Building a Family a Home for the Mission of God

Posted on September 20th, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: leverett family, ministry updates, new orleans.

Building a Family a Home for the Mission of God
- a note from Mo Leverett - September 20, 2007

I’m in my portable office - my trusty Toyota Corolla - in front of a vacant lot that my wife has identified through prayerful search as the potential new Leverett’s family home site. I am joining her in prayer and soliciting yours at the same time.

The lot is near the corner of St. Bernard Ave and Mirabeau. It is just a little ways down from the St. Bernard housing project of New Orleans, close to City Park and not far from the University of New Orleans. It is very close to I-610 which puts us within a hop, skip and a jump to just about every part of the city. There is a gentle breeze, a hint of the oncoming autumn air passing through my vehicle. The faint sounds of construction off in the distance signal the ongoing recovery effort in this area. I am resting in the assurance of God’s sovereign purpose for our family and praying…

In my last report to you guys I conveyed my rather busy traveling schedule. I hoped this crowded schedule would remind you of our commitment to the cause, but I know for some it inspired concern for the precious Leverett family which I am primarily called to shepherd. And so I thought I’d give you a fuller update on the status of the Leveretts as we together pursue the next phase of our lives in ministry.

Ellen has taken a part-time job in the afternoons in the after-care program at St. George’s Episcopal School where Maggie and Manning are attending. She is doing this in order to help defray the cost of educating our kids. She is also home schooling Lacey this year and getting some individual tutoring for herself in sign-language, which outside of being the engineer of the Leverett household, is her other passion and interest. I do a second-rate job of managing the routine in her absence on Wednesday nights when she is with her tutor. Her e-mail address is ellenleverett@hotmail.com and I know she would be encouraged to hear from any or all of you.

Lindsay, my oldest daughter is becoming a young adult. She’ll be driving in the not too distant future and is showing signs of maturity in all areas of her life. We’re even beginning to have conversations about college. She has been a central part of my ministry over the years and has internalized such a huge part of my heart for the urban struggle. She has agreed to write an article for our website regarding our mutual interest in the football program at Clark High School, where I am volunteer coaching the special teams. If you’ve seen the movie Remember the Titans, the curly-haired daughter of the Coach is just like my Lindsay, who I affectionately call Dee Dee Brown! She’s also a good athlete in her own rite, but has struggled with shoulder injuries and shin splints. I will be picking her up in an hour as she insists on attending all the practices at Clark High School with me.

My daughter Lacey, also called La La, or Ooo La La, is going through self-discovery issues and has been the most visibly hurt by our departure from the 9th ward. Our ministry there was so much a part of her life that it is painful for her even to talk about, yet we are working on moving forward from here. She’s struggled with migraine headaches and so homeschooling is giving her reprieve to pursue her education at her pace without the pressure that early morning school schedules seem to be for her. She despises living on the West Bank of New Orleans and is very much looking forward to a move. I was able to coach her in Cabbage Ball and Softball this Spring and she became a very valuable asset to the team and demonstrated the most personal improvement. I’m teaching Lacey to play the guitar and she and I are working on a mission project together, as well. She is an aspiring poet and artist.

I attended Maggie’s, or Mags-a-million’s, first volleyball game yesterday. She started and played every point of all three games. She’s likely to be the tallest of all my girls, who all tower over their mother! She is a talented artist and brings that artist perspective to all of life. She’s a bit silly, loves to laugh and to play games on my computer. She makes excellent grades and endears herself to everyone she meets. She and I are due for a Daddy date soon!

Manning, or Manny Man, is my only son. I’m coaching his football team in his first season this year. I can’t begin to tell you how excited he is to be out there. After I bought his equipment that first night, he slept in it! He talks about football without ceasing. I love him so much. He’s smart, athletic but most gentle. When someone is hurting within the family he’s very caring and sensitive and offers himself for comfort. He loves math and science and thus may become my best hope for a retirement plan!

I just wanted all of you to know how much I treasure this family. As soon as our support is raised I very much intend to resume a more rational schedule. Please pray for me. There’s a significant difference between the ages of 42 and 25, the age I was when I launched Desire Street Ministries. Back then, I had boundless energy, few responsibilities and no children. This time around is different. Please feel free to forward information on to others who might want to help us redevelop ministry in the city of New Orleans, resource other urban ministries and churches and replicate incarnational urban ministry stateside and worldwide. We are committed and are asking for your prayer and help!

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Celebrating 21 years of Marriage and Ministry Together

Posted on August 23rd, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: leverett family, ministry updates, new orleans.

While it may not sound romantic, trust me, it was her idea. Ellen and I celebrated our 21st anniversary today by enjoying a midday 2 game bowling tournament, followed up by a meal at Steak and Ale - rib eye and baked potato! Every guy should have a wife like this!

I forget who I was speaking to, but when she heard that Ellen and I had been married for 21 years, she said, “Wow! These days, that’s quite an accomplishment!” And it really is - especially on her side of the equation. I am so thankful for her and for my four amazing children who are beautiful and mostly well-adjusted due to the steady, tender and motherly hand of Ellen. Few have better instincts in the whole motherhood department than Ellen Leverett. And very few people would likely endure what I’ve put her through and still, even to this day, be willing to endure more. What a champion she is - and I’m the luckiest guy on the planet!

Now the day is winding down. The kids are in bed. Ellen has drifted off to sleep. I’m at my computer soliciting your prayers as I have mostly packed my bags for a fund-raising trip to Dallas and later a consultation visit and concert in Corpus Christi. I will arise again at 5:15 am and enter another day of building a new ministry. I will be in Houston the following weekend and in Georgia the weekend after that. In between all of this I’m coaching at Clark High School, meeting with pastors, educators and other city leaders. I’m making support calls. I’m trying to stay on top of all the administrative affairs. I am working hard, but as the Good Book says, “unless the Lord builds the house…those who labor, labor in vain.” I hope you will pray for me this week, that the Lord go before me. Pray that He provide all the resources necessary to launch this ministry. Pray for the appropriate administrative assistance to under gird my efforts and compliment my weaknesses in this endeavor. Pray that God would raise up the spiritual leadership to go into the harvest fields. Mostly, pray that I would remain ever diligent in remaining ever reliant and that I not resist the hands of the potter in His ongoing work in me.

As you know, I have been in faith-based ministry for over 17 years now as a domestic urban missionary. Remarkably during this time period, Ellen and I have never missed a paycheck until, that is, August of ‘07. Were this the case 6 months ago, I might would be checking into jobs at the local Winn-Dixie. However, Ellen and I have a strange peace about all of this. With a busy Fall and early Spring, we are confident that the resources will come in to keep us going in the execution of this important vision. Also with the release of our new CD project in the Fall, we trust that we will begin to realize a return on that particular investment. If the Lord lays it on your heart to continue to support the Leverett family in the work of advancing urban ministry initiatives, we will strive to see that your investment have eternal significance.

But right now, rejoice with us that we are enduring in love, progressing in service to our Savior and continuing to push against the darkness with the light of the Gospel!

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We’re Feeling Good

Posted on August 22nd, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: blog, leverett family, ministry updates, new orleans.

For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Peter, The Apostle of Jesus
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! John, The Apostle of Jesus

I’ve been pulling early mornings and so I was nodding off at nine. My wife gently awakened me to inform me that Manning, my nine year old son, has a surprise for me and wants to tell me something. My wife noticing my preference for sleep and reluctance to be disturbed assured me that I would not be disappointed. Collecting myself, I struggled up the stairs and found Manning under the covers with nothing showing but his glowing and compressed grin. I snuggle next to him, place my arm under his head and say, “Hey buddy, what’s going on?” He paused. Then he said, “I’m ready to accept Jesus into my heart.”

I’ve had some encouraging moments in the past year. But as I reflect back, there are none quite so sweet as this one. My pride in that boy is one of the most cherished parts of my life. To impart myself to him is the world’s greatest privilege. For him to believe that I’m the world’s greatest dad is affirmation at its finest. So after leading him in prayer and exchanging some words of affection, I asked him, “How do you feel Manny Man?” He paused. “I’m feeling really good about myself,” he said.

It’s hard to believe that God’s love for me and Manning is greater, far greater than what we feel for one another. But that is the good news. While I love Manning, it is no trouble at all for me and it is my distinct joy to introduce him to His real Dad - Abba Father. While I am a staunch believer in the theological motif of original sin - and I give evidence to it daily - I believe also that because of the Father’s love, we can truly feel good about ourselves.

It was also my joy to introduce some young men at Clark High School recently to my Father as well. It is even greater encouragement for me to know that Richard Johnson, who I had the privilege of introducing to the Father in the early days of my ministry in Desire, is becoming for these young men a real father figure. It also gladdened me to facilitate the generosity of Greg Jacobs, another one of our students and disciples from Desire who now is a young and successful entrepreneur, who almost single handedly funded the camp these boys attended!

While much of the past couple of years have been difficult, I will testify with much assuredness that I would not trade my life for another man’s life or for anything that you could offer me in this world. You could say that I’m feeling really good about myself.

I have a packed Fall and early Spring traveling, speaking, singing and teaching. We are advancing the principles and theological framework that gives rise to kingdom building among the poor. This is resulting in many new works around the country and world. Thank you for supporting me in this endeavor. My new CD project Of Orphans and Kings will be released this Fall. Pray with me that this CD will help widen the impact that we can have in the promotion of incarnational ministry among the poor stateside and worldwide.

Our vision for the city of New Orleans is crystallizing around the concept of replicating the original ministry package of youth bible studies, leadership development, tutoring and camping in every one of the at-risk public schools in the city. We also intend to plant a church into which those young people can be enfolded, nurtured, instructed and commissioned in the Gospel of Christ.

Never before has the public schools of New Orleans been more open to the help that we can provide. We’re excited about these opportunities for the Gospel’s advancement in the city. We’re feeling good. Real Good.

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Rebirth moving forward on city-wide vision in New Orleans!

Posted on July 27th, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: blog, leverett family, ministry updates, new orleans.

While Katrina did more damage than it is healthy for me to think about at the moment, she also has created new opportunities for the gospel. Please pray for me as I begin to plow ahead in seizing some of those opportunities in the coming months. Pray that God would glorify Himself through the feeble sacrifices of a humble servant.

We are moving forward with a city-wide vision to plant the core urban ministry programs we established in the Desire neighborhood many years ago in other neighborhoods throughout the city. We are hoping to be able to rehire some of our previous indigenous leaders who will emulate my coaching and youth ministry exploits in other high schools in the city. While we’re unsettled entirely on the leadership construct for a new church, we have decided that a new church is needed. We are asking for your prayers and support in the coming months as we in earnest re-enter the devils turf.

Already, some of those indigenous leaders have started a new work at Clark High School in New Orleans. Young men and women have already made decisions to follow Christ. We are constructing a tutoring program for the fall and will partner with the football coaches to execute a combination two-a-day and Christian football camp in the next couple of weeks. I have been asked to coach special teams for Clark and so will be laboring alongside and underneath the leadership we led to Christ many years ago. It has been refreshing to be out on the football field again working with the kickers. It’s been encouraging to see that though I’m old, overweight and out of shape that I still can punt a football a good piece down the field. (I’m getting it together in case the Saints need me sometime this season!) Even more encouraging though is that I am able in small ways to help the next generation of youth from our beleaguered city realize their potential in life through Christ. It’s good to be out there again.

As one preacher said from the pulpit just the other day, “This whole Christianity thing is a Holy Spirit production…I’m just thankful that the Lord gave to me a speaking part!” I too am thankful to be out on the front lines again in a Holy Spirit production.

My Fall schedule is almost completely full. You can check out our calendar of events on the website to keep track with my travel plans. We will release my new CD, Of Orphans and Kings, in the Fall. However, you can download the music directly from our music website. The project will give you a window into how the Lord has worked in my life over the past number of months after Katrina and hopefully inspire you to remember the One who has made Kings from Orphans. It also gives you a tangible way to invest in our new work.

Ellen and I and the kids are well. We are working hard to build the infrastructure for a new movement, to raise the support necessary to do so and to discern with clarity the Lord’s precise call and vision for our future. We are so thankful for our partners in this. Please stay in touch with us. Every note of encouragement and word of support achieves its desired end.

Thanks again for your partnership!

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Urgent Need for Clark High School team ministry

Posted on July 25th, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: ministry updates, new orleans.

Richard Johnson and the Clark High School football coaching staff will be taking their team to camp Aug. 6-11 in Slidell, La. The coaching staff along with Mo Leverett and Sam Rauschenberg will be leading around 20 football players in athletic, spiritual and educational development.

These guys need your help both in prayer and financially. A suggested donation of $150 will send one person to camp. To contribute to their own fundraising efforts, please mail a check to the address below.

Rebirth International
PO Box 62600
Dept 1395
New Orleans, LA 70162

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New Orleans Neighborhood Church Needs Help With Construction Costs

Posted on July 22nd, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: ministry updates, new orleans.

I’m sitting in a church within the 9th Ward of New Orleans enjoying worship with about 50 to 60 of my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. We are sitting in a recently repaired flood damaged church but with no air conditioning. They have opened their doors again. The pastor is a friend of mine and a man of great integrity with a heart of evangelism and discipleship. The cost to repair their air conditioning system is $9,000. Would you consider whether the Lord has called you to be a source of blessing to your brothers and sisters in Christ here in this place of spiritual rebirth.

Let me know if the Lord would have you join Ellen and myself to be a source of blessing and rebirth in the life of this precious Christian fellowship.

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Summer Internship Reinvisioned

Posted on March 31st, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: class offerings, ministry updates, new orleans, summer internship.

After two very significant and successful events - the Weekend Conference in Mobile and the Week-long mini-internship with Campus Outreach from Georgia College - we’ve decided to reenvision our summer internship program. We will no longer be conducting the month-long summer internship that I used to run at Desire Street Ministries. Pray for me as I begin the process of hearing from God on a more efficient way to shape this vital program of Rebirth.

It is now our belief that in the future we will do more for the kingdom by shortening the experience and inviting more participants. We do not have a facility from which to operate the program but believe that the Lord will supply. Feel free to contact me directly regarding this opportunity.

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Georgia College Students Making a Big Difference in New Orleans

Posted on March 30th, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: ministry updates, new orleans.

Spring break. You know the scene. Uninhibited revelry. Youthful self-indulgence. Partying, drinking and girls gone wild! Stop the tape.

Call CNN, Fox News and MTV. It seems there’s a group of young people that are seriously breaking the mold. They are doing unto others, they are loving their neighbor and changing their world.

They rise early and retire late.

They serve others selflessly by gutting flood damaged homes, assisting minority owned small businesses, tutoring inner-city youth and restoring order from chaos by meeting basic administrative and marketing needs of recovering ministries. They paint walls, build furniture, design logos, organize mailings. They awaken to reading the scriptures. They do not retire until they’ve pondered and internalized the hardest sayings of Christ and have considered the lofty character attributes of sacrifice, justice and mercy, redemptive suffering and of charity and love towards those who are poor. They raise their own support from willing donors. They encourage, smile and are grateful for the opportunity to serve.

Wow! If this is the next generation of young Christian leaders…then the church will indeed be in good hands. They have served their college in the most distinguished way. They have represented their college ministry as worthy emmissaries. They have honored their families and their hometowns at heroic levels. They have made us proud. And yet they will defer the credit and hope that their service was used by God for His glory. All I can say is…wow!

I know you will want to join me in honoring their service and in following their example. These 19 students from Georgia College’s Campus Outreach, we salute you and express our heartfelt gratitude!

Sam Rauschenberg - Senior - Economics and Political Science, Dalton, GA
Jason Berl - Senior - Rhetoric, Moultrie, GA
Ashley Bohanon - Senior - Mass Communications and Public Relations, Conyers, GA
Jason Hughes - Junior - Special Education, Lillburn, GA
Richard Kerr - Junior - International Business, LaGrange, GA
Emily Allen - Sophomore - Economics, LaGrange, GA
Elyssa Sanner - Sophomore - English, Evans, GA
Bonnie Kelly - Sophomore - Special Education, Lillburn, GA
Jess Parks - Junior - Art, Lillburn, GA
Katie Woods - Sophomore - Special Education, Kennesaw, GA
Jenny Proffitt - Sophomore - Community Health, Marrietta, GA
Nadirah Ross - Senior - Mass Communications and Public Relations, Sparta, GA
Kat Mann - Junior - Psychology, Macon, GA
Lane Coursey - Freshman - Undeclared, Conyers, GA
Brent Adams - Junior - History, Savannah, GA
Brian McDaniel - Junior - English, Lawrenceville, GA
Lauren Crowley - Freshman - Undeclared, Augusta, GA
Whitney Fee - Sophomore - Mass Communications, Martinez, GA
Kelly Hartman - Graduate - Campus Outreach Staff, Augusta, GA

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Concert for Campus Outreach at Georgia College

Posted on March 23rd, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: blog, concerts & music, new orleans.

I just returned from a short trip to Georgia where I had the opportunity to speak and perform a concert at the Campus Outreach of Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. It was especially encouraging to have the opportunity to spend time with these extraordinary young men and women both before and after the concert. Thanks to all who came and especially to those who generously contributed to Rebirth International. Special thanks to Glenn Wilkins for the invite and to Sam Rouschenburg for coordination. Also I want to especially thank Jaimie (aka Jeannie) for jumping behind the mike with me at my invitation. You did a great job and are quite talented! Within a couple of days a group of about 20 students from that college will be travelling to New Orleans to help in the city’s recovery. Pray that they might have safe travels and that the Lord’s blessing will be upon us as we explore God’s word together over spring break.

I also had the opportunity to visit with an old high school friend of mine from Macon named Steve Lee. Special thanks to he and his wife Joanie for their hospitality and renewed friendship. Please pray for them that God would continue to bless Steve’s graphic design company called Catalyst as well as their sweet family.

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PRAYER ALERT!

Posted on February 8th, 2007 by Mo Leverett.
Categories: blog, new orleans.

Please spread the word throughout the body of Christ wherever you are to build a prayer movement for our dear friend Stacey Howard. Stacey gave her life to Christ through our ministry in Desire many years ago. She has developed a rare condition or disease that is causing her lungs to atrophy. The doctors are mystified and unable to treat the condition. She has seen nearly a dozen specialists who are unable to properly diagnose or treat her condition - she has lost almost half the functionality of both lungs. She may require lung transplant surgery but we are praying for God to perform a miracle in her life. She is dear to so many of us in New Orleans!

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