How Strong Friendships Strengthen Our Faith

Joel, Steve, Powell, Me, JT (aka Hairy Feet, Captain Unicorn, Bearded Wonder, Clown Lips, and Chuckles)

What a great weekend! I don’t know about how yours went, but I had a wonderful time. I went down to Camp Piankatank, where I served for two summers as a counselor and program staff member.

Four of my buddies—guys I worked with at camp—joined me. We hadn’t ALL been together since 2007.

One of them, Powell, organized the whole event. He reached out, pushed us to make time, and got us all together to hang out. And it was great!

There was no agenda. No plan. We just ate together, talked around the table, stayed up late reminiscing, walked around camp, and hung out on the dock while Powell fished.

I can’t remember the last time I had such a simple, relaxing time with friends like that.

It was rewarding to catch up on life, to share stories of ministry, family, and everything in between with people who knew me before most of it happened. When we first met, we were anywhere from 17 to 24 years old. Now we’re 35 to 42 (or something like that).

A lot has changed—kids, marriages, divorces, new ministry roles, stepping away from ministry, starting CrossFit, and even a heart attack. We’ve lost family members. But the moment we rolled up together, we clicked. We always did.

This wasn’t just a “picking up where we left off” kind of thing. The truth is, some of us are very different people than we were back then. But there’s a bond, a love, and a connection that time can’t break.

We laughed. We joked. We even had moments of deep vulnerability and tears. It is good for Christians to have this kind of community—especially men.

It’s so important to have friends you can go absolutely bananas with, but who also know your deepest, darkest secrets—and still love you.

Proverbs 18:24 says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

What an incredible gift to have reliable friends. Friends who lift your spirit. Friends who laugh with you. Friends who share wonderful memories. Friends who don’t look at you funny for being yourself.

God designed us for community—with Him and with one another.

The challenge is finding the right community.

I’ve been blessed to always find a close-knit group of friends, no matter where life has taken me. Many people have great relationships with their families, but there’s something uniquely special about a friend.

I also find it telling that Scripture says, “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

In my opinion, this could be a reference to Jesus (even in Proverbs), or it could simply mean that sometimes friends are closer than family.

What a powerful reminder. While family is a blessing, it’s equally incredible to have people who have no obligation to love you—but do. People of God who encourage you, laugh with you, and point you back to the love of Jesus.

I’m blessed to call Steve, Powell, Joel, and JT my friends.

I pray that this week, you’ll take time to connect with your friends. Call them. Text them. Go have lunch. No more excuses. No more “one day.” Today is the day.

Anyway, I was just thinking…