“I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.” - John 15:15 NLT
This idea of God wanting to be my friend has been prevalent since the very beginning of Fellows. In September at our orientation retreat, we were told that we would be rooted in John 15. In October when we had men’s retreat our focus was on John 15 and what it looked like to have intentional and intergenerational male friendships. Even as recently as Ash Wednesday service, Hayes prayed over me that I would know and realize that God is my friend. Then I got to lead roundtable and reflect on our time reading Abba’s Child. This conversation reminded me of the Lord’s intentionality and how I need to draw near to Him!
Recently, I have seen how God shows His friendship to me through my male friendships.
Two of my good friends from college, Michael Allen and Tristan Gentile, had the idea of getting together every other week and just hanging out. This idea comes with a group chat of around ten people and whoever can show up does and it has been so good. Being able to get together with this group to reflect, laugh, and get away from the business and routine that we all get stuck in sometimes.
This past weekend, I got to go up to Boone on Friday and see a lot of my good friends from college and hang out for the night. On my way out of town, I got to stop in and have lunch with my YoungLife area director, August Short. I made my way down to Asheville on Saturday to celebrate my good friend Henry Peterson’s engagement! This night specifically felt like I was back in college hanging out with these guys at the Cabin. Then I got to come back to Raleigh and have guy’s night with the Fellows!
It has been so sweet to be able to reflect on these nights and realize that Jesus is sitting by the fire with us at Michael’s, He is sitting beside us as we share meals all around Boone, He is sitting with us in the hot tub in Asheville, and He is listening to us while we talk at LBC.
Sam Crutchfield said last night, “You can’t make old friends.” I am so glad to be able to say that these friends I have now are going to be my old friends one day. Being reminded that the Lord wants to be my friend helps me realize just how good my friends are and to that I say… THANKS BE TO GOD
-Will Brown
