Sounds of the Night

The documentary Sounds of the Night portrays the Sidewalk Sunday School for kids on the streets of New York City as its main setting. It tells the story of Mirjam, a 21-year-old who decides to leave behind a traditional academic career in her safe home country of Finland and move to the ghettos of the largest city in the U.S.

In the unsafe boroughs of New York City, Mirjam begins working as part of the Metro World Child organization. This organization brings hope to inner-city children exposed to drugs, violence, crime, gangs, neglect, and poverty. The driving force behind their work is the passion to share the love of God. In Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and other boroughs of the city, their Sidewalk Sunday Schools and visits bring hope to children living in environments deemed hopeless by the police.

The documentary presents the journey of an ordinary young person making a different choice. It captures the pain of leaving behind a familiar life, and at the same time shows the joy of giving love and experiencing the rewards of sacrifice.

Sounds of the Night was filmed in infamous neighborhoods of New York City, as well as in Finland, connecting two different worlds — Mirjam’s departure from her home country, and her life as a volunteer Sidewalk Sunday School teacher for Metro World Child.

Metro World Child is one of the ten largest Christian organizations in the world. It was founded about 40 years ago in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, where its headquarters remain today, and now operates in 13 countries worldwide. The documentary also includes a personal story from Pastor Bill Wilson, the founder and leader of Metro World Child.