One of the most effective ways to reach young people of any background is summer camp. In fact, one statistic I read said that 85% of active Christians made the decision to follow Christ while at camp. Do you remember going to camp as a kid and making a decision to follow Christ?
Each summer, Leverage Ministries takes a group of at-risk youth to camp. These teens and their families have no ability to pay. Because we are committed to taking as many kids as possible to camp, we are also committed to paying their entire way. Raising all of the funds for camp each summer requires a lot of faith on our part and a lot of generosity from supporters like you.
This year, we are excited to announce the all new “Hey Dad” Camp Scholarship Fund. As many of you know, my dad, Jim Hirdes, passed away in December. Two days later, my father-in-law, Don Windham, also passed away. A little over a month later, one of our staff members lost his dad, Michael Musick. All three men were incredible fathers who loved the Lord and loved their families.
Up until the time he died, I know that if I needed anything, I could just say, “Hey Dad,” and he was always right there. If you were blessed to grow up with a father like that, you know exactly what I am talking about—a father who would drop anything to help our or give advice.
The three men mentioned above were great examples of how a godly father should be like. Sadly, this is not the case with any of the kids we minister to each week. Over the last ten years of ministry, not one teen has lived with both mom and dad, and not one single teen has lived with his dad for any period of time. To these kids, “Dad” is someone who shows up late, makes a lot of promises and keeps none of them. If I ask the boys what they want to be like as a grown up, not one single one says they want to be like their dads. In fact, they usually say they want to be the exact opposite of their own dads.
This is so sad, but it is the reality that our teens are raised in. That is why camp ministry is so important and needed. Now only do we share Christ with every young person at camp, but we also spend countless hours demonstrating what it means to be a godly man.
The “Hey Dad” Camp Scholarship Fund will allow us to take as many kids as possible to camp this summer so that we can point each of them to our perfect Heavenly Father who never abandons us and always keeps His promises.
We want to change the culture one young person at a time, so we are asking God to provide $40,000 to fun our summer camp programs. Would you be willing to give a special gift—maybe even in honor or memory of your own father—to our "Hey Dad” fund for this summer? Will you join me and honoring our fathers and helping Leverage Ministries send a record number of kids to camp this summer?
You can give a gift in the envelope provided or give online at www.leverageministries.org/give-now. There is a “Camp Scholarship Fund” option on the online giving page.
Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support as we reach at-risk youth in central Florida.
In His Service,
Scott Hirdes
Executive Director, Leverage Ministries
