The Millers' Story

Have you ever read a book that changed your life? Kelly and Danlyn Miller did, and it was just one of the first steps in a journey that led them to Uganda.

Why did you choose Uganda?

In 2011, Kelly and Danlyn read Kisses from Katie and were inspired by the story of Katie Davis, an 18-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, whose short-term mission trip to Uganda turned her life upside down. She was so taken by the people and the needs she saw that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. Katie established Amazima Ministries, which comes alongside hundreds of children to help them with education and discipleship. In her book, she challenges readers to help change the world one person at a time by loving whoever God puts in front of them.

At the time, Kelly and Danlyn were serving in ministry here in Georgia. They attended Browns Bridge Church, served as Browns Bridge InsideOut leaders from 2008 through 2015, and led 10+ global(x) student journeys to Brazil, Mexico, and Uganda.

In 2012, they were scouting for a summer mission trip in Uganda when they were invited to visit Amazima. It was there they met Katie and learned more about the challenges facing Ugandan children. When Amazima decided to build a secondary school a few years later, they reached out to Kelly and Danlyn to ask if they might consider moving to Uganda to build the Student Life ministry at the new Amazima School. Kelly said, “God opened the door and gave us this opportunity, and we made what we thought was the wisest decision. We said yes.” In 2016, they left behind their successful business lives in the United States and headed for life in Uganda. They originally committed to a three-year stay but were there for almost five years.

What did missionary life look like at Amazima School?

While at the Amazima School, Kelly’s main responsibilities were leading the Student Life programs and department (60 staff members), preaching on Sundays, and directing all recruiting for Foreign National staff.

Danlyn was the Member Care director and took care of all the foreign national staff and their families. She helped them prepare for and settle into life in Uganda. She coordinated orientation and training, helped with housing, and showed them where to shop for groceries, do their banking, get medical care or counseling, and anything else they needed. There’s a big learning curve when you move to Uganda from another country.

What has been the most rewarding part of this journey?

“By far, the most rewarding experience was getting a front-row seat to watch God do the most miraculous, mind-blowing, gracious things I’ve ever seen,” Kelly said. “It’s the most humbling, exciting, faith-building thing to see God work so consistently and tangibly in a way that produces fruit in our students. Seeing them come to faith and watching that faith being lived out against the darkest and most difficult circumstances is ridiculously rewarding.”

We’re so incredibly grateful for the work that Kelly and Danlyn were able to do in Uganda. Their story is captivating, their faithfulness is incredible, and their courage is amazing. How can you support what the started there? In Uganda, they contend with a great deal of spiritual warfare and a heaviness from all the enemy is doing and planning. Kelly and Danlyn ask that people pray for God to be gracious in protecting against the enemy who is ever-present and to give everyone at the Amazima School the wisdom to know how to love the students and their families.

This past summer, it was time for Kelly and Danlyn to return home to the United States, but they’ll always be connected to the Amazima School and the people of Uganda. Want to learn more about the work that continues at the Amazima school? Check out their website.