My Name is Misti Bryans and I am an intern with Metro Kidz. I am 20 years old and one of the site pastors at Grant Park and today I want to tell you a little bit of my story. When most people think of their childhood they remember the family Christmas’ spent together, funny inside jokes, playing outside on hot summer days running through sprinklers, going fishing with their dad, or baking with their mom. That would be what some would call a “typical” childhood. I don’t have a single childhood memory that looks remotely like these. I grew up with a mother who was addicted to drugs, alcohol and all of the tangible things that this world has to offer. With things like that going on, by the age of five I was expected to basically take care of myself and mind my own business, and I did exactly that. The years passed and I became more and more aware of the things going on around me, and as a result I became very desensitized to life, as I knew it. I was starting to repeat the cycle of destruction that my parents had laid out for me… that is until God got a hold of me. Graciously enough God has placed many people in my path that have cared for me, loved me, been vessels of His will, and have guided me to stop this cycle of destruction. Along the path of finding my way, and taking hold of my Saviors hand, I have learned so much about love, whether that be loving others, loving those who make it tough, and even loving myself. Through these revelations and learning experiences my eyes have been opened to how much we all need to be shown the love of Christ. After realizing these things, I felt the call to missions on my life, and have never been the same. I feel the call for inner city missions, seeing how I grew up in less than “normal” circumstances, I know first hand what these kids are up against everyday, and I know what they need most everyday- the love and hope that goes past their circumstances which only our King can bring.
While writing a theology research paper on inner city missions, I came across the Atlanta Dream Center. I automatically felt God tugging on my heart to do whatever I could to get involved in what He was doing here. I am now an intern for Metro Kidz, and a site pastor at Grant Park. This job has many things to come with it, but the joy that comes from showing these children love, and bringing them the gospel each week is something that is irreplaceable. I am truly living out Christ’s dream, and my life dream through the Atlanta Dream Center by meeting some of these kids needs each week and pointing them to the one who can meet all of thier needs, and with that I can end and begin each day with a smile. These children have to be reached, after all they are our future and they deserve the love of our Savior just as much as anybody does. In Matthew 19:14 Jesus said “Let the little children come unto me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these”
These children must know that they are loved beyond all comprehension, no matter the status or circumstance, that they can overcome, and they are never alone. While Metro Kidz is working hard to reach these inner city kidz, we can’t do it alone. Sadly we live in a world where everything runs off of funding, and in order for Metro Kidz to remain and flourish, we must have funding. What a blessing would it be if every child coming through the inner city was reached by Metro Kidz, and every child received the gospel. I believe in a God who is mighty to save, and mighty to move. He is working in this city, and is up to great things- don’t you want to be a part of that? “Let it be said of us while we walked among the living, let it be said of us by the ones we leave behind, let it be said of us, that we lived to be a blessing for life.”
