The Unusual Suspect: My Calling to the New Hardcore Movement of Faith

by Mark A. Tabb, Stephen Baldwin, Mark Tabb

Book Overview

Stephen Baldwin reveals his unbelievable change from a hardcore party boy to a hardcore follower of Jesus Christ. The core of his message: "You must be willing to try faith God's way, not yours, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446579750
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: FaithWords
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

A wake up call!

I picked this book up after renting the Christmas movie he did because I was curious. I read the book with an open mind, rather than with a critical or judgmental spirit. I was surprised by the Stephen's depth of faith and biblical knowledge having been a follower of Jesus for only 6 years. The book challenged me, one who has claimed to follow Christ for over 20 years, to get off my duff and stop sitting on the fence..to stop being the lukewarm Christian that John writes about in Revelation (that wasn't in the book, that was the work of the Spirit through the book). I recommend reading the book. The worse thing that could happen is that you waste 3-4 hours....or you could be challenged to stop sitting on a spiritual fence.

totally recommend it

This book is a really great read. Funny, inspiring, hard hitting, Stephen Baldwin talks about his life in hollywood, doing and having it all yet still finding something missing. After a brief encounter with God in a journey out of substance abuse, he eventually came to faith years later after his wife became a christian. His story, and willingness once he found God, to lay down everything for him is as unique as it is inspirational. A really interesting, honest and well written account of a man who had it all but was still willing to lose it all for something greater.

book review

This book I borrowed from the library and my daughter who is 15 years old asked me to purchase it. She wanted to share it with friends and underline all the great points that the author makes. She even read some passages in the book that really blessed her.

I found Baldwin's "tell it like it is" style refreshing and genuine

Over the years, I've been a bit skeptical about celebrities who become Christians and actively proclaim their faith in Jesus. I took this type of "show me it's true" attitude as I began reading Stephen Baldwin's book with the subtitle, "My Calling to the New Hardcore Movement of Faith." I have seen a few of his films and am familiar with his acting brothers. Page by page, this book wins over the skeptics, and the reality of Baldwin's genuine Christian experience rings true through these chapters. We learn about the youngest Baldwin brother, who was raised in a middle-class Irish Catholic family in Massapequa, New York. In the opening chapter, Baldwin talks about the depth of his chasing celebrity and a story about seeing Robert Downey, Jr. at the Playboy Mansion. Downey leads Baldwin to a beautiful wine cellar where four playmates are smoking pot. Since Baldwin had stopped drinking several years earlier, he saw the meaninglessness of the situation and left. Describing his life as blessed and lucky, Baldwin sheds light on his acting career and how it's given him a platform to talk to American youth --- and actually have them listen. Ironically, most teens recognize him from Bio-Dome, a film that the critics hated. As he writes, "God had me make this film to give me the platform that would later become my life's work. At the time, I just wanted to goof off with Pauly Shore for a couple of months. God knew that, and He also knew the plans He had for my life, plans He made sure came to pass." Baldwin's faith story is told in detail. His wife, Kennya, hires Augusta, a Brazilian housekeeper who only speaks Portuguese. Since Kennya is from Brazil, she can communicate with Augusta. But the housekeeper has one minor quirk: she walks around the house singing about Jesus. Because of Augusta, Baldwin's wife begins to read her Bible and occasionally attend some Bible studies. During a year of prayer for her husband, Kennya shows him Jesus; ultimately, during the ninth and twelfth months, he begins to listen. Baldwin describes his journey to grow in his faith and give control to Jesus. The Unusual Suspect covers the basics of faith for a new believer from Baldwin's perspective. His stories are unconventional, and his insights about the centrality of the Bible, the importance of prayer and the reality of love for the lost have a freshness that will resonate with many people. Throughout the book, Bible verses are woven into the text in an appropriate and non-preachy manner. My skepticism turned to enthusiasm as I read about Baldwin's experiences combined with the skilled storytelling from writer Mark Tabb. Baldwin has had a true encounter with Jesus and is out to change his world. He doesn't claim to have all the answers, but he clearly understands that the love of God has to be balanced with the fear of God's pending wrath. Toward the end of the book, Baldwin includes some words that may startle the conservative crowd: "You can think all of this is a bu

Stevie B smacked me upside my head!

Stephen Baldwin is on fire for Jesus Christ, and boy this book sure makes it contagious! He is considerably younger than me in age, but he is also older and wiser and biblically grounded. He makes Christianity dare I say, FUN! This is what new life is supposed to be like. His changed life is proof enough for me to believe he is the real deal. This is a book I intend to use to reach my unsaved kids. He speaks on their level and yet never wavers from The Truth. What a blessing. I read this book so fast because I was caught up in his excitement and enthusiasm for Christ. I want to get off my kester and DO SOMETHING for the Kingdom. I just pray I grow as bold as he has. Great read!!!