25
When I was in early college in Colorado Springs there was a ministry called theMill. It was full of 20-somethings, desiring God & community. This is where I gave my life to Jesus after a service late on a Friday night.
There were HUNDREDS of students there week to week. After service they would go to dinner & through the week they would adventure together. Yet with all the community there I remained in a relational grey area; I was always available but always isolated, closed off. After a time I felt I really didn't know anyone. I could tell you the names of many but couldn't tell you about their story, their passions or anything that would speak to a deep or lasting friendship. I wanted real friendship & to walk with brothers through the seasons of life. So I went up to a friend of mine, Carl, & asked him if I could join his men's group. I was scared of being rejected, of being told it was full or any other number of things that grew from the heart of insecurity but he responded with a resounding,
"Of course!"
So I went to my first men's group, first Bible study the very next week. I knew nothing of the Bible other than a select few passages I had read & reread that gave me hope in some of the darkest times of life. I was overwhelmed by the conversation that happened in these studies but even more in the friendships that ensued. Many of the guys had been in studies before, knew the Bible more than most men far beyond their age. But some men were just starting on this road to Jesus &, there, is where I met one of my best friends, Donny. Little did I know at the time he would be an incredible blessing in my life.
Donny & I both desired God, were very zealous & knew little scripture. We would run into one another on campus, at the gym & with incredible desire & little understanding discuss life & God. We were relatively wild & desiring ministry. Thankfully The Lord kept us alive & our ministry incredibly small. We both graduated, moved to Denver & reconnected. We would still meet with friends at coffee shops, talk scripture, pray & grow. We lived together for a year & a half. We jumped in the car & drove from Colorado to Vancouver Island. We have seen each other fall short & lead with passion.
Donny turned 25 on May the 30th, just a few days ago. He didn't ask for a party but all the women & men that love him so much through a party for him; to celebrate the young man that is pouring into their lives & leading a missions trip to Haiti for them this summer with wisdom & understanding. He spends hour upon hour helping us, preparing for this trip & in ministries around Denver. He is loved. Loved so much, in fact, that for his party we all did our best to dress just like him.
All my words fall short when I want to say what a good man Donny is becoming in Jesus. He is one of my best friends & though he would never ask for any recognition, I felt he deserved a little.
There were HUNDREDS of students there week to week. After service they would go to dinner & through the week they would adventure together. Yet with all the community there I remained in a relational grey area; I was always available but always isolated, closed off. After a time I felt I really didn't know anyone. I could tell you the names of many but couldn't tell you about their story, their passions or anything that would speak to a deep or lasting friendship. I wanted real friendship & to walk with brothers through the seasons of life. So I went up to a friend of mine, Carl, & asked him if I could join his men's group. I was scared of being rejected, of being told it was full or any other number of things that grew from the heart of insecurity but he responded with a resounding,
"Of course!"
So I went to my first men's group, first Bible study the very next week. I knew nothing of the Bible other than a select few passages I had read & reread that gave me hope in some of the darkest times of life. I was overwhelmed by the conversation that happened in these studies but even more in the friendships that ensued. Many of the guys had been in studies before, knew the Bible more than most men far beyond their age. But some men were just starting on this road to Jesus &, there, is where I met one of my best friends, Donny. Little did I know at the time he would be an incredible blessing in my life.
Donny & I both desired God, were very zealous & knew little scripture. We would run into one another on campus, at the gym & with incredible desire & little understanding discuss life & God. We were relatively wild & desiring ministry. Thankfully The Lord kept us alive & our ministry incredibly small. We both graduated, moved to Denver & reconnected. We would still meet with friends at coffee shops, talk scripture, pray & grow. We lived together for a year & a half. We jumped in the car & drove from Colorado to Vancouver Island. We have seen each other fall short & lead with passion.
Donny turned 25 on May the 30th, just a few days ago. He didn't ask for a party but all the women & men that love him so much through a party for him; to celebrate the young man that is pouring into their lives & leading a missions trip to Haiti for them this summer with wisdom & understanding. He spends hour upon hour helping us, preparing for this trip & in ministries around Denver. He is loved. Loved so much, in fact, that for his party we all did our best to dress just like him.
All my words fall short when I want to say what a good man Donny is becoming in Jesus. He is one of my best friends & though he would never ask for any recognition, I felt he deserved a little.
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