College roomates and gospel partners

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV).

I got a call from my old college roomate, Mark Brantley, this week. He was back in the States after several years working in Russia and the Ukraine for our Father.

“Hey Gary!” He said, as I opened my cell phone to the unknown number on my caller ID.

“Mark!” I replied, immediately recognizing his voice. We were roomates our sophomore year at Radford University. Even though over 30 years had passed, I still knew that Southhampton County, Virginia accent of his.

“I want to come spend the night with you and Robin and catch up.” He continued.

“Come on down. We’d love to see you.” I replied. “As long as you don’t mind going to my small group that night.”

“Great. I’d love to go to your group.” He answered.

This wasn’t the first time I’d asked him to go somewhere with me. In fact, when he came to our small group on Wednesday night, I asked him to give his testimony. He told us how I’d asked him to go to a Campus Crusade meeting one night during our Sophomore year. He agreed on the condition that I’d go to a coffee house with him later (Mark wasn’t a believer yet and he and I were negotiating… you know… I’ll go to your boring Christian thing if you’ll go to my fun party thing.).

Mark went on to share with our group how he came to Christ that night. Mark told us how God had saved him. He told us many powerful things about his journey. And finally, how God had called him to reach out to the people of Ukraine and Russia.

As Mark talked, tears began to form in my eyes and my throat choked up. I was moved. I sat there in that living room listening to what God had done in my brother’s life and thanking God for the privilege of allowing us to cross paths as boys and now again as men.

I thank God for Mark. I praise God with joy because of the partnership He has given us through Christ.  You can’t imagine how sweet this partnership is… unless you’ve experienced it.