He need me? I thought I had an important role to play. But clearly, God had something else in mind. His plan for me was simple: be silent and watch.

And so I did.

To my amazement, people stepped up. They spoke on my behalf. They shared our mission. And one of them was my son, David. He volunteered to speak at lunch. He began by saying, “My dad has been a voice for the voiceless for over 40 years. Today, I get to be his voice because he has none.”

He shared our mission with such clarity and passion—and he talked about the youth we serve. Kids who feel forgotten, invisible. Kids who believe no one hears their cries for help.

As he spoke, I was reminded of Alisa. We met her years ago in a shelter. She didn’t speak. We later learned she and her mother had been homeless. Her mom became ill and was hospitalized, but sadly, she passed away. With no one left to care for her, Alisa stayed at the hospital, silent and alone.

Eventually, she was brought to the shelter, where we met her. We loved her. We told her about Jesus. After a couple of weeks, her first words to the staff were, “Are the God people coming back?”

I believe she made a decision to follow Jesus. Not long after, she was placed with a Christian foster family.

That’s what Leverage Ministries has always been—a voice for the voiceless.

This summer, we want to do that again—beginning with summer camp. We want to give a voice to the abused, the abandoned, and the arrested. We want to listen to each one, and, by God’s grace, earn the right to be heard. And when we are, we’ll point them to Jesus.

Will you help us give these voiceless youth a summer to remember? Will you help us send them to camp?

Thank you for being part of this mission.

In His Service,

Scott Hirdes

Director, Leverage Ministries