This week one of the men I have most admired in my journey died at the way too young age of 57. His passing was sudden, shocking, and completely unexpected. Brad Johnson was one of those people who made you smile every time you saw him, talked to him, heard from him, or even thought of him. I met him when he was a Student Life Pastor in Garland, Texas. I used to call him the Golden Retriever of Pastors because he greeted everyone with enthusiasm, joy, and that signature smile of his.

We became friends at a much deeper level when he joined us as a staff member at Waterbrook Bible Fellowship. It was a church plant that Joni and I helped initiate. I got to see the character of Brad Johnson on a much deeper level because church plants are hard. Brad was a consistent confidant and encourager through some challenging times. Most of all he was one of the most selfless servants I have ever known. When portable church needed to be set up Brad was the first one there and the last to leave. Someone needed to move? Brad brought his considerable strength to help out.

During the most difficult season of that church plant Joni was diagnosed with breast cancer. We were stressed, scared, and emotionally exhausted. We wondered if we could continue with this church plant.

Very early one morning Joni and I arrived at the hospital for her first chemotherapy treatment. It was a surreal moment of uncertainty and wondering what the road ahead would be like. Suddenly this bear of a man walked in and gave us the kind of hug that only Brad Johnson could give. His presence was calming and he told us he really wanted to pray with us. It was a defining moment in our journey of reorienting our emotions away from fear and back to trust in God. Brad’s commitment to us in a frustrating season made us determine to commit to him and this church project. The praise report is that fifteen years later both Joni and the church are thriving.

When you read the social media memories of Brad you will find that there are literally hundreds of servant heart moments like that. Brad Johnson did not have a high profile ministry career in the pulpit or media. His ministry mirrored his role as an offensive lineman at the University of Nebraska. He was an important contributor but not a star. Offensive lineman learn early in their careers that their efforts are the primary reason that quarterbacks and running backs make headlines. But the backs get the glory while the linemen get dirtied and banged up. Offensive linemen are great teammates who don’t care about themselves. It is about the team being successful and moving toward the goal. That was Brad. He was always the one willing to do the work no one else wanted to do.

Brad left our church plant to take a senior pastor role in his home state of Nebraska. I remember how sad I felt the day that he and Deb left. We had been on a journey together discovering the impact of identity and grace in our journeys with Jesus. It was game changing stuff for both of us.

When that pastoral role in Nebraska didn’t work out Brad was faced with a dilemma. Should he uproot his family again to find a church job somewhere? I remember laughing and crying on the phone with Brad as he agonized over what to do. You will not be surprised to hear that he took the selfless role of putting his career on pause to get a job at a local ethanol production facility. He worked long and inconvenient hours at a job that many men would have deemed beneath their calling. Not Brad. His priority was his God and his family and he kept those two as his North star. I remember him sharing stories of talking to the men at the plant about Jesus. We laughed at the irony of his new role. He had often visited my television production work environment and had seen it could sometimes be a bit rough. We laughed that we now shared another connection of work in the real world. But his heart for Jesus never changed whether it was in a pulpit or doing a late shift at an ethanol plant. God can use a willing and serving heart no matter where you find yourself. Not in your dream role? If you are a follower of Jesus there is ministry all around you and maybe you are there for exactly that reason. That was Brad’s heart.

It gives me great joy that the leadership at Hillcrest Evangelical Free Church in Seward, Nebraska recognized the gifts that Brad brought to the table. They hired him to lead their small group, community connection, and counseling outreaches. He found his niche using his considerable relational skills in that setting. It seems only fitting that this servant of Jesus was counseling when he suffered a seizure and apparent stroke that ended his life. He served until his final breath.

I think we will be surprised when we get to Heaven. The famous and noted religious leaders may have gotten their due here on this planet. I think we will find out it was humble and selfless servants like Brad Johnson that God used to make His Kingdom grow the most. I think this passage epitomizes Brad’s ministry.

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. (Philippians 2:3-4, NET)

Some will say “I am sorry you lost your friend.” My response is one of hope and joy. “I didn’t lose Brad. I know exactly where he is.” And I know we will be together again.

I look forward to one of those Brad hugs again someday. Maybe my glorified body won’t be so puny compared to his. And I pray that Brad Johnson’s blueprint to have an eternal impact will inspire others. It is not complicated.

Follow Jesus faithfully. Be loving. Be kind. Be present. Be a giver of grace. Be a light in the darkness. Then trust God for the results.