We sat by the campfire last night at his home just outside Bracebridge, Ontario. We had just enjoyed dinner with our wives and Peter and I settled into the chairs by the fire to enjoy one more conversation before my wife and I went home the following day. 

It was a perfect August evening. 25C, clear skies, stars out. At times a satellite would move through the sky. We wondered if they took a picture of us!

The conversation that evening was the same as it has been for almost 25 years when our deep friendship began in 2003, one year before we moved to London, Ontario for me to take on a pastor role. That final year that we were in the same city together we met at 7am each Sunday morning before the church service at Second Cup Coffee in Guelph, Ontario. 

How are you doing? How is your marriage? How are your kids doing? What is God teaching you lately? What are you learning about coming alongside others and guiding them in their faith journey? Any new learning about leadership or discipleship?

When we moved to a different city, the connection didn’t stop. They now transitioned to a monthly in-person dinner meeting, in a city between us. Mostly at Montanas because they had paper on the tables with crayons. We could draw out what we were learning and have interactive discussions. It was always lively. This went on for seventeen years.

For the past four years I have lived half of the year outside of Canada – in Lithuania and Kenya – serving with churches. When out of the country, Peter and I still call 2-3 times a week. And Peter has visited me in both countries and we are serving alongside each other in these places as well. As always, in the areas of leadership and discipleship. 

We are now both in our 60s – I’m at the start, he’s past halfway:) Back in 2003 we committed to finishing well and to hold each other accountable for that. We have never lost sight of this commitment. 

People often ask us when we will retire. We don’t know what that means. We are looked at strangely by some. We are okay with that. We are committed to the Kingdom work that God has called us to lean into. 

I mostly work with local churches, Peter mostly comes alongside business owners who have a desire to lead with a Kingdom of God mindset. We see these two roles as complementary, a unique melding together of faith and work.

Neither of us believes that we will accomplish the dreams God has put in us in our lifetimes. We will move things forward as much as we are able to and allow the next generation to continue – we’ve come to call this a “cathedral mindset”; to start something so monumental that you won’t finish it in your lifetime.

Peter is a man I trust my life with. He wants the best for me. I want the best for him.

As we sat at the campfire, we looked at the six empty chairs that were around the firepit. We dreamed – who could we invite to sit in those chairs with us. Who could be part of our fellowship of Kingdom entrepreneurs. 

So we sat, we talked, we dreamed. We came up with more ways to engage with others and expand the Kingdom. Our wives often roll their eyes at us, yet support the chaos we at times bring into their lives.

I could not, would not, do life without Peter. In some ways we are Paul and Barnabas in the Book of Acts. We take turns being each character, although, truth be told, Peter is more like Barnabas the encourager, something I aspire to be more of.

My desire for you, before it is too late, is that you have a Peter in your life. Do not do life alone. Go deep. Be honest. Go far together.

For the Kingdom.