A couple days ago at Breakfast Club, I was talking with a young man named Jay about his life goals, future plans and his relationship with Jesus. Jay looked at me and said, “Pastor Scott, life has robbed me of most of my choices and opportunities.” That caught my attention, so I asked him to explain what he meant.

Jay said to me, “I would have liked to have grown up with a mom and dad in the same house. But my dad is dead, and my mom is in jail. You see, Pastor Scott…life has robbed me of living in a nice house with hot water and food I want to eat and clothes I want to wear. I would like to do well in school and be able to go to college some day, but to be completely honest with you, I will probably end up in prison like the rest of my family and people I know.”

Unfortunately, that is the story I hear way too often. Each story is a little different than Jay’s, but so many of the kids we worked with feel they have no choice and no hope.

This year, as you sit around your Christmas tree to share gifts and gather around your dinner table with your family and friends, would you remember those who do not have that same opportunities? Teenagers like Jay who who need the one true Hope that comes from having a relationship with Christ?

Luke 2:10 says, “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.’” That good news is salvation.

Titus 2:11 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” That includes Jay, who feels like he was robbed of some of life’s opportunities. But no one has been robbed of the opportunity to trust In the Saving Grace of Jesus.

Would you prayerfully consider a year-end gift to Leverage Ministries that will enable us to continue sharing this Hope with the at-risk youth of Polk County through our Breakfast Club ministries, at the Runaway Shelter, at summer camps and at the various sports camps throughout the year?

You can give online at www.leverageministries.org/give-now or send a check to Leverage Ministries, PO Box 1533, Auburndale, FL 33823.

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In His Service,

Scott Hirdes

Do you know what Shoe Goo is? To be honest, it’s really spelled “Goop,” but that didn’t rhyme so I went with “Goo.”

Shoe goop is glue for shoes. You can buy it at Walmart and most hardware stores. When your shoe starts to fall apart and you want to be careful with money, you go get some Shoe Goo and glue it back together. This saves you from having to buy new shoes; they’re good for at least another couple of weeks! (Really I have personally used the stuff and it does not last long.)

Now I can only imagine what you are thinking: “How is Scott going to tie Shoe Goo into missions during this prayer letter?” I’m very glad you asked and that others witnessed this, because you would not believe this story.

A couple of weeks ago, we arrived at the runaway shelter for our normal Wednesday night program. As I was finished speaking, a young man named VJ came up and said he really liked what I had to say and wanted to know if we would be back next week. I told him that we come very Wednesday night. His response? “Great! Could you bring me some glue?” Unsure of what he meant, I asked him why he needed glue. VJ said, "You see, I have these shoes and need to glue them back together. I have all the pieces right here.” I offered to take VJ to buy some shoes, but he insisted that he wanted glue for his shoes. I promised to bring some the next week.

The next week, I walked into the shelter, and VJ ran up to me asking for the glue. Unfortunately, I had had forgotten all about the glue, but my wife heard and offered to run to the store for glue as I started the program. We had a great evening, and VJ listened to every word. As soon as I was done praying, VJ jumped up and asked for the glue. Thankfully Joy was back with the Shoe Goo before anybody knew she was gone. VJ brought me his shoes and all of the rubber pieces that had come off and asked me to glue all of the pieces back together for him. So I sat there and glued the dirty old sneakers back together, piece by piece while VJ watched. When I finished, I reminded him not to wear them until the glue had dried overnight.

A week later as I walked back into the shelter, VJ met me at the door to look at his shoes again. He said, “They are perfect, and all of the pieces are still on. Check out how good they look!”

At first, I didn’t understand why he wanted to fix the old, worn out shoes. But later I learned why. VJ was taken from his home, and the only thing he could grab was this pair of shoes his mom had bought for him. She used all the money she had to buy him the shoes and told him to take good care of them. VJ said to me, “Pastor Scott, I know my mom is coming back for me, and I am going to show her that I am grown up and can take care of myself, just like I took care of my shoes. I know she is coming back.”

VJ wanted to make his mom proud, and I’m honored that I was able to help VJ. Without your support of Leverage Ministries, this wouldn’t be possible. Because of your support, we were able to buy shoe goo and glue VJ’s shoes back together. Because of your support, we are able to share Christ with VJ and also every young person we come in contact with each and every day.

Matthew 10:42 says, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

In Jesus’s time, it was a cup of cold water. In our time, it was a tube of glue.

Would you be willing to give a special gift this holiday season to help Leverage Ministries continue to glue lives back together with the glue only Christ can provide? Give online today at www.leverageministries.org/donate or mail a check in the enclosed envelope.

Thank you again for your continued prayer and financial support. We appreciate you!

Scott Hirdes
Executive Director

“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