Barry’s Story of Transformation

I grew up on the eastside of Atlanta and was always getting into trouble as a kid. From a young age, my dad was tough on me, so school was my outlet to act out, because I was away from home. I was always skipping, talking out in class, or hanging around the wrong crowd, and eventually I was kicked out in 11th grade. 

When I was 15, I came home with earrings and my dad kicked me out of the house. Being on my own, I started doing drugs, hanging out with the kids on the street, and living with a group from a foster home. 

I became a dad at an early age, having one kid at the age of 17 and another at 20. 

When I was just 8-years-old, I started working for my grandfather. Work has been important to me from a young age, and even when I wasn’t in school, I kept a job. 

When I was in my early 20s, I started experimenting with heavier drugs. It began a downward spiral. I didn’t want to go around my family anymore. I stopped going to work and I would start drinking from the moment I woke up. This is when my homelessness began. 

For 8 years, I was living under bridges and in tents, eating out of trash cans, and just trying to survive. It was pretty rough. 

I got to the point where I finally surrendered and said, “Lord I can’t live like this anymore. I’m tired. I’m walking the street day and night. I’m tired of borrowing money from people. I’m tired of escaping people. I’m tired of drinking so much.”

My mom wanted me to come to Atlanta Mission since this place helped my uncle in the late 90s. My sister also had been telling me for a while that I needed help. She used to pull up to give me money or food while I was sleeping by a gas station or restaurant. She didn’t like seeing me like that. She finally moved me into her shed until I could get in at The Potter’s House. 

I got a call a few months later that I was accepted into the program at The Potter’s House, and I’ve been here ever since. It’s been awesome. 

Not a day has gone by that I haven’t loved this place.

I noticed that something was different as soon as I got here. I am usually very shy, but I felt comfortable. Big changes were happening in my life. I started working out and taking care of myself. I was gaining my confidence back. 

I have started talking to my father again, and we have seen a counselor together. He is proud of me for coming here and has now realized how his tough parenting led to some of my bad decisions. I also talk to my kids all the time, and I want to be back in their lives soon. 

My dream is to go into ministry training to become a career specialist. Recovery will be a lifelong practice for me, but I hope to help people get to where they want to be along the way.