Jen Hatmaker

Jennifer Lynn Hatmaker, born in 1974, began her public career as an author, speaker, and blogger. In 2008, she co-founded Austin New Church in Austin, Texas, with her then-husband, Brandon Hatmaker. She gained significant media attention in 2014 when she was featured in *Christianity Today* magazine and starred with her family in the HGTV series *Your Big Family Renovation*, which documented their home renovation project in Buda, Texas.

A key milestone in Hatmaker’s career was the publication of her *New York Times* bestselling book, *For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards*, in 2015. This book, like many of her works, focuses on faith, personal growth, and navigating modern life. She further expanded her reach through her podcast, “For the Love,” which became an award-winning platform for discussions on various topics including personal development, relationships, and social issues. Hatmaker’s career has also been marked by her evolving theological views, particularly her public advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Christian community in 2016, which led to her books being removed from LifeWay Christian Resources.

In recent years, Hatmaker continued to publish impactful works, including *Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You* in 2020. Her personal journey of divorce in 2020 and subsequent memoir, *Awake: A Memoir*, released on September 23, 2025, reflect themes of reinvention and starting over. With five children, two of whom were adopted from Ethiopia, Hatmaker frequently integrates her family experiences into her storytelling. Her ongoing work includes her book club community, digital e-courses (“Me Courses”) for personal development, and continued speaking engagements, solidifying her position as a prominent voice in contemporary discourse.