I bought this book last year just before the start of Inner City Exposure and lost track of it when it was doing the rounds among friends, however managed to pick up a second hand copy from the Christian second hand bookshop in Mount Albert. Its the story of a young man who wanted to see if his faith in God could survive in the face of adversity. Could he still be a Christian without his creature comforts, the things he takes for granted?

With a travelling companion he stepped out of his life for five months, and over that time spent time living homeless in Denver, Washington, Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix and San Diego. He and his travelling companion were shunned by the nice members of society, and unfortunately in many occasions the people shunning them were members of the body of Christ.

He asks the hard questions, eg does loving our neighbor is that only limited to being nice to those who are nice and dont ask us to be outside of our comfort zone, or does loving our neighbor mean that we are required to love those who are smelly and stinky, those with alcohol addictions.

The world is full of hurt and broken people. And as one who works in the social services arena at times I'm left scratching my head and wondering "where the heck if the body of Christ?" There are some outstanding people (Christians) who are working there and doing what they can. To look at the example closer to home, some of the most vocal churches who are speaking out about the moral decay, and actively campaigning against the repealing of section 59, yet these same people dont have any ideas or suggestions how to change it, or to make a difference

There is a vast gap between the need present, and the resources available...

Labels: Christian Secondhand Bookstore, Inner City Exposure, Under the Overpass