Summary:
Whether we realize it or not, each of us was created for a great cause—and we will never be truly fulfilled until we find and pursue it. Matthew Barnett, son of a well-known megachurch pastor, discovered his great cause when he relinquished his dream of building a big, successful church like his father’s and began listening for God’s dream for his life. Sensing that God was calling him to serve the poor and powerless of Los Angeles, Matthew founded the Dream Center, a beacon of hope for homeless families, drug addicts, abused women and children, victims of human trafficking, teen runaways, gang members, and many others whose lives were filled with brokenness.
If you are hungry for a life full of passion instead of apathy; if you are ready to use your specific gifts and abilities to make a mark on the world; if you need to be reminded that God loves you and has a plan for your life—The Cause Within You is the book that can change everything. Through his own story and the stories of others whose lives have been transformed, Matthew Barnett will lead you to the cause of your lifetime.
Retail Price: $24.99
ISBN: 978-1-4143-4846-9
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Binding: Hardcover
Release: February 1, 2011
My Review:
4.5 Stars out of 5
The Cause within You explains how God created each one of us in order to do something amazing in this world. The premise of this book to encourage readers to find the unique cause that God has built in us, by using our own gifts and talents to leave our mark on the world. Matthew Barnett shares his mark on the world, through the Dream Center in Los Angeles, a center he founded, that offers hope and support to drug addicts, abused women and their children, the homeless, gang members and others seeking help and guidance. And, through his determination, Barnett’s Dream Center has turned into a nationwide movement to help poverty stricken areas. As a result, there are over 80 additional Dream Centers established across the country. It is amazing how one man’s sheer determination and drive can cause such a powerful movement, and touch the lives of so many.
Barnett's Dream Center in Los Angeles, currently serves more than 30,000 people each week with common necessities like food, clothing, rehabilitation and counseling, medical needs and shelter. And, the Dream Center's help doesn't stop there. During the holidays, they hand out over 2,000 turkeys each Thanksgiving, 6,500 new bikes and toys at Christmas and 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies are given to children come back to school time. If a person cannot make it to the Dream Center, mobile trucks hand out food to the hungry and offer much needed medical support to those without medical insurance or way to get the medical help they desperately need.
In The Cause within You, Barnett write, "A transforming cause is never about you -- promoting yourself, achieving greater fame or fortune, experiencing more pleasure or comfort, amassing greater power. It is always about using the resources God has given you -- skills, relationships, experiences, money, time, intelligence, and all the rest - to make a positive impact in the lives of others." Through his book, Barnett shares inspirational stories from those who have come through the Dream Center and turned their lives around, in turn finding their great cause as a result. Some of these stories include a forty-year-old man, who was once the leader of the largest drug, gang and prostitution ring in LA, who turned his life around and is now helping the government learn about ways to prevent crime. Another story shared in this book, was about a middle-ages woman who found her cause by adopting over 15 special needs children, abandoned at hospitals. I enjoyed reading these and other inspirational stories of individuals turning their lives around and contributing to society by leaving their mark in some profound way.
This was a nicely written book, which will provide inspiration and direction to those looking to find their great calling in life. Barnett walks the reader through deciphering between their “great cause” set forth by God and their own desires and ideas. He also talks on the benefits and struggles one will face on their journey to achieving their “great cause.” So, if you are ready to find your calling in life, the first step is to pick up this book today. You will be glad you did. It is a very powerful and moving book that will have you ready to start on your journey the moment you finish the book.
About the Author:
Matthew Barnett assumed the pastorate of Bethel Temple in 1994 at the age of twenty. After a life-changing encounter with God, he helped transition Bethel Temple from a traditional-style church to a servant-driven ministry that grew into what is now known as the Dream Center. Compelled by a vision to impact all of Los Angeles by addressing people's physical, material, and spiritual needs in unique and practical ways, the Dream Center has grown into a phenomenon that now reaches more than thirty thousand people each week through its multiple church services and more than two hundred need-centered ministries. Barnett is also the senior pastor of the historic Angelus Temple, which combined forces with the Dream Center in 2001 in a historic unification of flagship ministries from two different denominations (Foursquare and Assemblies of God). The Sunday services at Angelus Temple now include more than six thousand people per week.
Pastor Barnett is a popular speaker at churches, conventions, conferences, and camp meetings around the world. He has consulted with leading businessmen, celebrities, and athletes, and his efforts have been publicly praised by presidents and major media. He hosts a weekly television program called The Church That Never Sleeps, which airs nationally and internationally. He is the author of a previous book, The Church That Never Sleeps, and has won numerous awards, including the Religious Heritage Award.
Matthew met Caroline Olsson while she was serving as a volunteer at the Dream Center. Married in 1999, they have one daughter (Mia Aimee) and one son (Caden West). They reside in Los Angeles. Visit www.matthewbarnett.com.
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To learn more about Matthew and his causes, visit these website today:
The Official Cause Within You Website
To learn about The Dream Center, click here
Follow Matthew on Twitter
Follow Matthew on Facebook
Disclosure: Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to read, in order to provide my readers with my own personal review. I was not compensated in any way for my thoughts in my review.
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