Camp Changed My Life

Dear Supporter,

With spring break behind us and the days getting longer, our ministry focus has turned to summer camp. 

Recently, I ran into a young man named Charles who was part of my ministry many years ago. I hadn’t seen him for several years. He’s now married with four daughters, and he was excited to introduce me to his oldest daughter who is in middle school. 

I was surprised when she asked, “Are you Pastor Scott? My dad talks about you all the time. He was just telling me about camp and seems to have another story just about every day. Sometimes it’s hard to believe all the stories!” 

Charles looked at me and laughed, admitting that the stories may have gotten bigger and more exaggerated as the years went by, but then he said this: “Pastor Scott, camp changed my life. It was during the time at camp, away from my friends, that I made a decision to follow Jesus.”

He asked if we still took kids to summer camp, and when he found out we still do, he said, “Camp changed my life. I don’t have a lot of money but I would like to be the first to make a donation so others just like me would have the opportunity to go to camp.”

What a touching moment to stand there with a former camper and his daughter, hearing the impact our ministry had all those years ago. And how Charles committed to helping future at-risk teenagers have the same life-changing experiences.

Would you be willing to join Charles and give a special gift to help us continue to take at-risk kids to camp? You can give online at www.leverageministries.org or by mailing a check (payable to Leverage Ministries) in the envelope provided. 

In His Service,

Scott Hirdes
Executive Director