Meet Zack

I want to introduce you to my friend Zack. Like the other kids we work with, Zack lives in low-income housing in Atlanta. His mom is twenty-six years old, and he is twelve. For those of you who are not a math whiz, that makes her fourteen when she became a mom. Still a kid herself, in my estimation. She doesn’t have a job and lives off the money she receives from welfare every month. It’s just her and Zack, and he has never met his father. In these ways, Zack is like the rest of the twelve year olds that we work with. But there is something special about Zack too. He has a rare ability to cheerfully navigate the obstacles that are placed squarely before him. He rarely fights, and he faces each day with a sense of humor and a maturity that is beyond his years. Yet he is also very much a kid. He loves to ride the skateboard he received from a sponsor for Christmas. He loves to get up front and lead dances at Metro Kidz. And he cannot wait to go to camp again this summer. Last summer was his first time attending an over-night summer camp. Not only did he have fun, but he also made the decision to follow Christ. Many times throughout the year, Zack has reminded us that his name is written “in the book” (of life). He knows where he is going after he dies, which is the greatest gift camp could have given him.

Zack continues to emerge as a leader among his friends and at Metro Kidz. He gets up front and leads the group, he knows the rules and the prayer we do every week. He listens to the leaders and rarely gets in fights. He has an attitude of cheerfulness and good humor that we don’t often find among the children we work with. And there’s a light in his eyes, a light which goes beyond normal childish friendliness. Despite his many internal resources, Zack’s external circumstances may very well extinguish that light. Atlanta is moving to shut down many of the housing projects, and Zack’s home is one that will be torn down. Without a job, his mom will not get a voucher for a new place to live. And with the economy the way it is right now, finding a job will be nothing short of impossible for her. So who knows where they will end up in the next year?

God has created Zack for big things, even if it’s just being a leader and positive influence among his friends. His infectious grin and good heart are both an asset and a liability in the neighborhood he lives in. We hope and pray that through ministries like Metro Kidz, through mentors, and through another summer at camp, Zack’s big heart will only continue to grow and allow him to move beyond his circumstances to accomplish great things.

***We love hanging out with Zack! :-) Here's a little snippet of him enjoying himself at our house. Ok maybe he hates out dogs, but it's a source of endless amusement for us at least . . .

Charli and the Kiddos from Becca Stanley on Vimeo.