Ministering to Teens During Uncertain Times

“Uncertainty” is a word being used a lot about everything right now.  We are not certain about our jobs, the economy or our health. The list goes on and on. Uncertainty has us asking questions like, “When will all of this end?” and “What will normal look like when this is all over?” 

For many, if not all, of the teens we work with through Leverage Ministries, uncertainty has been a normal part of their everyday lives since long before COVID-19. They’ve had to ask questions such as, “Where am I going to live?” and “What will I eat?” and “Is my mom coming home?” and “Will I ever see my dad again?”

With all of these questions already on their minds, it’s easy to understand how this global coronavirus pandemic has these teenagers so scared. They don’t know what all of this means. It is making their already-difficult lives even more difficult.

I believe God has prepared our Leverage Ministries staff to step in at a time when these teenagers need us the most.

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic caused everything to come to a halt, Leverage Ministries was able to purchase a used 15-passenger van. We had been praying and searching for a van for well over a year. We believe God’s timing is perfect, and once we are able to start meeting again, we will now have our own transportation. We are able to help families with the everyday errands that most of us take for granted — things like getting to doctor’s appointments, the bank or to school for parent meetings.  

Although we don’t know what our ministry will look like over the next few months, we are still making plans for a very busy summer. We hope to be able to meet with multiple groups of teens on a weekly basis.  

Despite our uncertainties, the message we share with these hurting teenagers does not change. We are contacting as many teenagers as possible to encourage them and to continue sharing Christ with them. I am confident that God knows what our ministry will look like this summer, and we are trusting Him to guide our daily steps.

Please pray for the at-risk teenagers that we serve in our community. Very few are doing their schoolwork online. They are scared, confused and don’t know who they can trust.

Also, continue to pray for Leverage Ministries as we find new ways to reach the least, last and lost teens of central Florida and that we would continue to use every open door to point teenagers and their families to Jesus.

In His Service, 
Scott Hirdes 


P.S. Leverage Ministries depends on our generous donors. Like many other ministries and nonprofit organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our resources. Would you consider making a special gift today? If so, please visit https://leverageministries.org/give-now