You Are Special

Lucado says he “writes books for people who don’t read books.’ Even so, his best-selling books have sold over 100 million copies across 54 languages worldwide. Perhaps Lucado is converting non-readers with his poetic storytelling and homespun humor. Perhaps readers can sense that his encouraging words flow from the heart of a pastor.

Every trade book Max Lucado has written during the last 30 years began as a sermon series for his home church Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Max presses every word of his sermons through this sieve: Why would this matter on Monday morning? How can I relate the promises of God to every person, wherever they are, regardless of the burdens they carry?

Since his first book On the Anvil was published in 1985, Max Lucado has been sharing the promises of God in sermons, books, articles and media interviews. His writing is also featured in videos, devotionals, songs, plush toys, greeting cards, booklets, Bible studies, and Bible commentaries. 130 million of these products have been sold around the globe. His books regularly appear on national bestseller lists including the New York Times.

Max’s 42nd trade book is You Are Never Alone, Trust in the Miracle of God’s Presence and Power releasing September 14, 2020.

National press has noted the global influence of this unassuming Texas pastor. Max Lucado was dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, and Reader’s Digestcalled him “The Best Preacher in America.” The New York Times has named Max one of the most influential leaders in social media. He has been featured on countless media outlets including USA Today, “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” NPR, CNN, and “Fox & Friends.”

Max Lucado’s childhood was both idyllic and simple. Max was raised in Andrews, Texas, a town with a population smaller than the current membership of Oak Hills Church. Max’s dad was an oilfield mechanic and his mother a nurse. He spent much of his childhood chasing or being chased by his beloved brother Dee. Once Max became a teenager, rebellion kicked in. After one specific drunken night, Max began to wonder if there was more to life than parties and chasing girls. He believes now that if Jesus hadn’t changed his heart, alcoholism would have been in his future.

During undergraduate studies at Abilene Christian University (ACU), Max grew to realize God was bigger—and better—than any rebellion. Max left ACU with two degrees and a heart for telling others about God and his faithfulness. Max’s first ministry assignment was as the associate pastor of a small church in Miami, Florida. In that position he developed his passion for people, ministry, and writing. He began writing when he was assigned a column in the church’s weekly newsletter.

While in Florida Max married Denalyn, now his wife of more than three decades. Max and Denalyn moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1983 to help plant churches. During their five years in Brazil, Max continued to write, updating friends and family back home about their ministry. Eventually Max gathered the Brazil newsletters and Florida columns into a manuscript and sent it off to fifteen publishers. After multiple rejection letters, one publisher finally said yes. In honor of his four decades of pastoring and publishing, Abilene Christian University has become home to the Max Lucado Collection. A curated collection of Max’s manuscripts, journals and personal correspondence are archived and displayed at ACU’s Brown Library.

Max and Denalyn live in San Antonio, Texas, and have three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren.

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Birth Place: San Angelo, TX
Graduate: Andrews High School, Andrews, TX
Advanced Degrees:BA Mass Communications, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX
MA: Biblical and Related Studies, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX
Positions Held:Associate Minister, Central Church of Christ, Miami, FL
Church Planting Missionary, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Currently serving as a Teaching Minister of Oak Hills Church, San Antonio, TX