Hi there,

My name is Travis Woronowicz, and I just wrote a book for my son called The Adventures of Sam the Strong. I wrote this book to bless my son by reminding him of his identity in Jesus. After writing it, I realized that my heart longs to help other men receive their identity as “beloved child” instead of having to work to prove their worth. To that end, I hope to publish this book as a subversive invitation to bring awareness around this all-important topic of blessing!

So many men in our world today are "unblessed men," men who never received that blessing from their father. I've seen them limp through life, turning to work, success, accomplishments, etc. to find the blessing they never received. Their hearts are crying out for something... for someone... to see them, to bless them, and to call out the man in them. This is why I wrote this book.

My son is growing up WAY too quickly. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital; he just turned 9 last week. 9! I don't want my son going through life not having that blessing, so I wrote this book as a tangible reminder of how I, his father, see him, and more importantly, how God, his true Father, sees him. My goal was to capture the essence of his childhood in a story-- and to use that story to bless him.

But I suspect it's not just for him; I am praying this book becomes a catalyst for other Dads to see the power of blessing, to receive that blessing from God their Father (if they don't have it), and then to bless their children in creative ways, too.

And this is where I need help. At this point, the cost to self-publish this book is $2000.

So if this resonates with your heart, would you consider sowing into this project? (For every person who does, I will include your name on a donor list at the back of the book, and for any person who gives more than $20, I will also give you a signed copy of the book when it is released).

Here's a sample from the book!

There once was a boy named Sam. Sam was 8 years old, and really, really, REALLY loved space! In fact, he loved space so much that he wanted to be the first boy to live on Mars for a whole week.

That summer, Sam and his Dad built a spaceship that would take Sam to Mars. The ship was bright blue with a silver dome hatch. Inside the ship, there were many buttons for Sam to push, along with the captain’s seat and a place for Sam to sleep when he got to Mars.

Dad said most ships took 6 months to get to Mars. But not Sam's ship! Sam's ship was SO FAST that it would get him to Mars in 30 minutes!

Dad suggested that Sam should give his ship a REALLY COOL name. Sam thought for a moment and came up with the name SPACE SAFARI 1.

Sam packed up everything he needed for his trip: a few sets of clothes, his favorite snacks (granola bars, apple slices, and grapes), and his stuffed cat named Kitty. Sam thought he had all he needed, but his mom added a few more clothes and snacks when he wasn't looking.

Sam put on his special space suit and helmet. His suit was bright white with black suspenders and a Mars patch on the left arm.

As Sam was flexing his muscles and admiring his suit and helmet in the mirror, Dad walked in.

"Don't forget this," Dad said as he handed him a golden badge that said 'Sam the Strong.’ "You are Sam the Strong! Don't ever forget that, son! You’ll need to remember that when challenges come up. Love you, bud.”

"I love you, too, Dad." Sam gave Dad a hug and pinned the new badge on his suit. He really was Sam the Strong!

"We're so proud of you, son," Mom said. "Have a great trip, honey. Can we pray?”

Mom grabbed Sam’s hand and prayed, “Father, thank you for our son, his love for space, and the trip he’s about to take. Help him remember that you are his strength; go with him in this, keep him safe, and bring him back safely to us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen!”

Sam hugged his little sister, kissed his mom goodbye, and pounded Dad's fist. Sam the Strong was ready for his first adventure to Mars!

Sam climbed aboard his ship and buckled himself and Kitty in. Dad walked over with a clipboard in his hand. Sam was ready to flip some switches and take off!

"Launch control, we are go for launch," Dad said to Mom. Mom gave him a thumbs up.

“I love you!” she shouted over the whirring engines.

"Love you, too," Sam said as he pulled down the hatch and clicked it into place.

"Countdown to launch," Dad said. "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blastoff!!"

At that, a bright orange fire came out of the back of Sam's ship and Sam blasted into the sky and out of their sight.

I hope these two final passages of Scripture really drive it home for you:

Genesis 32:24-30 (ESV):

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

Luke 3:21-22 (ESV):

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Thank you for joining this campaign, and may we be a people who live in the blessing of our Father, and then bless others with the blessing we've received from Him!