"Forgiveness: A Surprising Way Forward" by Mark Henderson and Michael Snuffer -- Author Interview.

by admin June 2, 2023

*I did not read this book.

About the Book

Book: Forgiveness: A Surprising Way Forward

Authors: Mark Henderson and Michael Snuffer

Genre: Non-fiction; Interpersonal Relations; Religion

Release date: April 13, 2023

WHY AM I SO MISUNDERSTOOD? I am only trying to do what is right! Of course, I forgive, but I can’t seem to get past the pain. God seems distant. Does he even care about me?

Do any of these questions hit close to home? It may surprise you that the underlying cause is often hidden unforgiveness. Our closest relationships, emotional health, and perhaps even our faith seem to be crumbling around us, but most of us have no idea that forgiveness is the way forward. If we are honest, we don’t even know what forgiveness is. We may have a vague idea that it has something to do with “forgetting” or “letting go” but would be hard-pressed to come up with a working definition. Worse yet, we have no idea how to practice forgiveness in a way that brings lasting relief from the hurt we carry. Most of us are not trying to hang on to the pain, but freedom is elusive.

Freedom from your pain is within reach! Forgiveness is not a vague, esoteric concept, nor is it a lofty, out-of-reach ideal. Forgiveness: A Surprising Way Forward digs into the biblical definition of forgiveness, tells real stories of real people who have found healing, clears up some huge misconceptions surrounding forgiveness, and teaches us how topractice forgiveness. If we do not address the wounds of our past, they will shape our future. God has provided a powerful tool to help us find freedom—forgiveness is the surprising way forward!

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

1. Who would you say inspired you the most in your life?
My mom and dad are both intelligent and highly entrepreneurial. I have no doubt
they would be extremely successful had they chosen to pursue business careers.
Instead, they followed God’s calling to full-time ministry. Other than Jesus Christ,
they have influenced me most to be involved in the caring and counseling
ministries which inspired this book.

2. If you could spend the day with anyone (living or dead) who would it be? Why?
I’d love to spend a day with Pastor Charles Swindoll. He is a student of the
scriptures, a great communicator, and a wonderful storyteller. Even as a teen I
enjoyed listening to his radio broadcast as he brought the stories of scripture to
life. It would be fantastic to sit with Pastor Swindoll over coffee and share our
lives and stories with each other. It will probably never happen in this life, but I
suspect we will both be able to find the time for a cup of coffee together in
eternity.

3. Do you have a special writing area?
Wherever my laptop is. Mark Henderson and I worked together in business for
several years driving back and forth across Midwestern states. We spent hours
writing together in coffee shops, restaurants, and while traveling. I often manned
the laptop in the passenger seat while Mark drove. Perhaps 80% of this book
was written on highways crisscrossing America’s heartland.

4. How do you balance writing time with the demands of life/family?
I am a small business owner, which takes the lion’s share of my time and energy.
For many years, I wrote in my spare time. Family, work, client demands, and
ministry are all important, but can make it difficult to find the energy to invest in
my writing.
Recently, I decided to switch up my schedule and start the day with authoring
activities before moving on to the day’s normal demands. I find myself able to
make consistent progress when I set aside even a short block of time at the
beginning of the day for my writing activities.

5. What kind of research do you do?
I would not count myself a scientific “researcher.” Of course, I read, attend
conferences, and continue to learn from experts and disciplined researchers. I
personally tend to learn through mentor relationships and hands-on practice.
Mark Henderson, my co-author, taught many of the counseling principles and
tools I use and write about. These have been reinforced and proved out as we
watch God’s Spirit work and bring miraculous healing to individuals and couples
within our counseling ministry.

6. How long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
My friend is a pastor and was asked on a Sunday morning, “How long did it take
you to prepare this sermon?”
His thoughtful response was, “My whole life!”
For Mark and I, this story is an apt description of our preparation for this book. It
represents a culmination of countless lessons and principles learned from our
experience, education, counseling ministry, and walk with God. We applied the
principles and processes to our own lives and countless hurting individuals
before we set pen to this book.
The goal of our book is not to prove principles through scientific research or
statistical analysis. Instead, we explain how our brain works so readers can trace
these thought processes through their own mind. How does your brain convince
you unforgiveness is a reasonable choice? How does forgiveness change your
thinking in a way that brings relief and freedom from past hurts?
David wrote, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my
anxious thoughts.” (Psalm 139:23) In the same way, our book is designed to help
readers discover the innerworkings of their own minds. When an individual is
able to clearly trace how their own thoughts motivate decisions, we find this is the
first step to enable positive and lasting change.

7. Was there anything you found interesting while researching the topic?
Before writing this book, we walked many through the forgiveness process
outlined for readers. It is surprising how few believers are aware of the
unforgiveness they carry or the detrimental impact this is having on their
relationships and personal health. Bitterness is such a harsh-sounding word, we
would expect individuals to recognize it in their own hearts. Unfortunately, most
believe they have already forgiven or are completely unaware bitterness has
taken root.

8. Do you have any writing quirks?
I love telling stories with a bit of shock value. I write because I want to help
people take positive, life-changing action. I am not sure a new idea will convince
someone to make a change unless it is surprising or pulls them out of their
comfort zones a bit. Mark often toned down my writing to be less jolting to
readers. Most of the time he was right, and I think it is a better book as a result.

9. Do you read much?
I love great writing. I enjoy all kinds of books: fiction, self-help, theology, or even
philosophy at times. I don’t believe I am the best writer. In fact, really great
writing is a complete mystery to me: I don’t understand how a mind produces this
level of literary excellence, but I do enjoy reading and recognize the brilliance of
it.

10. What is different about writing non-fiction vs fiction? Would you say one is easier
than the other?
Personally, I have never attempted fiction. It is a black box which I’ve not yet
attempted to open. I personally would find myself agonizing over the simplest
details like naming characters or maintaining consistency within the storyline. It
sounds like a daunting task!
My personal gifting and passion are around helping hurting individuals to find the
abundant life God promises. I guess this is the reason I have focused my efforts
on non-fiction.

11. Anything else you'd like to share?
Mark Henderson was a dear friend and brother. He is one of the most brilliant
and gifted counselors I’ve ever known. Writing this book with him was a
wonderful experience. He went home to be with the Lord just as we were
finishing our 2 nd draft of this book, and I miss him dearly.
I am not sure how much Mark is able to witness from heaven, but he’d be so
excited to see our book in print. Mark’s legacy and work will live on as individuals
read this book and find freedom from the heavy burden of past hurts.

About the Authors

Mark Henderson received a Masters of Pastoral Counseling, was a licensed counselor, and served as a pastor of counseling for twenty years.

In Memory of Mark Henderson

Mark David Henderson, co-author of this book, passed away from cancer as this book was being finalized. Mark was a loving husband, father, and friend. He touched lives all over the world through his counseling ministry and often said he had a front row seat to God’s miracles. He always made sure the individual knew it was God’s healing, and Mark was simply the servant. His desire was to take what he learned and share it with others, which is the reason for this book.

Michael Snuffer has ministered as a counselor for more than ten years. Mark and Mike founded Equip2CounselTM, a ministry dedicated to providing simple yet powerful counseling tools globally to ministers.

More from Michael

Challenging relationships, frustration with unfair treatment, bursts of anger, and disconnection from God are persistent problems for individuals who carry burdens from their past. Most are unaware unforgiveness is an underlying cause. Time, by itself, rarely brings healing. Instead, the wounds fester and become more painful. Many feel stuck and see no way forward to joy and peace. For most, forgiveness is the first step to healing.

Modern culture and thinking have muddled the meaning of forgiveness. Most don’t understand what forgiveness is or how to practice it. The result? Relief remains out of reach. Forgiveness is a powerful tool which brings healing and freedom.

Mark and I launched the Equip2Counsel™ ministry to provide powerful counseling tools which bring healing to hurting individuals around the world. We soon realized the limitations of in-person training and began to consider how written materials could extend the reach of these tools. We wrote Forgiveness: A Surprising Way Forward to provide a clear, step-by-step process. We wanted to share the stories of real people who found hope and healing through forgiveness. Whether you are a hurting individual or a counselor helping others, we hope many learn and apply the practice of forgiveness which brings freedom.