Our Founder’s Journey

From a personal calling in Fort Worth to hands-on outreach, hear how faith led to serving those experiencing homelessness.

My Journey

I am Leonard Beserra, CEO and founder of Manna in the Wilderness, a Christ-centered, faith-based, non-profit organization, that feeds and supports the homeless in Fort Worth, Texas. I am a combat-medic veteran of the United States Army and feel that is a contributing source for my desire to aid, love, encourage and support those least fortunate. I am also a proud single parent of three children, which I also believe is another core value in my heart to love others. The most significant factor aiding in my call to serve this local mission field in Fort Worth, is that I am a born-again Christian, saved and redeemed by the grace of God. I am only able to love others because God first loved me! In August 2023, I found myself looking for a job without having one for the first time in 15 years. One day while eating dinner with my daughter Marissa, I looked at our pantry and realized how blessed we were to not be without food. We were blessed and being supported and looked out for by family members. It hit me then and there that there are others in our position who do not have the support, blessings and family love that we had. They do not have the pantry full of food I viewed while eating and struggling to find a job. They lack the family and vital relationships necessary to help keep a roof over their head and nutritious meals to eat. I took my daughter to youth group at church after dinner and The Lord, Jehova Jireh, “The Lord Will Provide,” instilled within me a burning desire to "wash my neighbors feet" and buy something to cook to take to the homeless. And I did! I Bought Chorizo, potatoes, eggs and tortillas. The next morning, I prepared thirty six chorizo con pappas taquitos. That is how it started. Only eighteen meals, two taquitos per person. No income! It was truly sacrificial! I landed a job two weeks later, but we had already had to move in with my family, where we lived for 9 months. I fed the homeless every payday, cooking a little more each week. In November of that year I returned to a former employer and on New Years Eve I started buying Styrofoam boxes, bulk napkins, forks, spoons and plastic bags and instead of cooking, began buying chicken dinners and preparing 2-piece chicken dinners with a roll and 2 sides with a choice of Coke or Dr. Pepper and candy for dessert. I did this every payday. In May 2024 I realized there were more people on the streets than I was feeding and it was then that I was given the desire and calling to feed the Lancaster corridor here in Fort Wort! However, I am not able to feed over 200 souls on my own. I need the help of those with compassionate selfless hearts, like yours. That is when I registered, Manna in the Wilderness with the state of Texas. It is my hearts desire to be a beacon of light in a darkened world for out brothers and sisters struggling in our own backyard.

Faith

Called to Serve

God’s voice led me to this mission. I answered the call to serve as Christ himself came not to be served, but to serve.

Hands at Work : "The Lord Will Provide"