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

Dear Faithful Supporters,

As I reflect on 2024, many events stand out. However, if you were in Florida—specifically central Florida—you’ll remember the back-to-back hurricanes that hit us. Hurricane Helene left a mark, and just over two weeks later, Hurricane Milton followed, both leaving devastating destruction in their wake. For many of us, this time was incredibly difficult, but it was especially challenging for the children and families we serve on a weekly basis.

One day after Hurricane Milton tore through Lakeland, I received a phone call from one of the boys in my breakfast club. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered anyway. It was Jaden. He told me he was borrowing a phone to check on me and Miss Joy. I immediately asked how he and his family were doing, and his response stuck with me: “We are still standing.” He explained that they had 3 to 4 feet of water in their house, but they were all okay.

Jaden went on to tell me that he and his family walked to the corner store, where food and water were being handed out. A man approached him, offering him a bottle of water, and asked if Jaden knew about Jesus and what He had done for him. Jaden replied, “Yes, I know about Jesus. I made the decision to follow Him at camp. Have you ever heard of Pastor Scott and Leverage Ministries? He picks us up every Friday for Bible study and breakfast before school.”

The man was so moved by Jaden’s story that he reached into his pocket and handed him $200. “Wow, what is this for?” Jaden asked. The man replied, “Please take care of your family with this. Pastor Scott, that’s why I’m calling. Are you and your family okay? I want to give you this money.”

I reassured Jaden that we were fine and asked him to use the money for his own family. He responded, “We’re fine. The water will be gone soon, and we’re all still standing.”

Yes, Leverage Ministries is still standing, too. We’ve taken some blows this past year—not just from the storms, but also financially. One of our larger partners informed us they would end their support in 2025. But we’re still standing.

We remain committed to reaching the least, the last, and the lost young people of central Florida. Despite the winds, the rains, and the rising floodwaters, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-25, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” I am confident that Leverage Ministries is built on the Rock, and we will continue reaching out to the abused, abandoned, and incarcerated youth of central Florida. Yes, we are still standing.

Today, I’m asking each of you—our faithful partners in this mission—to consider increasing your support by just $5. In over 35 years of ministry, I’ve never asked our current partners to increase their giving. We’ve requested special gifts for events like summer camp or year-end drives, but we’ve never asked for an increase in ongoing support. I don’t need to remind you how much the cost of living has increased over the years—and we’re no exception. Our costs have gone up as well.

We won’t send a response card or track this request. Instead, we ask that you pray for our mission and listen to what God lays on your heart. Just as Jesus took five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 people, we trust that God will meet our needs. Please continue to pray with us as we reach out to hurting young people in central Florida. Yes, we are still standing—and we will continue to stand for Christ.

In His Service,

Scott

P.S. The young man, Jaden, that I mentioned earlier is someone I had the privilege of baptizing a couple of months ago. I baptized him on a Sunday morning in front of 3,000 people. Please keep Jaden, his family, and many others in your prayers as they recover from the storms and as we continue our ministry to them.