"I am through with your church, and I am through with you."

The words pierced me like a knife. After more than a decade, it came to this.

Eleven years earlier Billy (not his real name) began attending a men's small group I started. A man's man, he enjoyed riding horses and driving four-wheelers. He arrived on his blue Harley Davidson early each Thursday morning for breakfast, Bible study, and fellowship. Though not a believer initially, Billy soon saw his need for Jesus Christ. He received the Lord and was baptized.

A promising start

Billy became more and more hungry for spiritual things, and I enjoyed helping him grow. We met for lunch regularly. For two to three years I invested in him heavily. Because he drove trucks for a living, during his weeks on the road we talked on the phone frequently. Over many calls and Mexican lunches, we discussed Bible reading, obedience, and what it means to be a godly man. He witnessed to people he met in truck stops across the Southeast. As he grew, he decided ...