An Interview with Judson Edwards
1. How would you describe your calling and mission as a writer and as a Christian?
A part of my calling as a Christian is to use my gifts and passions for the glory of God. I have loved writing and the written word most of my life and want to use this interest to encourage others to think about God and to consider how they can use their own gifts and passions for the glory of God.
2. Which books have had the greatest impact on your ministry?
Maybe the best way to come at this question is to tell you which writers have had the greatest impact on my ministry: Robert Capon, Wendell Berry, Frederick Buechner, Eugene Peterson, Jon Hassler, Edwin Friedman, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine L’Engle. I quote some of these writers in The Leadership Labyrinth.
3. How important do you feel writing is in the world of religion?
Writing is crucial because it grants people complete freedom to ponder Ultimate Truth. There is nothing coercive or intrusive about a book or article. Writing simply invites people to come along on a journey, and that pressure-free quality of the written word is most helpful in spiritual matters.
4. When did you first become interested in writing?
Probably when I started reading the sports page at about age seven. But, in my mid-twenties, I started attending writers’ conferences and trying to learn the craft of writing. I discovered I had a “blissful affliction” and needed to hurl words at paper to see if they made any sense. I’ve been afflicted now most of my life.
5. What are the great joys in writing for you?
Here is heaven-on-earth for me: a quiet room, a cup of coffee, a good idea, a functional computer, and several hours of uninterrupted freedom. I love being alone and crafting sentences that have rhythm and dreaming that those sentences might actually make a difference in someone’s life.
6. Where did the inspiration come from to write The Leadership Labyrinth?
I think I got the initial idea for the book while attending a minister’s group studying “family systems theory.” Our leader was talking about a few paradoxes in the minister’s life and that got me to thinking about ministry as a paradoxical profession. I started writing down all of the ministerial paradoxes that came to mind and, eventually, had enough to do a book. The Leadership Labyrinth discusses 21 paradoxes, and I think I’ve just scratched the surface.
7. How do you feel The Leadership Labyrinth can impact the reader?
I’m hoping the book will remind church leaders that ours is a paradoxical, challenging, and fun calling. I also believe that the paradoxes in the book are true in non-religious systems and that lay people can apply these paradoxes to home, work, and family.
8. Briefly describe your current ministry.
I am pastor of the Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. I have been here almost eight years. Ours is a small, suburban church, chock-full of interesting people. I especially enjoy preaching and pastoral care.
9. Outside of your ministry, how do you enjoy spending time?
I play tennis twice a week, work out several times a week at a fitness center, and try to walk a lot with my wife, Sherry. I also play the guitar, like to travel, and read constantly. My grown children – Stacy and Randel – live in Austin, and we try to see them often. These are a few of my favorite things – coffee, the sports page, Don Williams, cinnamon rolls, clocks, African violets, and books.
10. What would readers be surprised to know about you?
I’ve completed one marathon. My daughter has completed two Ironman Triathlons. I’ve written six other books. I am the world’s worst mechanic and carpenter. I play the guitar and five-string banjo. My forehand is a lot stronger than my backhand.
