Makoto Fujimura is an internationally renowned artist, writer, and speaker. He serves as the director of Fuller Theological Seminary’s Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts. Above all, Fujimura is recognized worldwide as a cultural shaper. He is a fascinating person with a deep heart of compassion and one of the most down to earth people I’ve met.

His latest book, Silence and Beauty, is really a memoir focusing on hidden faith born of suffering. Makoto talks much about Shusaku Endo’s novel, Silence, and the impact the reading of Endo’s book had on him while in graduate school in Japan. Eventually Fujimura connected with Martin Scorsese, who was in the process of producing a movie version of Endo’s classic, Silence. As a result of conversations with Scorsese, Fujimura knew it was time to write his own story, Silence and Beauty. Scorsese also engaged Fujimura as a consultant on the upcoming film to release in late December. Fujimura says Scorsese’s film remains true to Endo’s book. While you don’t have to read Silence by Endo before reading Silence and Beauty by Fujimura, it is recommended.

Follow Makoto Fujimura on Twitter @IAMFUJIMURA.

Check out his website here.