Child Hunger

Leon Battle serves as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. He leads our efforts to connect people, businesses and churches with unique opportunities to do what they do best and are passionate to help us serve more children and families. 

Previously, he was the Executive Director of Child Hunger and Family Support Services at FBCH + One More Child.

Leon graduated from Southeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in theology and a minor in business, he continued on to earn his master’s degree in human services, and completed his doctorate in 2022 with a dissertation on Gospel-centered feeding programs. 

Leon served as a youth pastor throughout college and soon after accepted a pastoral job in Albany, New York. During his time in ministry, Leon saw the immense trauma that families were being confronted with and desired to get a deeper look into the dependency system. He changed career paths and started working for the Department of Children and Families (DCF). During his time with the department, he investigated abuse within families and institutions, and he later became a human trafficking specialist. Leon helped children get out of abusive homes and helped rescue children from human trafficking rings. He received multiple recognitions from Governor Rick Scott during his time with DCF.

Leon is very involved in his community. He recently graduated from Leadership Lakeland and has been named the chair for human services for the program. He serves as the vice chair of the board of Tri-County Human Services which provides in-patient, outpatient, and residential care for individuals getting help with addiction and mental health issues. Leon also serves on the advisory board of the social work department at Southeastern University.

Leon helped Aaron Burke launch Radiant Church in South Tampa. In five years, the church has reached more than 5,000 people and is consistently growing and impacting the city of Tampa.

Leon has a deep passion for intervention. He desires to see Christ’s love and restoration brought to families during their times of hurt and crisis. Leon believes the local church is the greatest asset for families in need and desires to empower the local church to step into the call of Christ, which is to help the widow, the orphan and hurting families in their time of need.