Our Story
When Bryant first arrived at I've Got Rhythm, he was single and searching. There were lots of options in his life, but finding the one that God intended had proven a challenge. Seriously, what kind woman would marry a low-income dance instructor involved in a new business venture and whose ministry aspirations were just . . . well, weird. Aside from the romantic idealism of marrying a man who knows how to dance, the rest of his predicament was a bit too risky for most women's tastes.
But Gary told Bryant from the day they first met that he would be praying to God that He would send his wife to the studio and that they would be perfect for each other. So Gary prayed, and Bryant waited as the months slowly ticked away.
Then an unusual young woman appeared at the door one night. She was quiet and reserved, a little awkward, but very glad to have found the place. Apparently, she had missed her turn one day and saw the studio while backtracking along the local roads. She had always wanted to dance but, being from out of town, couldn't find a studio close enough to make driving in affordable. Having discovered IGR, she had called Gary only to find that it was also a Christian owned and operated studio. It was almost too good to be true. So here she was ready to give it her best.
Her first evening there, Gary informed her that he was praying for Bryant's wife to come and told her outright that she may very well be the one. She didn't believe him, and after just having gotten out of an unhealthy relationship with her former fiance, she was determined to avoid any other relationships for a good long stretch, especially with this rogue dance teacher. After a while though, her attitude about him began to change.
When Bryant first encountered Hannah, he could see that something was not as it should be. Attractive as she was, he had to be sure that things were right between her and God before a relationship even became a possibility. So their first several "dates," if one can properly call them that, were spent in a thorough study of God's Word, asking all the most telling questions that attain to one's salvation. As the weeks passed, he became progressively more assured that she was a true believer, albeit a believer with many troubles who needed to feel God's mercy. He determined, "Only if I can God can use me as a vessel of mercy and healing in her life will I consent to go forward with this relationship."
As they grew closer together, God steadily worked through their relationship to heal Hannah of so many scars from her past. She found a Church where the body of Christ readily offered their support. She learned to read and pray with intentionality over God's Word. She made concerted efforts to conform her attitude and practices to the ideals of Scripture. And she learned to love Bryant in a way she never thought possible. By God's gentle working through Bryant and his regular confession of his own imperfections and sinfulness, God forged a deep bond between them, which would lead them together to the altar and we pray also to the grave.