Core magazine

Finding destiny through relationship…

One defining characteristic of the emerging generation is a desire to do something meaningful, even if they don’t know what that meaningful thing is going to be. Eric Bryant, leader and author of “Peppermint Filled Piñatas: Breaking through Tolerance and Embracing Love” oversees the leadership staff at Mosaic, Los Angeles. It’s a community known for it’s capacity to serve the emerging generation of educated, culturally savvy and globally minded 20-somethings in what is seen as the ‘world’s capital of modern culture’.

Eric is passionate about relationship and connecting people. It’s something that has been a focus for his work at Mosaic.
“I met this young woman a few years ago and I asked her what she wanted to do with her life. She said, “I want to be an activist.” So then I asked her, “What do you want to be an activist for?” And she said, “I don’t know.” I think that’s the desire of a lot of people, especially people in their 20s. They want to be a part of changing the world. They just don’t know how or where to start.

People are definitely not interested in religion, but they are very interested in God. I meet people who want to know about Jesus all the time. Often we just don’t notice them - even at Mosaic.

I remember going home late at night and stopping to get some gas. I went inside and started talking to the guy working there. He seemed like he was probably really bored. I asked him how he was passing the time and he said he was reading through the Bible. I was kind of surprised. I asked, “Well, where did you get your Bible?” and he said, “I stole it from my friend’s dad.” I said “Oh really? What have you been reading recently?” and he said, “Well, I started at the beginning and now I’m at first cronthans.”

I thought to myself, this guy is really new to this whole thing! He stole the Bible, and he doesn’t know how to pronounce anything! So I asked, “Well, what do you think?” And he replied, “Well there sure are a lot of freaking Israelites!” (but he didn’t use the word “freaking”) I offered to meet him to learn more about what he was getting from the Scriptures and to share my journey. I also offered to get him his own copy of the Bible so he could return the one that he stole.
We met a few weeks later at Starbucks, Seattle. He told me, “Well I’ve never believed in God but now every time I open this book, He speaks to me.” And soon after our conversation he started to follow Jesus.

…read more of Eric’s interview in issue 2 of Core.