Also by this author: 1 Step Away, The Best of Evil, A Shred of Truth, Expiration Date, Dark to Mortal Eyes, American Leftovers, What Are You Going to Do?: The Inspiring Story of Everett Swanson and the Founding of Compassion International, What Are You Going to Do?: How One Simple Question Transformed Lives Around the World: The Inspiring Story of Everett Swanson and the Founding of Compassion International, What Are You Going to Do?: How One Simple Question Transformed Lives Around the World: The Inspiring Story of Everett Swanson and the Founding of Compassion International, Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson
Published by Clovercroft Publishing on August 31, 2021
Genres: Non-Fiction, Biography
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At twelve years old, his hatred of God took root.
Weighed by chains of guilt and shame, Steven Young grew to live for the moment. He partied, slept around, gambled, and manipulated people for his own desires. His choices led to four failed marriages and eight years in prison. Broke and alone, he lived five years homeless on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee, and in 2013 decided to end it all. At his lowest point, the very God he despised stepped in. It would still be a long healing journey From Chains to Change. This painfully honest and powerfully redemptive story is an example of God's ability to transform the past, restore hearts, and offer hope for the future.
Memoir can be a difficult genre. Every life is story. Some stories are more interesting than others. Some stories deserve to be written down and known beyond the general circle of family and friends. But people often only want to read memoirs about people they know—or think they know. And so we get some of the most vapid, obviously ghostwritten drivel from any number of celebrity figures. (Perhaps I’m feeling this way because I’m trying to decide whether or not to finish Spare, Prince Harry’s memoir of life as the less-important son.) Conversely, there are a lot of people who are not widely known whose stories should be known and putting that story in writing is a great way of doing that, if only you can actually get people to read it. From Chains to Change, a memoir of Steven Young’s long and hard pathway to redemption is one of those stories.
Today, Young is the founder of Home Street Home Ministries, a homeless ministry local to Nashville, Tennessee. But that’s the end of the story. The beginning of the story is a tale of an intelligent, resourceful, fast-talking teenager whose natural charisma skills and sales led to a wild lifestyle loose living, con jobs, drug addiction—and eventually four failed marriages.
Young portrays himself in two contrasting lights. On one hand, he recognizes his potential for success. He doesn’t shy away from talking about his natural abilities to relate to people. Young gets second, third, and fourth chances simply because he’s so darn likable and convincing. On the other hand, that’s what makes his downfall so difficult. It’s not that Young found himself unable to come by success honestly. For him, it was a choice—and then that choice became fueled by addiction. And all of that led him to the top of a bridge in 2013 prepared to jump.
But he didn’t. At just over the 75% mark, From Chains to Change makes its transition. The Hound of Heaven finally caught up to him and a new path was forged forward. The most compelling part of the redemption story for me was Young’s reuniting with his first wife, Andrea. Apart for nearly forty years, they soon find themselves reunited. The story doesn’t necessarily get easier from here. Young founds Home Street Home but there are financial struggles. This isn’t rags-to-riches, but chains to change. Just because you’ve been redeemed doesn’t mean difficulties cease—in fact, they might get stronger.
Overall, From Chains to Change is a compelling, conversational memoir. Aided by NYT bestselling author, ministry partner, and friend Eric Wilson, Young’s voice shines through clear and strong. The book feels like someone sitting down with you over a cuppa and sharing their story with you. Young’s charisma hasn’t left him. It shines through on every page. This isn’t the memoir of someone rich and famous. Young’s conversion story isn’t especially grandiose; his ministry isn’t particularly large, though it certainly has its impact on its local community. Young isn’t some larger-than-life figure. Instead, he’s an everyman. And his story is worth telling and knowing.