Last week, we had the opportunity to take a group of at-risk teenagers to Lake Denton Camp in Avon Park. 

Every summer when we go to camp, one of my favorite things is waking up early and enjoying a cup of coffee before anyone else is up. I find a quiet place, usually down by the lake, and spend time with God before the day begins.  

But last week, as I was doing the very thing I love, I found myself having a pity-party with God. I was complaining about the sorry instant coffee I was drinking, about that one bug that wouldn’t stop bothering me, about how little I had slept the night before and about how I have to field a thousand questions about what we’re going to be doing every hour of the day. To top off this “woe-is-me” morning, I forgot my glasses and could barely see to read the Bible on my phone. 

As I was sitting there, complaining to God and watching the sun come up, a camper named Nate came out of his cabin and wandered over to where I was seated. I signed Nate up for camp the morning we were leaving. I had never met him before that morning, and I really did not know him or his story. Nate started talking about the camp, so I asked what he liked best so far. I was expecting to hear about the swimming, the water slide, the food or being with his friends. I wasn’t prepared for his answer. Nate looked at me and said, “I like the shower the best.”  When I asked him why, he said, “It’s so great. The water works when I turn it on. It’s warm, there’s soap and I can stay as long as I need to.” He went on to tell me about his home and all his brothers and sisters.  How the water is always cold and sometimes there is no water at all.

God really has a way of putting me in my place. Here I was complaining about instant coffee, and Nate was rejoicing about a shower. It reminded me that some of us have so much that w take for granted while there are hurting people — hurting kids — who don’t always have water for a shower. 

Right then, I started to pray for Nate and his family. Later that evening, Nate said yes to Jesus for the first time, along with two other boys. 

The next time you jump into your warm shower, please remember to pray for Leverage Ministries and the boys and families we are reaching every day. 

We are so grateful for your continued partnership. Please continue to pray specifically for the Leverage Ministries finances. Like many organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected us significantly. We are committed to serving at-risk teens in Polk County, and I’m confident that God will provide. 

Serving Him,

Scott Hirdes
Executive Director

“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