subject: The Cause Within You, Matthew Barnett Students' Share their Stories [print this page] The Cause Within You, Matthew Barnett Students' Share their Stories
STUDENTS AT THE L.A. DREAM CENTER SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AS THEY FIND THEIR CAUSE.
AUTHOR AND PASTOR OF ONE OF AMERICAS FASTEST GROWING CHURCHES, MATTHEW BARNETT REVEALS THE STORY BEHIND THE LOS ANGELES DREAM CENTER AND SHARES INSIGHT & INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW THEIR OWN GREAT CAUSE IN NEW BOOK, THE CAUSE WITHIN YOU
THE CAUSE WITHIN YOU: FINDING ONE GREAT THING YOU WERE CREATED TO DO IN THIS WORLD TO RELEASE NATIONALLY IN HARDCOVER AND AUDIO CD ON FEBRUARY 1, 2011
All of my life seems to have been a never ending, painful and unsuccessful search for some sense of identity. The more I searched, the more I found emptiness, and the emptier I felt, I then found myself diving ever deeper into this vicious cycle with no hope of escape. The first time I walked into the Dream Center was a revolutionary experience. It was there that I discovered a truth that, sadly, many have yet to uncover. When I began to focus on filling someone elses need, my need suddenly seemed much smaller. When I spent my energy solving someone elses problem, my problems left my mind altogether. Pastor Matthew has such a grip on this truth and has based his life upon it. So many lives have literally been saved because one man understood and became this. His cause is simply to love those who need it the most and giving a fresh start to those whose situations seem hopeless. The Dream Center has a floor dedicated to families who have found themselves in desperate situations and have become homeless. Once I began to get to know these beautiful families, I discovered a passion inside that I never knew existed in me. Just being a servant to people who truly need it, and a consistent and positive role model to children who are victims of circumstance. It is in the long hours of tutoring, the messy cleanups, the deep conversations, and the heart melting love and appreciation from these families in which I have found my cause. It is in these things that I have found that deep validation of myself and that sense of identity that my endless searching could never seem to satisfy. I can truly say that because of Pastor Matthews cause, his passion and persistence, I have found mine, along with countless others. There is a new cycle of hope and identity where people are finding themselves and following their dreams. One man simply listened to the voice of God and followed his heart. Thousands upon thousands of lives have been changed as a result. I am so thankful because I am one of those people. We all have a cause, that one great thing we were created to do. If we just throw ourselves into serving others and listen to our hearts we will surely find it. Its so very important that we do, someones life may be depending on it.
-Zoe E.
The message of Pastor Matthews book The Cause Within You has truly inspired me to find the great cause God has created me for and to daily live that out. Ive realized that the greatest cause is the one for the Kingdom, which is serving and loving others. Pastor Matthews God-given message has placed a burning desire in me to dream big, not for the goal of success, but for the goal of furthering the Kingdom and being used by God. The greatest and most impacting part of this books message is that our dreams need to be bigger than ourselves. They must be centered around love and serving. Doing this allows room for the impossible. It creates miracles and it generates greater dreams, hope, and faith. One mans dream and obedience to our Father has done exactly that. It has changed thousands of lives, mine included. I desire to please the Lord in the same way. I pray that my dreams turn into reality and change lives for the sake of the Kingdom.
-Breianne M.
Pastor Matthew Barnett has inspired me so much to pursue the dream that God has for me. His life changing stories encourage me constantly to put aside all my own desires and to find my dream by serving and loving Gods children. I have learned from Pastor Matthew that God has so much more in store for you than you can even imagine or plan for yourself. When we finally learn to do things not just for ourselves, but for those in need, God can take us on a journey to a dream we may not have even known we had. There is so much power in letting God take control of the direction of your life. Pastor Matthews book is such an encouragement to people everywhere that no matter where you are in life, God can change your situation for the good and use you for his glory more than you could have even imagined. I have truly been inspired to get out of myself and serve my way, not to my own dream of success, but to the amazing dream that God has for me.
