“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

Do you ever get so busy that you forget what you’re really supposed to be doing?

In Christian work, there’s a term we use called “ministry drift.” Simply put, this happens when we spend too much time doing other projects or things — things that might be good — but that aren’t the main focus of the ministry. 

It doesn’t matter how long the ministry has been around, how well-established it is or even how big or small the organization is. If we aren’t careful, ministry drift can happen. 

Sometimes the Christmas season can get so busy that we find ourselves drifting. We’re planning parties and organizing food, arranging decorations and buying gifts. Before we know it, all we’re doing is party planning and have lost the true meaning of Christmas.

Don’t get me wrong — I love the Christmas season. And our holiday parties serve as great opportunities to minister to young people and their families in our community. But it’s not just about the parties and the presents and the food. 

Recently, I received a phone call from a young man who was in my Breakfast Club several years ago. He’s a college student in Tallahassee and just wanted to check in to see how I was doing. We talked for a while about all of the time we spent together when he was growing up, and he brought up how much fun he had at the Breakfast Club Christmas party. 

I asked what his favorite part of the party was, assuming that he would say the gifts or the food or the chance to play basketball. But his answer surprised me.

His favorite part of the party was when I read the Christmas story about a boy who could not say no to Jesus. He shared how the story impacted him and how he would always have room for Jesus at Christmastime. 

More importantly, he told me that he accepted Christ that morning at our Christmas party. 

This is the real reason that Leverage Ministries does what we do. Sure, the parties are fun, and we appreciate all of the good food and fun games, but without Christ, we have no reason to celebrate. 

Please continue to pray for Leverage Ministries — that we would stay focused on pointing these hurting teenagers to Jesus and that we will always share the true meaning of Christmas to the abused, abandoned and arrested teenagers in Polk County. 

Thanks for your prayers and support this past year. On behalf of the Leverage Ministries board and staff, we wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

In His Service,

Scott Hirdes
Executive Director

It’s amazing to look back over the past year and see how God has been at work building His kingdom through Leverage Ministries. 

Several years ago, a group of individuals followed God‘s leading to establish a nonprofit ministry with the goal of encouraging people to use their time, talent and resources to spread the Gospel, both locally and abroad.

A little over a year ago, they took another bold step of faith and asked me to be the Executive Director of their vision. After much prayer and with God‘s clear direction, I accepted this challenge. Together, we established a Board of Directors with various gifts and talents, but all with hearts to see people come to Jesus.

I want to give all of you who have been praying and financially supporting us a return on investment in regards to all that God has done through Leverage Ministries in the last year. It has truly been nothing short of a miracle. 

• We now have 12 board members praying and giving direction to our mission.

• We’ve been able to share the gospel with more than 3,000 at-risk youth in Central Florida area.

• More than 30 of these kids have made decisions to say yes to Jesus.

• We’ve had the opportunity to host two weeks of summer camp in addition to our regular weekly ministries.

• We’ve seen God provide financially when we’ve needed it most.

• We had a mother call to thank us for the way her son is changed.

• We had a young man say to us, “I now see that I have a Father who will never leave me like both my parents did.”

• We had a young lady celebrate Christmas for the very first time and receive her first-ever Christmas gift during one of our holiday parties.

I believe it is also important to point out that 88% of every dollar given goes to direct ministry with these teenagers.  Your continued support is the lifeblood that allows us to reach hurting youth. Thank you for leveraging your resources for the Gospel.

As the end of the year approaches, we are setting big, bold goals to start the new year off well. Will you give to Leverage Ministries, whether as a monthly ministry partner or with a one-time gift? You can visit www.leverageministries.org or click the link below to donate. 

Also, pray for us as we prepare for a busy and important time of the year. The holidays look very different for these teens, and we do everything we can to make it special for them. Stay tuned for information about holiday events and opportunities for you to be involved.

In His Service,

Scott