Have you ever known someone who was happy to help other people? Who didn’t really care about being recognized as much as simply blessing someone else; whose talents were many, but boasting about them was non-existent; who genuinely cared more about others that himself…? I have known such a person.

On the Acknowledgments page of The Bridge from OneDayBow; the first one listed is to Brad Friar. It states:

“Brad, if there was an illustration in the dictionary for the word ‘servant’ your face would be there! Thanks for all you’ve done and continue to do.”

On January 29, 2019, the earthly life of this faithful servant of the Lord came to an end. Note, it is only the earthly life that ended; he is now more alive than we can imagine and in the eternal Presence of His God and Savior Jesus Christ.

To say he ran a good race is an understatement. At his recent Memorial Service, many shared the impact Brad had on their lives by his generous nature, numerous talents, quirky sense of humor, and his selfless service to so many.  

When I met Brad 20+ years ago, the first thing I learned about him was that he loved his wife, Annette, very much. The second thing was his supreme love for his God. And thirdly, that he was a very creative man. All of these came in to play as I worked with he and Annette on The Bridge from OneDayBow.

 It was Brad who came up with the title – which I confess, sounded really strange initially. I even tried to play the title back to him as The Bridge to OneDayBow. But Brad quickly corrected me, saying: The Bridge comes from OneDayBow because no builds a bridge to God on their own; they can only cross the bridge that God made by His Son Jesus Christ. Of course! Then the title made perfect sense. And despite how many times I’ve heard OneDayBow mispronounced, it is just as Brad said!

It always seems too soon to say good-bye to someone you love, but it’s especially difficult when it’s someone who meant so much to so many – and most of all to his wife, Annette. He will be greatly missed, but only until we see him again in Heaven. Meantime, I’m still grateful for all Brad did, but even more grateful to the One who created him to serve.