Austin Gutwein - Take Your Best Shot: Do Something Bigger Than Yourself

Austin is an outstanding young man! He inspires us to dream bigger, reach higher, and love deeper. His story deserves a wide hearing.

Max Lucado,
Author and Minister of Writing and
Preaching at Oak Hills Church

Austin Gutwein inspires me and makes me want to believe God for miracles! His life demonstrates the truth that God uses ordinary people to do His extraordinary work. Im proud to call him my friend.

Kay Warren,
Executive Director HIV/AIDS Initiative
Saddleback Church

I am very impressed with Austin Gutweins story in Take Your Best Shot. This book is filled with words of encouragement, inspiration, and hope. Its guaranteed to motivate you into action.

Pat Williams,
Senior Vice President
Orlando Magic

When people ask me how they can possibly make a difference fighting a problem as big as global poverty, I tell them about a boy named Austin who, like David, stared Goliath in the eye without flinching. This young man has done more to make a difference in the lives of children orphaned by AIDS than most American churches, let alone individuals. If you are older than 10 and you havent yet done your part to change the world, read Take Your Best Shot and be inspired. Austin Gutwein shows us the way.

Richard Stearns, President, World Vision US,
Author of The Hole in Our Gospel

I spent a day with Austin and his family and found them inspiring. His story, I believe, challenges us all. The first thing I thought as I drove to the airport was, What was I doing when I was twelve? And then, of course, the next thought: What, exactly, am I doing now?

John Larson,
Former NBC National Correspondent

Every time Im with this young man I want to say to him, Okay, Austin... lets you and I go out and conquer the world for Christ. Thats the way he makes me feel. His ideas and dreams are already changing the face of an African nation... and hes only fifteen, for goodness sake! With focused vision and dedication of heart, the encouragement of his parents, and the Spirit of God, Austin Gutwein is a one-kid-army of hope. I love this guy. And I love his book. Its an absolute joy to read. Check it out for yourself.

Luci Swindoll,
Speaker and Author with Women of Faith

When people ask who has most impacted me over the last year, without hesitation I can say Austin Gutwein and the story of Hoops of Hope. I am around amazing leaders all the time, and Austin rivals all of them. Austin is my friend. And Austin is one of my heroes. At fifteen he has had more impact than most of us will ever have in our entire lives. I love the work of Hoops of Hope. You cant be around Austin, or the amazing work of Hoops of Hope, without being deeply impacted and inspired. Trust me. Do yourself a favor and read this book and the incredible story. But once you do, be prepared to be changed and challenged. Youll see the world and your significant role in helping those less fortunate in an amazingly fresh way.

Brad Lomenick,
Executive Director, Catalyst

Austins story is one of modern-day heroism. He represents a new generation that can carry us all into the twenty-first century... a world of hope, peace, and selfless love. Austin completely inspires me.

Daniel Biro,
Hawk Nelson

We commend Austin for his example and testimony. His heart for orphans and desire to move his generation to action are an inspiration. We cant wait to see how God will use him and his message as he continues to do hard things for him.

Alex and Brett Harris,
Authors of Do Hard Things: A Teenage
Rebellion Against Low Expectations

All of us have met someone who truly inspires us; few of us have met someone who does so as young as Austin Gutwein. This young man and his story are simply remarkable. On his way to changing the world, he has changed our church, and he has changed me. Get ready to see what happens when youthfulness and creativity intersects vision and passion.

Cal Jernigan,
Senior Pastor
Central Christian Church of the East Valley
Mesa, AZ

Austin Gutwein is living proof that teenagers arent the church of tomorrow; they are the church of today! I have been a youth pastor for over twenty years, and the entire time I have been telling students that God is in the business of using young people to make a difference. In this book, Austin shares his incredible story and shows us an example of what God can do through teenagers who are willing to take their best shot.

Kurt Johnston,
Pastor to Students
Saddleback Church

take
Your Best
SHOT

Do Something Bigger than Yourself

By Austin Gutwein
with Todd Hillard

2009 by Austin Gutwein

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.
www.alivecommunications.com.

Photos 20082009 Dan Gutwein. Maggie photo 2008 Jon Warren/World Vision.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE : NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gutwein, Austin.
Take your best shot : do something bigger than yourself / by Austin Gutwein, with Todd Hillard.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-4003-1515-4 (pbk.)
1. Church work with the sick. 2. AIDS (Disease)Religious aspectsChristianity.
3. Church work. 4. Christian life. 5. Gutwein, Austin. I. Hillard, Todd, 1963
II. Title.
BV4460.7.G88 2009
261.8321969792dc22

2009018708

Printed in the United States of America

09 10 11 12 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1

This book is dedicated to my sister Brittany.
Thank you for always being there behind the scenes.
Thank you for your encouragement.
Thank you for always knowing how to make me laugh.
I love you.
You are my hero and my best friend.

Contents

The Beauty of an Assist
By Luke Ridnour

When I was a kid, I was what you might call a gym rat. My father was a basketball coach, and we shared a passion for the game. In fact, I became so obsessed with basketball that by the time I was a sophomore in high school, I had my own set of keys to the gym. Over the years, I have learned there are many parallels to the game of basketball and to walking with God. One of which I see clearly spelled out in what Hoops of Hope and Austin Gutwein are trying to accomplish.

Its called an assist.

An assist is when one player passes the ball to another so the team can score. It is not just about passing the ball, but passing it in the right way, at the right time. You may not know it, but passing the ball is one of the most desired skills in a basketball player. Had I not learned this skill, I would never have made it through high school and college basketball and into the NBA. A selfish player is only thinking about himself and for his opportunity to score. The truth is,