Jeff Leeland and his son Michael

On the cold morning of February 26, 1992, Jeff Leeland had his quiet time with God before heading to his teaching job just outside of Seattle. He spent some special time praying for his son, Michael, whose test results were due that day.

But when the results came, it was news that could stop a father's heart. Something was wrong with Michael's blood. "He has pre-leukemia," Jeff's wife, Kristi, cried over the phone. "He needs a bone marrow transplant to survive."

Their faith in a good God was shaken to its core.

Then they received hopeful news. Amy, Michael's older sister, was the perfect match as a bone-marrow donor. But their lives soon reeled from more crushing news. The life-saving operation, which costs $200,000, wasn't covered by their health insurance. For a family of five on a teacher's salary, it may as well have been $2 million.

Ministry in the Making
Jeff and his family didn't know that from their fear and despair would come an amazing outpouring of compassion and inspiration, and a national ministry that alleviates the financial burden of some of our nation's most needy children.

	"Kids can do heroic acts if given opportunities. Sparrow Clubs let hurting kids help other hurting kids."—Jeff Leeland

"God was laying the ground work for a whole new life for us and others," says Jeff. "He used this difficult event to birth a labor of love. While we were going through our ordeal with Michael, God lifted our eyes from our own pain and self-pity to see the needs of those around us. Our compassion grew and it helped drain our pain."

One of the many people God used to turn their hardship into a nationwide ministry was Dameon Sharkey. At 13, Dameon, one of Jeff's adaptive physical education students, had his own problems. His limp made him odd, and his obesity brought him scorn. "Dameon had learning disabilities and he had few friends," says Jeff. "When he heard about our plight, he handed me twelve five-dollar bills—his entire savings."

Jeff said he couldn't take it. Dameon insisted, telling Jeff, "The only thing I want is a thank you and a smile." Moved, Jeff hugged Dameon and told him, "You're the kind of guy I'd bring to the trenches with me." Before his sudden death eight years later, Dameon said that giving away his savings "was the greatest thing I ever did."

"Dameon was part of a community outpouring that changed the way I viewed life," says Jeff. "Some people really want to help others. They just need a worthy cause." Jeff's community felt his was a very worthy cause. A little more than four weeks after Dameon's sacrificial gift, with help from the local media, prayer chains, fundraising, and special church collections, Jeff's family received more than $220,000. Michael had his life-saving surgery and 14 years later is still leukemia-free.

Jeff knew there were other, less fortunate families with dire needs. He wanted to alleviate their suffering. Seeing first-hand how the power of grace and compassion affected young people in public schools, he wanted to provide opportunities for more kids to help children in need.

Hope Takes Wing
In 1995, Jeff launched Sparrow Clubs USA (www.sparrowclubs.org). The non-profit organization provides financial and emotional support for critically ill children—Sparrows—and their families, but with a twist. They challenge students to "adopt" each sparrow and help meet the family's needs. Some students donate money, though most volunteer community service. Individuals and corporate sponsors convert their community service time into money through a voucher system.

Jeff says, "Kids can do heroic acts if given opportunities. Sparrow Clubs let hurting kids help other hurting kids. It changes their lives and helps them discover the hero within."

"Many quiet, shy, hesitant kids have gained confidence and self-worth through Sparrow," says Alicia Brown, principal of Redmond Junior High School, Redmond, Washington. "It was the first time that kids who helped our sparrow were ever applauded by their peers."

As the volunteer director, Jeff's urge to dedicate himself to this work weighed on his mind for five years. Until he heard a talk by best-selling author Bruce Wilkinson of The Prayer of Jabez fame. "Bruce spoke about how God births a vision in our lives. Leaving a secure career to help others like Michael and Dameon was always on my mind, but I didn't have faith that God would provide for my family. But Bruce's words convicted and strengthened me. I told my boss that day that I was going to leave my job to pursue the vision in my heart."

And that vision has continued to grow. Sparrow Clubs currently has offices in Portland, Oregon, Billings, Montana, as well as in Medford, Grants Pass, and Bend, Oregon. They have raised more than $2 million for more than 400 needy children and their families, and in the next five years hope to open 50 additional regional offices and help at least 2,500 Sparrows annually.

Father Knows Best
No one experiences an ordeal like Jeff's and comes out the other end unchanged. Some lose their faith. Others stumble but do not fall. Their faith grows, matures, and inspires them to nurture others. Jeff realizes now that, "When you understand that your Father in heaven knows everything, that's everything you need to know. When He would spare no cost to rescue us from the most frightening condition imaginable—sin and its consequences—there's really nothing else in this world to fear."

Jeff now sees the good side of Michael's illness. "We began to recognize how God's hand orchestrated events in a beautiful way. He didn't always arrange as we expected, though. We've had to learn to relax and trust. To let go of our fears more freely and humbly walk by faith in a good and powerful God."

Paul Coughlin is the author of No More Christian Nice Guy: When Being Nice—Instead of Good—Hurts Men, Women and Children and Married But Not Engaged (both Bethany House).

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