Living a Sheltered Life: Christian Life Lessons through Homeless Youth
Ebook
Overview
As I reflected on working in a Teen Challenge Youth Emergency Accommodation Shelter, I began to realize that in serving others, I too had been greatly served. I didn't work at the shelter to receive blessings or any such thing. My understanding was that I worked there to help others less fortunate than I, in obedience to God's will for my life. But I did get blessed. Abundantly! It's a spiritual dynamic that when we serve others, we are also served. As I served the homeless youth in Brisbane, Australia, God served me through those very same homeless teenagers. The lives and issues I faced were used by God to grow and mature me as a Christian. Without knowing it themselves, different residents were used by God to speak to my heart and teach me his ways. It came through reminders of God's grace toward me in my adolescent years. I gained insights on how to grow the ministry using scriptural leadership principles. I also saw the power of prayer in action. God used all those things, and more, to give direction and purpose to my life and work. I went to serve others and God served me.
“Paul’s unique ability to take any situation and turn it into an
entertaining and inspiring story is evident throughout this book.
Paul has been my leader, mentor, brother-in-arms, and good friend
for over thirty years. What he has described is so accurate that I
found myself laughing, crying, and reminiscing. I hope you enjoy
this insight into a period of our lives that would change us and
the young people we served forever.”
—Brad Wessling, Registered Nurse and healthcare education and
leadership consultant
“‘Inasmuch as you did it unto one of the least of these . . . you
did it unto me.’ Here, Paul Cummings demonstrates how these words
of Jesus become real when we both accept and then serve others in
need, as Jesus did. In a mystery God has built into creation, in so
doing we are drawn into the very heart of God for his world and
receive unexpected treasures of his grace, provision, and
enabling.”
—Ian Heard, Sydney, Australia
Paul Cummings is the author of In the Twinkling of an Eye and has been a Christian journeyman of forty-five years. He has worked for Teen Challenge (Brisbane) and been a full-time pastor in the Uniting and Anglican Churches in Australia, as well as accepting leadership roles in nondenominational churches and in Christian community.