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The daughter of a foreign correspondent, Kate Braestrup spent her childhood in Algiers, New York City, Paris, Bangkok, Washington, DC and Sabillasville, Maryland. Educated at the Parsons School of Design, the New School and Georgetown University, Kate has her master’s degree from Bangor Theological Seminary and has received honorary doctorates from Unity College and Husson University.
Kate married Trooper James Andrew “Drew” Griffith in 1985. Trooper Griffith was killed in the line of duty in 1996 in a car accident, leaving Kate a widow with four young children.
In 1997, Kate entered Seminary and was ordained as a community minister in 2004. Since 2001, she has served as chaplain to the Maine Warden Service, joining game wardens as they search the wild lands and fresh waters of Maine for those who have lost their way, and offering comfort to those who wait for the ones they love to be rescued.
Kate is the bestselling author of the award-winning Here If You Need Me (Little-Brown, 2006) named one of TIME Magazine’s ten best books of 2006, and Marriage and Other Acts of Charity (Little-Brown, 2009), Beginner’s Grace (Simon and Schuster, 2010) and Anchor & Flares (Little-Brown, 2015). Her work has appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times Sunday Magazine, More, O (the Oprah Magazine) and Good Housekeeping. She has told stories for PBS’ The Moth, gave a TED talk, and she is a sought-after public speaker around the country and abroad. Kate is the devoted grandmother to five grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.

Reverend Dr. Heber Brown, III has been an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus for more than twenty years. He’s served multiple congregations including fourteen years as senior pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. He’s been blessed to preach across the country and is equally known for his commitment to living the gospel in the public square. Rev. Brown believes deeply in the ministry of social justice; having established multiple organizations that address youth development, food security, the prison industrial complex and more. God has blessed him to teach at many universities and receive various awards in recognition of his service to God and community. Rev. Brown earned his B.S. degree in Psychology from Morgan State University, a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Union University and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He serves on numerous boards including Bread For The World, Black Farmer Fund and Future Harvest. Rev. Brown has garnered numerous awards and is the author of the forthcoming book, Nothing More Sacred: Radical Stories Of Black Church Faith, Food and Freedom

Reverend Dr. Heber Brown, III has been an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus for more than twenty years. He’s served multiple congregations including fourteen years as senior pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. He’s been blessed to preach across the country and is equally known for his commitment to living the gospel in the public square. Rev. Brown believes deeply in the ministry of social justice; having established multiple organizations that address youth development, food security, the prison industrial complex and more. God has blessed him to teach at many universities and receive various awards in recognition of his service to God and community. Rev. Brown earned his B.S. degree in Psychology from Morgan State University, a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Union University and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He serves on numerous boards including Bread For The World, Black Farmer Fund and Future Harvest. Rev. Brown has garnered numerous awards and is the author of the forthcoming book, Nothing More Sacred: Radical Stories Of Black Church Faith, Food and Freedom