Hi, my name is Misti! I wrote a blog back in July telling you a bit about my story and my heart for Metro Kidz. At the time, I was a site pastor at Grant Park. At the end of the summer, I switched and I am now a site pastor at Angier, which is right down the street from the Dream Center. I have really enjoyed getting to know these children and their families, and am so thankful God has placed me here.
Throughout this past semester of working with Angier kids, I have become really close with one child in particular. His name is Quandravious, and we basically “bonded” over singing “Hakuna Matata,” & he’s called me his best friend ever since. He recently turned 7, and I went to see him on his birthday. He literally knocked his brothers and sisters out of the way in order to hug me, and stayed in my arms the whole time I was there. After playing a couple of games of UNO, he cried when it was time for me to leave. Melted my heart. I see in Quandravious what I see in a lot of these kids- Hope. With encouragement, a positive influence, and most importantly the gospel of Jesus Christ, these kids have the chance to see beyond their circumstances and to rise above them and break the continuing cycles of poverty, addiction, abuse, and desperation that surround them. If you haven’t been a part of Metro Kidz yet, haven’t been in awhile, or are just learning about it, I am challenging you to come and work with these children. Their smiles are contagious, their laughs make you forget your worries, and their hearts are longing to love and be loved. We see, hear and give to other countries and other country’s children, now it’s time for us to make a difference here at home. Let’s stop closing our eyes to the darkness right outside our doors.
In Matthew 19:14 Jesus said “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Well, here at Metro Kidz our mission statement is “We believe it’s better to build boys and girls than repair men and women.” So come be a part of this movement. Come make a difference in Jesus name.
