“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” - Isaiah 55:8


Before camp this past June, this verse from Isaiah became more real than ever to me. We held our first-ever matching gift campaign — the “Hey, Dad” campaign to raise money for camp — and God blessed our ministry financially so that we could take at-risk boys to the Ocala National Forest for a week of camping, as well as two different weeks of basketball camp at a local church.

God had provided the funding, so I thought our part was simply to find the kids for our summer ministry programs. My plan was to fill our camps with at-risk teens who would not have the opportunity to experience camp without ministries like Leverage.

One young man I really wanted to come to camp was named Michael. I knew it would be a long shot because he was in a state program and would have to be granted a release from the state attorney, the judge, the program and his mother. I worked for more than two months. I met with each party, shared about Leverage Ministries and talked about our summer camp program. One by one, they agreed to let Michael be released and attend our first week of camp.

Everything was in place. We would pick Michael up from the center on Monday morning. The plan was to take him to Target to get his camp clothes and supplies, and then we would pick up the rest of the boys. Before we got to the center, Michael’s mother had picked him up and took off. We looked for them all morning but could not find them. I was so discouraged thinking about all of that work over the past months. I felt like I had failed. But God was in control.

The night before we were set to leave, I got a call from a kid named Ray. He really wanted to go to camp, but I had to tell him that we were full. As I arrived at the first kid’s house the following morning, Ray showed up and tried again. He said he could be ready to go right away. Once again, I apologized but told him we were full.

Three hours later, both vans were full. We had all our boys except Michael. I went by his house one more time; his mother was home but said he would not be going to camp. I drove away so discouraged and disappointed that all the effort from the past few months had been a waste.

But as I drove, I passed Ray’s house again, and I saw him sitting outside. I stopped and asked him how quickly be could be ready to go. Within minutes, he was jumping in the van with the rest of the kids, and we were on our way to camp.

It didn’t take long for me to regret my decision to bring Ray. He had begged to go, but by the time we got to camp, I think it was his goal to break every rule so he could go home. He was a challenge all week long. But after our Friday at Fun Spot in Orlando, we were headed home, and Ray sat in the front seat next to me. We were stuck in traffic for a couple of hours, and while the rest of the boys slept, Ray shared with me that he trusted Christ the evening before at camp.

I had shared the story about my father dying this past winter, and about how my father-in-law died two days later. Ray said, “The story about your dads really hit me because my father died two weeks ago. I really never knew my dad. I only met him maybe twice, but he was still my dad. I loved him and hated God for letting him die. The day he passed, a preacher came by our house to tell me that my dad had died. He wanted me to know that my dad accepted Jesus as his Savior and wanted me to as well. I told the preacher that was not for me and that I hated God for taking my dad before I ever knew him. The preacher said that he understood but would pray that someone would come into my life and so share Christ with me.”

As we were stuck in traffic and everyone else slept behind us, Ray looked at me and said, “Pastor Scott, I believe you are that someone. I prayed and said yes to Jesus last night and just now realized that you are the someone who that preacher prayed for. God really does answer prayer.”

Yes…God does answer prayers. He also takes things that feel like discouragement and failure to us but turn out to be divine opportunities for boys like Ray. Thanks to each of you for praying and for your financial gifts to our summer camp programs. Seventeen boys said yes to Jesus for the first time this summer, and I am sure that each one has a story just like Ray did.

Please continue to pray as we start our fall programs and as we disciple each of the young men who accepted Christ this summer.

In His Service,

Scott Hirdes
Executive Director, Leverage Ministries

Dear Leverage friends and supporters,

Back in April, I shared with you about our “Hey, Dad” Camp Scholarship Fund. We set an ambitious goal of raising $40,000 to help send at-risk kids to camp this summer.

Well, I have some VERY exciting news to share with you today. A very generous Leverage supporter has offered a matching gift of up to $25,000! 

That means every dollar given to this scholarship fund will be doubled and even more kids’ lives changed through our camp ministries! 

More than ever, we believe that Leverage Ministries is going to reach a generation of young men who have no idea what a father is or supposed to be.  We want to point as many kids as possible to our perfect Heavenly Father who never abandons us and who always keeps His promises.

Please join me in supporting our “Hey, Dad” Camp Scholarship Fund. You can give a gift in the envelope provided or give online at www.leverageministries.org/give-now. When you give online, you can select the “Camp Scholarship Fund “ option in the drop down menu.

The deadline to give and have your donation doubled by this matching gift is July 1!

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support as we reach at-risk youth in central Florida

In His Service,

Scott Hirdes

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