A short time ago on a Wednesday evening, I walked into the runaway shelter for our normal Leverage Ministries program. I was greeted by a young lady named Penny who looked me in the eye and asked, “Why did you come?” 

I’ve never been asked that question. But before I could answer, Penny said, “If you came to see smiles on our faces, it’s not going to happen.” 

She went on to tell me that every person was there not of their own choice, but because they were sent there. That nobody wants to be there. She continued on to share how bad it was. The kids are told when they can eat, when they can go outside, when they have to get up, when they have to go to sleep.

Penny then said again: “If you’re looking for smiles and happiness and to make yourself feel better, you’ve come to the wrong place.”

I told Penny that no, I didn’t come to see smiles. If I wanted smiles, I could go to Disney World or to the beach.  I explained to her that while I always hope the kids have a good time with the games and that they will listen to me as I share from God’s Word, her smile or happiness has nothing to do with why I come to the runaway shelter. I told Penny that I come for one reason: to share with each one of them a message from the Bible — God’s instruction book to each of us on how we are to navigate this thing we call life.

I believe Penny did have fun with the game that night, partly because the girls’ team won. After the game when I shared from God’s word, I believe Penny did listen. In fact, she came to me after the program to thank me. Then she said, “You all are different. I hope you all will come back.”

I told Penny that we would be back — not just for the smiles, but because we care and serve a God who loves and cares about each kid at the runaway shelter. I shared about how God wants to have a personal relationship with each one.

Please pray for kids like Penny and for Leverage Ministries as we continue to meet teens in difficult places. Our goal is always to point them to Jesus. 

Thank you so much to each of you who sacrificially give so that Leverage Ministries can continue to reach the abused, abandoned and arrested teens in central Florida.

In His Service,

Scott 

DEAN JOHNSON LEGACY TEAM

Recently, we announced the Dean Johnson Legacy Team. This legacy fund will provide much-needed support as we grow and expand the various programs of Leverage Ministries. Currently, there are more than 8,000 at-risk youth in Polk County. Dean loved Leverage Ministries and was a faithful volunteer from the very beginning, and we thought this was a fitting way to honor his legacy.

This team is limited to 100 people who will give a minimum donation of $25/month for a year. Team members will have a photo and one-sentence memory or tribute. If you would like to honor Dean by joining this legacy team and continuing his passion to serve the youth in our area, please call me at (863) 221-7593 or email me at scott@leverageministries.org. 

You can also visit www.leverageministries.org to find out more and see who has already joined the team. 

ROGER EVANS MEMORIAL GOLF CLASSIC

The Inaugural Roger Evans Memorial Golf Classic benefiting Leverage Ministries will be held on Friday, May 10, at the Club at Eaglebrooke. We are currently looking for golfers and sponsors for this event. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/EvansClassic.

As many of you know, my longtime friend Dean Johnson was called home to heaven on Monday, November 26, 2018. 

Whether he was coaching his soccer players, leading Bible studies for minor-league and major-league baseball players through the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians baseball chapels, working with disabled veterans to renovate their homes for accessibility or serving with his local church, Dean had a passion for ministry and serving, and he spent his entire life pointing other people to Jesus. 

Dean loved Leverage Ministries and was a faithful volunteer from the very beginning. With the blessing of his wife Jill, who is also a faithful volunteer, and Dean’s two children—Ben and Bethany along with their spouses—I am excited to announce the Dean Johnson Legacy Team.

This legacy fund will provide much-needed support as we grow and expand the various programs of Leverage Ministries. Currently, there are more than 8,000 at-risk youth in Polk County. These kids are raised in low-income areas, are susceptible to getting involved with drugs or gangs, often have only one or sometimes no parent, struggle in school and oftentimes struggle in the transition between youth and adulthood. We want to reach as many of these kids as we can to show them that someone cares, that they aren’t alone in life, and that they can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

So why are we calling it a team? 

Well, for starters, Dean was a longtime coach — primarily for soccer, but also golf and basketball. Many of you receiving this letter played for Coach Johnson at some point in the last 40 years. He led his soccer teams to six state championship titles and was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

We’re also calling this a team because there are rules and responsibilities of both the coach and the players. “Team Dean Johnson” will be no different. You don’t win six state championships without rules and commitment.  

How can you be a part of his team?

We realize Dean Johnson impacted thousands — maybe even tens of thousands — of lives over the course of his life, but every team has a limited number of players, and so does this team.  The Dean Johnson Legacy Team will be limited to 100 people who are willing to give a minimum donation of $25/month for a year. Your photo, along with a one-sentence description of the impact that Dean had on your life, will also be shared on the Leverage Ministries website. This is the commitment required to join the team. You can renew this commitment year-after-year and be part of this legacy team for years to come.

If you would like to honor Dean by joining this legacy team and continuing his passion to serve the youth in our area, please contact Scott Hirdes at (863) 221-7593 or by email at scott@leverageministries.org.

From the day that Leverage Ministries was founded, our desire was for it to grow quickly. We want to reach as many at-risk youth as we can with the Gospel of Jesus Christ locally, nationally and internationally. 
 

To grow a ministry, it requires hard work, sacrifice, lots of prayer and people who are committed to serving. I am so thankful to say that God has surrounded Leverage Ministries with a team of staff members and volunteers who are doing all of these things, and He is answering our prayers. 
 

Along with the Leverage Ministries Board of Directors, I am so excited to announce that we have added Joe Musick as a full-time member of our ministry team. Joe has served with me personally in ministry for the past six years. I have seen how God uses him to share Christ with young people and how Joe uses his God-given gifts to serve others. 
 

Joe will join me as we work with the at-risk youth in Polk County. This includes working with the Breakfast Club boys and kids at the runaway shelter, assisting with sports camps and continuing to join us for our summer camp program. 
 

The mission of Leverage Ministries is to “enable individuals to leverage their time, talents and resources in order to reach people, both locally and globally, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”  One of the areas that Joe is especially gifted in cooking, and more specifically, barbecuing. He will leverage this skill to help our ministry financially.
 

All ministries and missionaries need money to operate, and Leverage Ministries is no different. When God gives Joe the opportunity to cater an event, all of the revenue will go to Leverage Ministries to help us point more hurting people to Jesus. 
 

Joe is now a full-time missionary with Leverage and is raising personal support through the generous support of individual donors along with revenue from events catered by Joe Bear’s Barbecue.  

Would you be willing to step out in faith and support Joe through a monthly, quarterly, yearly or one-time gift?

Please also think of Joe Bear’s Barbecue when looking for a caterer for your next church, family or corporate event. Whether it’s 10 people or 300 people, Joe will cook you some of the most amazing barbecue you’ll ever taste!

You can check out more information by clicking the button below or visiting www.leverageministries.org. 

In His Service,

 Scott Hirdes

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