This week’s author interview is with Shawn Brower, author of We Became Men: The Journey into Manhood and The Huddle: Becoming A Champion for Life.

• Ques­tion #1 — Tell us a lit­tle bit about your­self: where you’re from, fam­ily, job, per­sonal inter­ests, unique hob­bies, what do you do in your spare time, etc.

Early Years: I enjoyed growing up in the church as the son of a reformed pastor/church planter.

Home: I spent almost all of my formative years growing up in New England — Vermont and Massachusetts.

Family: My wife and I have the same first name (Shawn). We met 23 years ago on a blind date. Beyond having the same first name, we have the same middle initial, are both left-handed, and have December birthdays. I am not so sure about that “opposites attract” idea! We have three sons: Joshua (17), Josiah (13) and Jakob (11). I thought it would be fun to name one of them Shawn, but my wife thought otherwise.

Hobbies, Interest: Since my “work” is my calling and passion, I spend a great deal of time mentoring and discipling young men in a variety of contexts: teaching, coaching, counseling, high-adventures trips, etc. I can’t wait to get up in the morning to see what opportunities the Lord will provide where I might serve and worship Him. In turn, I am blessed when I hear that those I have mentored are pursuing paths of truth and righteousness.

• Question #2 – When did you want to write your first book?

It was never my intent to write a book. However, after leading multiple retreats and spending a great deal of time mentoring young men, the Lord laid a burden on my heart to do more. So, following a retreat in the fall of 2011, I sat down at my kitchen counter and in 10 minutes wrote out the chapter outline for the book We Became Men. Over the following three months I feverishly wrote every waking moment and the words literally spilled on to the pages. When I finished, I remember thinking, “Now what do I do with this manuscript?” I am grateful for P&R Publishing and their vision to support this work to make an eternal investment in the lives of young men.

• Question #3 – What inspired you to write your second book, The Huddle?

I was inspired to write the book, The Huddle, following my high school boy’s soccer team winning the Tennessee soccer state championship. It was not the win that inspired my writing but rather how I saw, maybe for the first time in 18 years, a group of young men truly come together to play for God’s glory (Soli Deo Gloria) and to live and play in such an unselfish and even sacrificial way. The journey (doing life and training together) was more significant than the destination (championship), and what we experienced together was too good to keep to myself. I needed to share and declare what great things God had done and how others could accomplish the same result!

• Question #4 – What advice would I give to aspiring authors?

Consider your heart’s motives for writing. If God is directing and inspiring you to write, then embrace His calling. If your desire and your motives are for the advancement of anything other than God’s kingdom, then you likely are not prepared or equipped to begin such a journey.

• Question #5 – Other than the Bible, do I have a favorite book?

Leading with a Limp by Dan Allender is one of favorite books. I have read so many leadership books that talk of what to DO and how to get it right. Leading with a Limp is written from the presupposition that “we just are not that good.” To hold the position of the Apostle Paul, who referred to himself as the “chief of sinners,” is freeing in that our righteousness is not in our good works but in the redeeming work completed by Christ on the cross.

• Question #6 – Favorite quote and why?

I have so many favorite quotes but this would be one of them. “It is the grace of the gospel, which is so hard for the pious to understand, that confronts us with the truth and says: You are a sinner, a great, desperate sinner; now come, as the sinner that you are, to God who loves you. He wants you as you are; He does not want anything from you, a sacrifice, a work. He wants you alone…God has come to you to save the sinner. Be glad! The message is liberation through truth. You can hide nothing from God. The mask you wear before men will do you no good before Him. He wants to see you as you are, He wants to be gracious to you. You do not have to go on lying to yourself and your brothers, as if you were without sin; you can dare to be a sinner.” Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood this “hinge” of the gospel as found in Eph. 2:4-7. Understanding this passage is not just liberating, but empowering to boldly and courageously live for Christ as Dietrich Bonhoeffer once did! “BUT because of his great love for us, GOD, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” – Ephesians 2:4-7

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Want to learn more about Shawn?

Visit his website: www.browersbooks.com

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