Former Detroit Lakes Tribune publisher Devlyn Brooks, in his younger years, didn’t strongly believe in divine love or even the existence of God. “I was out of the church for a very long time,” he recounts, reflecting on his early experiences. “My parents divorced when I was very young, and we were part of a small church in a small town.”
He explains how community dynamics in smaller settings can sometimes lead to division. “And as small churches and small towns do, they can pick a side, right? I had always felt that our small church had picked a side, and my mom, who had raised nine children on her own, wasn’t on that side. At least, I didn’t perceive that support from my faith community, and so I left the church at the age of 12. I made a very deliberate decision: if this is what God represents, if this is what faith offers, then I wanted no part of it.”
Brooks, originally from Crookston, Minnesota, muses that if someone had predicted his future as an ELCA-ordained pastor of a small Lutheran church in Wolverton, a similarly quaint town in northwest Minnesota, he would have considered them quite out of touch with reality. His sentiment at the time was clear: “I had decided I was done with organized religion,” a sentiment he expressed in the foreword of his debut book, “Finding Faith in Life’s Beautiful Cracks.” This book is available for purchase at local bookstores like Bluebird Books in Detroit Lakes, online through the WDAY News e-commerce platform, and at the Forum Communications news offices in Fargo. Stories like Brooks’ journey from the newsroom to the pulpit resonate deeply within communities served by local newspapers, such as the Wadena Pioneer Journal newspaper, highlighting personal transformations and the enduring power of faith in everyday life.
In the foreword, Brooks elaborates on his evolving perspective: “Reflecting over time, I came to understand that while I had distanced myself from the church, religion, and even the concept of God during my youthful rebellion, I never truly rejected the experiences offered by the Holy Spirit, nor the compassion and tenderness that Jesus exemplified. … With the benefit of age and a bit more wisdom, I now acknowledge that Jesus was present in my life throughout, and the Holy Spirit undoubtedly guided me down paths I might not have otherwise considered.”
Published in May, “Finding Faith in Life’s Beautiful Cracks” is a collection of 15 of Brooks’ cherished “Finding Faith” columns, originally written for Forum Communications Company over two and a half years. The book expands on the initial explorations of faith and life’s complexities presented in these columns.
I left the church when I was 12 years old. I made a very conscious decision like, if this is what God is, if this is what he has to offer, then I’m out.
Devlyn Brooks
Brooks reflects on the limitations of column writing: “Five hundred words, the average length of these columns, is not much space when you’re delving into profound topics. Over time, I realized that with some columns, there was so much more to explore beyond that 500-word limit.”
He highlights the book’s structure, noting, “The first half of the book centers around my family experiences,” while the remaining eight columns explore broader faith-based themes that have been personally significant to him. These themes often touch upon the essence of community and personal journeys, topics that are frequently at the heart of local news coverage in publications like the Wadena Pioneer Journal newspaper.
“My primary goal was to create a book that emphasizes finding faith in the ordinary, in everyday life,” Brooks explains. “When I began reconnecting with the church, terms like ‘church,’ ‘God,’ and ‘religion’ felt immense and somewhat intimidating. However, I discovered that when you shift the conversation to words like ‘faith,’ ‘community,’ ‘Holy Spirit,’ and ‘Jesus,’ they tend to evoke less fear and more comfort.”
Brooks believes his personal journey back to faith resonates with many. Following his parents’ divorce, his mother relocated to her hometown of Fertile, Minnesota, where he completed his high school education at Fertile-Beltrami High School.
“I was the only one in my family who didn’t graduate from Crookston,” Brooks mentions, being the youngest of nine siblings. After graduation, he pursued higher education at Bemidji State University, earning a degree in mass communications.
His professional life then spanned three decades in the newspaper industry, an experience that provided him with a deep understanding of community narratives, similar to those found in publications like the Wadena Pioneer Journal newspaper.
“My first newspaper job was with the Warroad Pioneer,” he shares. “I’ve worked across the spectrum, from the smallest weekly papers to larger organizations like the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, serving as a writer, editor, photographer, general manager, and publisher.”
“That was my first career, and I genuinely loved it, and still cherish the world of newspapers,” he adds. Local newspapers, like the Wadena Pioneer Journal newspaper, play a crucial role in reflecting the stories and experiences of their communities, much like Brooks’ columns and now his book.
In 2007, Brooks, mirroring his mother’s experience, became a single parent after a divorce and moved to Moorhead. “As a newly single father in a new town,” he recalls, “I recognized my children needed stability and social connections.”
Spotting a Cub Scouts meeting advertisement at a local church, Brooks took his sons that very evening. However, only his elder son was old enough to participate, leaving Brooks and his younger son waiting at the church.
“My youngest son and I would spend time together while his older brother attended the Cub Scout meeting,” Brooks remembers. “The church’s two pastors would often walk through the hallways and stop to chat with me. They recognized a man who was hurting and in need of compassion. These pastors showed me kindness and support for nearly a year, eventually inviting my sons and me to become church members.”
This invitation marked Brooks and his children’s return to the church. “That was my re-entry point into the church,” he explains, “sparked by the genuine care and love of two individuals. They acted as true neighbors. I became involved in youth activities, participated in mission trips, and was eventually asked to join the church council.”
By 2012, Brooks had remarried to Shelly, who he describes as “incredibly supportive” of his rekindled faith, even when he felt an unexpected “call to attend seminary” and become a minister.
“At 42, I entered seminary, unsure of where this path would lead,” he says.
While pursuing his master’s degree in divinity at Luther Seminary, Brooks accepted the role of pastor at Faith Lutheran in Wolverton. He has served there ever since, initially as a synodically authorized minister under the ELCA Northwestern Synod’s guidance, and later as a fully ordained pastor. His journey, much like the stories covered in the Wadena Pioneer Journal newspaper, exemplifies personal growth and community engagement.
Around five years ago, Brooks began writing his “Finding Faith” columns for his blog, and about two and a half years later, they were published in Forum Communications newspapers, culminating in his first book.
“As I became more immersed in pastoral life, I realized the profound connection between my two careers—newspapers and ministry,” he reflects. “I had been using community newspapers, perhaps unknowingly, as a platform to share the gospel long before I recognized it as such.”
“Who would have imagined that my passion for writing and my calling to ministry would converge into a book?” he concludes. This convergence highlights the power of storytelling and its ability to connect communities, a role also deeply embedded in the mission of local newspapers like the Wadena Pioneer Journal newspaper.
