“Check that Backpack! Art Leslie’s Legacy” by April Boddie

Whether you’re just dipping your toes in ministry or splashing around in the deep end of serving God’s people, someone opened the door for you to come in. Someone held your hand and walked with you or maybe got behind you and pushed you. At the very least, someone saw you fall down a time or two and was there to pick you up.

For me, that person was Brother Art Leslie. Mr. Art and I go way back like four flats on a Cadillac.

Muddy Ministry

Back in the early 2000s, God presented me with an opportunity to work in youth ministry, specifically with at-risk teens and single mothers. A position was created for me: Life Skills Counselor. It sounded pretty official, too! I walked in with my chest out and my ministry flag straight flying.

I was happy to be laboring in ministry for God and with my people — my siblings who looked like me and grew up like me.

During my time in this ministry, I was blessed to work under some amazing leaders. I learned so much from each of them. But I learned the most from Art Leslie. He trained me how to love hard ministry. Mr. Art taught me that outside a squeaky clean church service was muddy ministry.

Kerrie Kirkland, Art and I created programs that helped families learn life and social skills. We cooked, cleaned, taught common conversation practices, did service projects where they got their hands dirty, visited countless colleges and universities and we studied God’s word.

Opening the Bible — and HICLC

Now, if you never had the chance to hear Mr. Art teach a Bible lesson, my friends, you missed something special. It didn’t matter whether you were 2 or 102; when Mr. Art started to teach we became as a 5-year-old child, sitting at the edge of our seats while hanging onto his every word. He made Scripture come to life — not only how he taught it, but also how he lived it.

He would not settle for a lecture-type study where he was the center of attention. He challenged the kids to interact in his studies and to read the Word for themselves. I remember him being adamant about them committing the books of the Bible to memory and all having their own personalized Bible to celebrate the accomplishment.

It was after asking the children to read during Bible class that we noticed most of them were reading two to three grade levels behind. Mr. Art was simply not having that! He planned a meeting with the elders of the church and presented the problem and the solution.

One month later we opened the first Huntsville Inner City Learning Center.

Helping Kids AND Parents

Everything I thought I knew about parenting, leadership, and children, I had to learn all over again. There were some tough kids and there were some even tougher parents. We had to strictly adhere to the three-strike rule to hold students accountable.

Well, it wasn’t long until we had the first student strikeout. Unable to reach the student’s mom, we resorted to leaving voicemails and sending notes home in his backpack in an effort to explain the incident.

The next day, as the students arrived, so did a super mad mom. She was extremely upset with us because her son was terminated from the program. During her fit of rage, I attempted to describe to her our efforts to contact her, but with each word, she got louder and angrier.

Hearing her from the other end of the hallway, Mr. Art stepped in. He repeated all the things I said and added, “We’ve sent several notes home for you in his backpack explaining our behavioral concerns as well as the most recent incident.”

She sharply replied that she had not seen a note.

Calmly, Mr. Art said, “If you will go and get his backpack I will show you.” In a display of anger, she stomped away to retrieve it. We could literally hear each and every step. Then, we heard her rummage through backpack after backpack after backpack.

When she returned to Art and me, her steps were much slower and a lot softer. She came back to us empty-handed and asked, “What does his backpack look like?”

Therein lies the real problem.

Mr. Art took the opportunity to educate the mother on the importance of checking the child’s backpack daily in the future. He gently reminded her that although the learning center had furnished the backpack and the supplies within, she had some work to do, too.

“It’s your responsibility to know your babies, what they are doing at school and afterward and in-between and it’s in that backpack.”

He went on to explain that her involvement was vital to her child’s success. When she reluctantly agreed, Art followed up with his famous question, “What can I do to help you guys?”

Really Loved

I would love to tell you that Mr. Art allowed her child to return to the center, but he did not. He made rules and set guidelines based on the Word of God and did all he could to stick it.

Mr. Art wasn’t a perfect man but he was kind, and if you were loved by him you were really loved.

I will forever appreciate his contribution not only to my life but to the lives of the future generations I touch. And because of Mr. Art, I will always remember to check that backpack!

~ Written by April Boddie ~

Who is April? A child of the sunshine and friend of the storm. A rebellious nappy-headed child of God. The adored wife of Chad Boddie, mother of Evaughna, Isaiah, Jaylen, CJ, and a baby girl, Summer. April is a sister/friend and a safe place.  That one cool aunt that you can talk to about anything almost anytime. The house that always has good food to eat, something jazzy to wear, clean towels, and non-judgemental love.  For no reason at all, the beds sleep a little more comfortably, the Kool-Aid tastes sweeter, and the couch hugs you deeper in any space that her people occupy. She is a plant-loving, book writing, ministry-minded, dope creative. 

My degree is in Culinary Arts, and I love food from the dirt to the table, but my life’s work is defined by serving my community and a gracious God. Over my life, I have learned some things and I just want to share them. My goal is to educate and advocate for the disadvantaged. If you find that you totally disagree with everything I have written, that is okay. I respect all opinions, but I am not defined by them. I do ask for one favor? Once you have read my new book, I GOT 5 ON IT, can you pass it along? Create your own lists of 5, share them with your children, family, nieces, nephews, and please—share them with me. 

I look forward to someday hugging your neck.

Light, Peace, and Elbow Grease,

Auntie April

Tags: April Boddie, Bible, Huntsville Inner City Learning Center, Legacy, Mr. Art Leslie