Leland Hodges is the lead pastor of Destiny International Church in Denham Springs, Louisiana.
He is also the founder and president of Straightway Ministries, which was started in 1983.

Leland was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended Central High School, where he met and later married Valarie, his high school sweetheart, in 1972. Together, they have three children and three beautiful grandchildren.

Leland was building houses when God saved him in 1976 and it was then that God begin to equip him for his destiny. His interests were  hunting , hunting and more hunting.  Little did he know that the next seven years would prepare him to reach entire cities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After hearing the call of God on his life and many prophectic words, Leland sold his buisness, his home and everything to begin an adventure with his family, an adventure that continues today. He and his family went  to the mission fields of Mexico, and this is when he founded Straightway Ministries. Straightway is a missions organization that has established 15 churches throughout Mexico.

While still in Mexico, Leland and Valarie were asked by many pastors to preach in various cities in the United States.  Through their travels in America, God began to burden Leland's heart for emphasis of prayer and revival for the church in America. Out of this passion, Destiny International Church was born.

Destiny's primary goal is to emphasize prayer and to equip the body of Christ to become disciples and not just converts.  And to reach out to a lost and dying world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Leland has a heart to win souls and make desciples