How do you pray when you are drowning in grief? In the middle of a crisis? Alone? Afraid?

In, Don't You Care That We Are Drowning? Brian Spahr shares the unexpected prayers of people who cry out to God amid their struggle and suffering and loss. In this short collection of stories, Spahr (a hospital chaplain) takes readers into spaces where bumper sticker faith, pat spiritual answers, and surface-level prayers won’t cut it. He tells stories of real loss, hurt, and suffering while still pointing to God's loving presence through it all.

BUTTONS! These 2 Inch buttons are bold and bright as a reminder that:

I am LOVED. I am KNOWN. I am FREE.

And YOU ARE TOO!

In these three words, I feel secure. They remind me who I am, even before I know what I’m doing. For more about why these three words are a central theme for me and my work, check out this post:

https://open.substack.com/pub/brianspahr/p/loved-known-and-free?r=1q0x4g&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

A free set of printable prayer cards with ways you can pray during the war in Ukraine.

*PLEASE NOTE: This version has not yet been released. It is in the pre-production phase, and your purchase is a commitment to help crowdfund this upcoming release. Upon completion, we will ship you a personalized copy of this special version of "Wonderfully Made" to anyone who contributes $25 or more. This will include a signed copy of the book and a collection of other fun surprises.

Would you consider a donation of $5 to $5000 to make this happen? Every dollar raised will go towards production costs and to compensate the illustrator.

WHY AN ILLUSTRATED VERSION? “You are wonderfully made.”

That’s the message I want her to hear, and that’s the message I want her to believe! She does not know how wonderful she is, and as her dad, it hurts to see her struggle. It’s hard to be a kid these days. It’s always been hard, but I think the pressure today is greater than ever. I want my daughter Marin to echo the faith of the psalmist who said, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14). I want her to say that with confidence about herself.

So, one blustery January afternoon, I imagined a conversation between her and God, who wants her to believe this even more than I do. A few hours later, it was a book. I did a quick design and sent a PDF to the printer, thinking it would just be a gift for Marin.

But the message stuck with me. “You are wonderfully made.” “You are wonderfully made.” I… am wonderfully made.”

I need the message as much as she does, and ‌others need it too.

So, with no marketing, plan, or clue what would happen, I uploaded it to Amazon and hit publish.

And the response has been amazing.

One reader said,

“I’m struggling with feeling overwhelmed and feeling like my juggling skills are fading! This “children’s” book spoke gently yet boldly to me. I really needed this message. I read it with misty eyes and a happier heart. I plan to share it with several people who also could benefit from this simple yet profound message.”

Another reader said,

“What a needed reminder of how simply and beautifully our Creator speaks to us! I flip through this book often, and the way Brian has written it leads to peaceful reflection and relief.”

And…

“I'm not a religious person, but when my faith in myself and the world around me is tested, Brian's writing always brings me to a better place. This is a book I would keep on my nightstand, coffee table, or give as gifts to loved ones.”

I’m so struck that the simple message of this book has connected with kids AND adults, religious or not.

So, here’s what I want to do.

I want to release a new, fully illustrated version of the book. The original version is just stylized words and a lot of blank space. I love that, and some readers have found creative ways to use the blank space as a journal, sketchbook, graduation party guest book, and more. But I think the right illustrator could make the message really come to life.

So, I reached out to my friend Laken Biletski. I sent her the book, curious to see the ideas she would come up with. When I saw her first sketches, tears streamed down my face. She totally got the essence of the story, and the finished artwork will be absolutely incredible.

And here’s where I need your help:

Printing a high-quality, full-color hard-cover book isn’t cheap, and I really want this version to be special. I also want to make sure Laken is well-compensated for her amazing artwork, so I’m looking for people to support this project. I need to raise $5000 to make it happen. So, I'm inviting you to become a supporter.

Would you consider a donation of $5 to $5000 to make this happen? Any contribution of $25 or more will earn donors an exclusive package, including a signed copy of the book and a collection of fun surprises, once it hits the shelves. Every dollar raised will go towards production costs and to compensate the illustrator.

Thank you for your support. It means the world to me. I'm excited and nervous. I’ve never crowdfunded a project before, but I believe in this book and think it will be something really special.

Thanks again! -- Brian