At Crown College’s 2025 Homecoming event, many Alumni had the opportunity to bring their children to an author event featuring Breanna Kugel (2015) and her children’s book “The King is on the Way.” The illustrations feature handmade paper-cut artwork, and the stories highlight Biblical characters used by God for extraordinary purposes.
Kugel stated that her goal for the book is Gospel access, particularly for children, and explaining the “why” behind Jesus’ coming. The event included snacks, an interactive reading, a showcase of the original artwork, and a craft in which the children could replicate the paper-cut style of the book.
About the Author
Although she wrote the story, spent six months illustrating the pages, went through the publishing process, and was featured in several author events, Kugel humbly says, “I don’t really feel like an author; God just told me to do it, so I did it.” The journey with her book began about a year ago, when God brought her life back to the narrow path.
Kugel explained that for various reasons in the last decade, she had been in a distracted state, and once God woke her up, she realized that she wasn’t where she had been called to be. “In the last year, God has done a lot of stripping away of things in my life that I thought mattered, that didn’t matter,” Kugel said. God’s calling to write her book came during the start of this season. Though she was worried that it may be too difficult, Kugel was faithfully obedient to the Lord’s direction.
In addition to being an author, Kugel is also a wife and mother to a 7-year-old daughter, a nanny, and a committed rugby player who lives in Omaha, Nebraska. She fulfills different roles of ministry in every area of her life, with the consistent theme being the Gospel. She embraces the intentionality of taking time to listen to the voice of the Lord:
“God is reminding me of His presence in this season of my life. That daily presence – being in the presence of God – is how we were created to be, how we were meant to live,” Kugel shared. “You cannot reach the lost in your own strength. You cannot be an effective person in the life of someone who doesn’t know Christ if you have not been in the presence of God. That’s the only way that the Gospel packs a punch.”
Crown Background
Kugel graduated from Crown College in 2015 with a degree in Youth and Social Ministry. She recalls the summer before her arrival as a time she became truly intentional about following Christ. Kugel said she had no doubt that God placed her at the college, “Crown was where I needed to be.”
Creating meaningful relationships happened during her Crown experience. Kugel met her husband, was discipled by professors and staff, and became a part of a sisterhood in Miller Hall. This circle of women met in various places and then became roommates, with Kugel as their Resident Assistant (RA). Kugel describes the sisterhood as “A godly group of women that I got involved with … very good friends … they have definitely shaped who I have become as a person.”
This close-knit circle stays connected through a continuous group chat they’ve shared for the past 13 years, and they have been in each other’s weddings. Kugel is collaborating with another children’s author from this group, serving as the illustrator for an upcoming book.
Other impactful moments that Kugel highlighted over her time at Crown were a REACH tour to Southeast Asia, choir trips to Europe, and an internship in Chile. During her internship at a halfway house called the House of Hope, Kugel took on a mentorship role and learned to speak Spanish. She was also a paraprofessional during this time, teaching third-grade students. This internship prepared her for a position she later held at the Department of Immigration in Minneapolis. Kugel said her Crown education was also valuable for a role she had post-graduation – doing family support work for Child Protective Services – which she said was an environment where being a Christian was a necessary strength.
Reflection on Crown Environment
Kugel considers that engaging with Scripture in a community setting is essential. “That’s kind of the crux of discipleship,” she says, “It’s wrestling with the text in the [safe environment of the] community.” She credits her professors with encouraging curiosity and peer discussions, which would challenge her perspective. Today, this still leads her to often ask the question, “Why?”
Alongside the roles she’s had in the past decade, Kugel says she has also grown and developed in her spiritual life. She gives the glory to God, saying, “He’s always been working, even if I don’t see it.”
Her recent reflection of Crown positively acknowledges the boldly Christian commitment, which provides a spiritually focused and uplifting environment. Kugel’s advice to students is to find core people who want to pursue Christ and be discipled together. “Who you surround yourself with is the most impactful thing you will do at Crown,” she said. “They will be your lifelong friends.”
