8 Lessons from a Friend Whose Life (and Death) Preached Christ by SPENCER HARMON for The Gospel Coalition
Every Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m., nine college guys, ranging from 18 to 25 years old, would amble into an urban Louisville garage. We called ourselves the “band of brothers.”
These meetings started several months earlier when we were crammed into a 15-passenger van on a church trip. We began confessing how we wish we could know more “man skills”: how to change the oil in our car, fix spark plugs, replace a light socket, start a fire without matches, and tie a Windsor Knot.
We were thrilled when the man driving the car quietly said, “I can teach you how to do all of that.”
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We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
That man was John Powell.
We all admired John. He was a confident leader and a biblical thinker. He was kind, gentle, and convictional. He loved his family. He treated us like we were men. He challenged us to be men. So, we committed. John made a syllabus and emailed it to us. He expected us to be there. We were thrilled this was really going to happen. So, week after week—on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.—we’d show up to that garage, and John would teach us something new.
I’ll confess (and I know John would be disappointed): I don’t remember how to change a socket, and I don’t change my own oil. Those lessons didn’t quite stick. But some lessons did. Lessons that matter so much more.
John died suddenly and tragically last Sunday while trying to help a stranded motorist, leaving behind a wife and four children. His impact went far beyond his own immediate circle.
I reached out to several among those “band of brothers,” and we reflected on John’s example, his words, and his life. Patterns emerged. Principles appeared. John was an imperfect man—he would be the first to tell you. But in those formative years, he embodied a Christlike brand of manhood that won our admiration.
Here are a few lessons he taught us.
1. Lovingly Pursue Your Wife
John loved his wife, Katherine. He told us the story of him leaving Thanksgiving dinner at a professor’s house to drive to Missouri to propose to her. Scripture calls men to “nourish and cherish” their wives (Eph. 5:29), John cherished his wife in front of us. John showed us the way to love your wife is to pursue her.
