Book Review of "Under the Overpass" by Mike Yankowski

In the years I spent in college and from the reading material that was popular for a young Christian like myself, I found that college age kids are looking for something to do with their faith. I think this is a healthy thing for sure. Out of the colleges you see many radical and much more bold things done than you see out of a mature church. Often times I think this is an effort to get some sort of excitement high or to be cool, but in the no matter what the purpose was I think we find that the bold chances taken by these like Mike Yankowski always lead to a great eye opening and learning experience that is healthy and needed for the church. Mike saw homelessness rampant around him and so he decided he should immerse himself in the culture of homelessness so that he could learn to relate and speak and also so that he could learn to trust God. So he lived on the streets with his new found friend Sam Purvis for about 6 months.
This act while I am still not sure whether it was morally right or not harvested a great wealth of wisdom and knowledge from which people like me who are still sitting on our couches reading about such things, can learn and become spurred on to become involved. Mike and Sam made their way around the U.S. staying for about a month in Denver, Washington D.C., Portland, San Fransisco, Phoenix, and San Diego. I really enjoyed the way that this book read. It was written as story and in such a way that I could not put it down. It grabbed my attention and drew me in. It made me hurt for those in the story and it made me feel guilty as I realized that I was completely ignorant. This book while in itself I think speaks a little ignorance, how much can we really know about a lifetime of homelessness in a matter of 6 months, opens a doors to the realization of how cruel and cold this world and more importantly the church can be to the very poor Jesus called us to preach to. I believe that if you feel stuck and you need to motivation for justice to roll forth from your life than this is a must read. This book motivates and empowers one to take the gospel seriously and start go to the downtrodden and oppressed. We cannot turn a cold shoulder to the very ones God loves the most and I think that this was the realization the Mike Yankowski was desiring for us to get at. A must read for any Christian who believes in Social Justice. Down load the first chapter so you can check it out by clicking on this link Under the Overpass

5 out of 5 stars
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.