Born and raised on a Minnesota farm, Wayne Brouwer is a son of the American Midwest and an explorer of the world. Pious German and Dutch immigrants of the nineteenth century produced the community and family which reared and shaped him. A degree in Philosophy at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, opened new horizons of meaning, which were synthesized through a Calvin Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, Michigan) education with spiritual commitments, into a career as a pastor in Alberta and Ontario, Canada, and Holland, Michigan.

Along the way, Wayne and Brenda (Karsten) were married and raised three daughters, and Wayne continued his education, earning an M.A. in Religious Studies and a Ph.D. in New Testament, both at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. These degrees netted him a part-time teaching position at Hope College, in Holland, Michigan, while he served as Senior Pastor at Harderwyk Ministries, a large multi-congregational, multi-faceted church. Later Wayne transitioned into a full-time professorial role at Hope College, and began teaching graduate students at Western Theological Seminary as well.

Wayne’s communication skills have been in high demand. He is a sought-after guest speaker for conferences, seminars and worship services, and receives stellar praise from his students for both insightful lectures and passionate story-telling. For nearly a decade, Wayne has been the voice of “Reflections,” a Sunday morning program on WHTC radio, garnering a large and devoted following.

Although agriculture, from his farming youth and first rural pastorate, remains close to his heart, Wayne has invested in many sub-careers. He worked as a radio announcer, producer, and program director at three radio stations during his college and seminary years. He spent time in schools and training programs in Mexico, Alaska, Israel, California, and Scotland, and has translated these experiences into consultations with churches and ministry organizations, and executive mentoring with dozens of pastors. Wayne and Brenda were missionaries in Nigeria. Wayne has even served as a Chaplain on several cruise ships. The Brouwers have traveled to twenty-eight countries on five continents, and look forward to their next explorations.