what would Len say or do?

15 For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I fathered you through the gospel. 16 I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me. (1 Corinthians 4.15-16)

I have had 2 "gospel fathers." Last Tuesday, while driving from San Diego to Los Angeles, I learned that one had died. I knew Len was sick: he was diagnosed, almost 5 weeks ago to the day, with stage 4 brain cancer, but doctors assured us there was plenty of time to plan a visit after Christmas. Alas, mortality has a way of disrupting our planning...

So what did this gospel father impart to me that I endeavor to imitate?

First, Len took a risk on the unqualified. When we first met, it was for a job interview at Mount Hermon Association. The position required us to create a "church community" for the 220 staff they hired for 3 months each summer. Carol and I had applied for this position, but I fell short of all the required benchmarks. I was too young, I did not have enough of the desired education, and I had no previous Christian camp/conference center experience. It was a high-profile role with little margin to fail. My failures would reflect poorly on him, but he took a risk. My youth did not deter him; my lack of education did not disqualify me, and my inexperience did not exclude me from his consideration.

Second, Len taught me sacred disciplines. Hospitality, generosity, incarnational engagement, prayer, sabbath, reflective bible reading, and reading as a spiritual discipline. Each of these he would develop in me. How? Simply living in an organic manner that displayed, without arrogance or pretense, the tangible benefit these brought to his soul. If this was true for him, it could be true for me.

Third, Len taught me how to teach the Word of God. He taught me the value of expository Bible teaching/preaching. I learned, through him, that Jesus pastors His people through the expositional preaching of the Scriptures. Expositional preaching will be the gateway to the transformation people long and yearn for. It was never about the authority of Scripture in its own right. It was always about the authority of Scripture-- and the power that authority possessed-- to change and transform lives. We can improve our preaching delivery, but the power remains in the Word preached, not in the person preaching.

Fourth, Len invested in me. He spent time in conversation, invited me to join him in meetings I had no business being in, took me places, and suggested Scripture and books, which we would discuss together. He was artful with his capacity to guide, discipline, course-correct, and encourage without being heavy-handed or condescending. Once, when he observed how out-of-balance and out-of-shape my life and body were, he said to me:

"Mark, everyone wants you to be healthy and live a long life. Carol wants you to be healthy, your children want you to be healthy, the congregation you lead wants you to be healthy, and your team wants you to be healthy. Everyone around you wants you to be healthy. But no one around you wants you to be healthy if it takes away from their time!

I have returned to that observation/admonition many times since he first said that to me in my late 30s.

Fifth, Len modeled a healthy relational work environment for me. It is possible to have a genuine friendship without compromising positional authority, vocational responsibility, or employment accountability. In my second year working under him, he called me into his office. He acknowledged, "Mark, I recognize that we are developing a meaningful friendship, but this friendship cannot be healthy or continue if it compromises my responsibilities as your supervisor or your accountability for your responsibilities as an employee who reports to me. You must be willing to take your lumps and own your decisions; otherwise, we cannot continue." A healthier admonition has never been spoken!

In fact, a few weeks later, the Executive Director asked me to come to his office. As I walked by Len's office, he got up from his chair, winked at me and said, "It's time to take your lumps." ... did I ever!

Finally, Len embraced me with a soul-filling friendship. I learned from him that friendship requires tenacity, time, grace, depth, patience, and remembrance. Friendship does not need to diminish the joy that arises from the many acquaintances we are gifted with... However, most acquaintances are sustained solely by affinity involving some combination of geography, vocation, hobby, and humor. Friendship involves all of these, yet it will ultimately rely on none of these because friendship will, in time, rely on nothing more than love. Once this is recognized, this is the genesis of a life-long friendship.

I don't think Len ever purposed to be a "gospel father, " I don't think anyone does... However, I think I realized Len was a "gospel father" and I, his "gospel son," when I found myself asking, "What would Len do or say?"

He is gone now, but, by the gift and grace of God, I will gratefully still get to ask that question until the day I am where he is...