"I Know Jesus Won't Leave Me Like My Parents Did."
Dear Ministry Partners,
Thank you all so much for all of your prayers and financial support for our first-ever Leverage Ministries Summer Camp.
Remember that old Toys ‘R Us commercial jingle, “Where a kid can be a kid!”? That’s what camp is really all about—for the boys to get a few days away from all of the mess and experience God. Each one of these boys at camp is dealing with so many issues at home and in their lives. It’s hard for many of us to grasp what they have to shoulder at such a young age.
You can see from the video that it was an awesome week in the Ocala National Forest. The boys were able to swim, fish, play games, and enjoy several other activities throughout the week.
But the most important activity that we did throughout the week was to build relationships with these hurting teens and gain the right to be heard. Our goal is to introduce each young person to Jesus and to let the boys know that He desires to have a personal relationship with each of them.
A young man named Luke was with us at camp. He was the very last kid to sign up, and I almost did not take him because we were full. But it is hard for me to say no when a kid wants to be part of our ministry, so I called Luke on the Monday morning we were scheduled to leave and said, “Pack your stuff because you are going to camp. We will make room.”
I am so glad that I made the decision to bring Luke with us because he is one who said "yes" to Jesus during the week. I had the opportunity to talk to Luke one evening, and he shared with me that his dad was in prison for first-degree murder. When his dad was sent to prison, Luke’s mom joined the Army and left him to stay with an aunt. He hasn’t seen or spoken with his dad since he went to prison, and he has not seen or spoken to his mom in more than five years.
As we were talking that evening, Luke told me that he trusted Jesus and that he knew Jesus would be the first person in his life who wouldn’t leave.
Please continue to pray for Luke as he learns more about Christ but also as he struggles every day with the feelings of abandonment from his parents. I am so grateful that God prompted me to take Luke to camp, even if we were “full.” I’m thankful for all the boys who went and that many of them said “yes” to Jesus for the first time.
Your support of Leverage Ministries is crucial in allowing us to reach the abused, abandoned and arrested youth of Central Florida. Please continue to pray for each of these young men and our follow up ministry with each of them.
In His Service,
Scott Hirdes
Executive Director