The Browders
1. While The Browders have been around for a long time, you've just recently started to make headlines on a national level. Tell us about your group's history.
The Browders officially began as a group in 1990 when Tommy Browder felt God was calling him to start a family ministry after years of ministering with other groups. Matthew was 10 and David was 8 years old. As the boys entered their late teens and early 20s, they began operating on a more full-time basis. Matthew and I (Sonya) married in 2005, and I joined the ministry at that point in time after having been in full-time ministry in my home state of Maine for 10 years. It was around that time that we took the advice the group had received for years from industry professionals and friends: make a good recording. Be a Light was our first "Nashville" recording and the first single released from that project went to #7 on the charts. We look back on that as a milestone in our ministry and can see how that catapulted us to steadily progress to the place we have reached today.
2. Your first major hit on Southern Gospel radio came a couple of years ago with "Stand Up For Jesus." What was the inspiration from that song and how has it made an impact on your ministry?
Quite honestly, there is no big story behind the writing of that song. Matt just picked up his guitar one day and started playing and singing and the result was that song! Oddly enough, that was our biggest hit to date at that time, and the impact was huge. A larger number of radio stations across the country began playing our music, the airplay was greater than anything we had seen, and we started getting booked in areas we had never been before. It was pretty neat to go to a place we had never sung and see people in the audience singing along with "Stand Up For Jesus"!
3. Tell us about your most recent project - The Message.
The Message was a whole different level of recording for us, from start to finish. It really was "a project"! For starters, we wrote every song ourselves. We spent hours writing and re-writing, especially Matthew. He was in "writing mode" for months. Then we spent a day with writer John Darin Rowsey, allowing him to critique the songs, line by line, and we made changes according to his recommendations. We then spent a day arranging with producer, Kevin Ward. He was a very intricate part of this recording from start to finish and through this process has become a great friend and important part of our ministry. We have learned so much from him! Then, of course, we went through the typical recording process of tracking the music, then vocals, overdubs, orchestration, etc. We didn't rush through any step in the process, but instead made every detail, whether small or great, important. It was tedious at times, but the end result is something we are very pleased with.
4. You guys just scored your first #1 hit on both the Singing News Top 80 and AbsolutelyGospel.com Top 40 Weekly Chart. Tell us about that song.
While going through the process of choosing which songs to use for The Message, I realized we didn't have one on the short list that specifically addressed the subject of salvation or the blood of Jesus. It was decided at that point that while we had 30 plus songs to choose from, another one would have to be written. Matt got to work immediately. We have not written much together as a couple, although I used to write all the time. He's just too quick for me to even get a line in before he has it done! But I told him if he could wait for me, I thought we could write this one together as it addressed a subject very important to me. The result was "Message of the Cross". It addresses a very real problem in the church of today. In an effort to "reach" a larger audience, probably well-meaning people have decided we must not tell of the sacrifice Jesus made for us because of the graphic content. We cannot, however, "reach" anyone without the Gospel. No matter what the method, we cannot lose the message, and that is what we would like to encourage people with in this song.
5. You just released the follow up single to "Message of the Cross." What can fans expect from The Browders with "Land of No Goodbyes"?
It's a classic, Southern Gospel style tune written by David and Matthew and true fans of this type of music will love it! The Browders are big Happy Goodmans/Hinsons fans, and I think that might have influenced this one quite a bit!
6. The Browders write a good portion of their own music. How does the songwriting process work for you personally?
Well, I spend most of my time listening to the song-writing process, so I'll tell you how it works for Matthew! He hears a song in nearly everything, and once he gets the thought in his mind, you might as well forget carrying on a normal conversation with him until he's done! He loves it and has become a great writer because of the time he has spent doing it, seeking out advice from other great writers and co-writing. It's amazing to see him at work.
7. You guys recently started working with child advocacy program Compassion International. How do you incorporate that ministry into your own?
It's such an honor to be a part of this very effective ministry. We get the privilege of sharing with people everywhere we go what they can do to help make a difference in the life of a child through Compassion. In essence, it has taken our ministry "world-wide", as we are able to reach children around the world one by one.
8. How has teaming up with the organization personally affected you guys?
Compassion sent Matthew & I to Ecuador when we first started working with them, and we were able to witness first hand the work they are accomplishing. Matthew had never been to a third world country (I had been to India several years ago doing mission work), and you can't come into contact with the poverty these children experience without having it affect you. We don't have children of our own, so I think we've translated our "parenting" instincts into a deep concern for finding sponsors for these children.
9. What other ministries are you involved in outside of music?
Browder Ministries takes up most of our time. We do concerts as well as revivals; Matthew & Tommy preach. I write a monthly devotional for our web site (which is currently under re-construction, hoping to relaunch in the middle of September). David designs our BrowderBrand t-shirts that are available at our concerts. I donated my hair to Locks of Love two summers ago, and I am in the process of growing it out to donate it again! I am hoping to recruit some women to do the same, so be watching our web site for details!
10. Any other additional information you would like to share?
You can find out more info on The Browders by visiting us online at http://www.thebrowders.com . Please come and visit with us at NQC. We'll be singing on Thursday's Featured Artist Showcase in East Hall A-B from 12:00-1:00 p.m. with The Akins, Three Bridges, Tim Lovelace, Torchmen, and Paid In Full!
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Written: 09/01/2010 
Author: AGM
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