leverage ministries staff
rev. Scott hirdes, Executive Director
Joy Hirdes, Ministry Volunteer
Scott was born in Michigan, but was raised in Lakeland, Florida. Scott accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of six and gave his heart to missions as a teen. After high school, Scott attended Spurgeon Bible College and graduated in May, 1989. Scott and his wife Joy met at Camp Gilead in Polk City, Florida, where Scott served as a counselor. Eight years later they were married.
Joy was raised in Lakeland, Florida, and accepted the Lord as her Savior at the age of nine. She dedicated her life to the Lord at a campfire service at Camp Gilead as a teenager. After that she had the opportunity to serve the Lord as a junior counselor and later as a senior counselor at Camp Gilead.
Scott and Joy have two boys. David is Athletic Director and head basketball coach at Winter Haven Christian School. Joel is a firefighter with the city of Winter Haven. Both love to help and volunteer with our ministries.
After 28 years of ministry with Camp Gilead and Youth for Christ, God has led the couple to join Leverage Ministries.
Joe musick, ministry staff
Joe was born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, but spent most of his life in Lakeland, Florida. He came to know Christ at a young age during Sunday School. Joe graduated from Lakeland Christian School, earned a degree in Multidisciplinary Studies and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corp. He has spent the last several years in the construction and roofing industries, as well as operating Joe Bear’s Barbecue.
After serving as a ministry volunteer with Scott Hirdes for several years, Joe joined Leverage Ministries as a full-time staff member in early 2019. He assists Scott with Breakfast Club, the runaway shelter, sports camps, the summer camp program and more. He also caters events through Joe Bears Barbecue to help raise funds for Leverage.
Joe and his daughter Kaysie attend Heritage Baptist Church. In his free time, Joe enjoys cooking, sports and playing golf. He also coaches shot put and discus for the Lakeland Christian School track-and-field teams.
KEVIN PERDOMO, Ministry volunteer
Kevin was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida. He has seven children; he was the court-appointed legal guardian for five and he adopted two. He is the proud Papa of three grandchildren. He was raised at Ardella Baptist Church where he served with the bus ministry, puppet team, youth group, children’s church, and as the elementary children’s ministries director.
He has been a member of Heritage Baptist Church for nearly 18 years. He has been a foster parent, working with children and their families five years. He was the ministry site director for Youth for Christ at the Polk County Jail, where he worked with the juveniles, until he recently joined the staff at Leverage Ministries.
His passion is to reach young people and their families with the life changing Gospel of Christ whenever and wherever the opportunity allows.