Some weeks back our team of seven decided to write biographical blogs about each other.
So it’s my honor to share a little bit about my friend Brady MacIver. Here are five of his most admirable qualities:
B—Bright. Brady has a strong mind, a sound memory, and keen insight into the Scriptures. Everyone on our team is blessed by his ideas and his wisdom. I was overjoyed that we ended up on the same team because we enjoy having theology talks that stretch into the most absurd hours of the evening!
R—Redeemed. The Lord Jesus Christ has powerfully redeemed Brady so that he knows that he is loved and forgiven by God. But Christ has also won mighty victories in Brady’s Christian life. Brady was deeply depressed for the better part of five years. At times the darkness was so suffocating that he could hardly get out of bed. But then he attended a prayer conference and began rebuking his depressing thoughts in Jesus’ name. Gradually the darkness lifted, and ever since then he has been walking in the joy of the Father. Brady’s eyes are the windows of his soul. Every time I look into them I can tell that his soul is deeply at rest in the arms of the Savior.
A—Athletic. Brady is 6’4” (maybe 6’5” on a good day 🙂 and is a pretty buff guy. (This can make ministry difficult at times: see picture below!) He excelled in college football as a defensive tackle, earning all-conference and all-region honors. I am told that in his hay day he bench-pressed over four hundred pounds and could eat half as much. (Well, maybe not that much—but he is quite fond of the “pork buns” that the Cambodian street vendors sell!) On our off-day yesterday we went on a little excursion to the only basketball court in all of Siem Reap. When we first arrived I noticed that most of the guys there were a bit, shall we say, longitudionally challenged! (I mean short.) Brady was pulling down rebound after uncontested rebound, and, needless to say, everyone was more than a little impressed when he almost had a put-back dunk! He was playing like Shaquille O’Neal. (Oh, and by the way: we Americans still got spanked! The Cambodians were shooting the lights out!)
D—Dignity. A few evenings ago, as I glanced over at Brady and saw him worshiping, it seemed as though the Holy Spirit was saying to me, “Here is a man of dignity.” That word “dignity,” I think, encapsulates what Brady is all about. He treats others with love and respect. He walks before God uprightly, with purity and integrity. He makes it his goal to treat his dear wife, Marin (with whom he is picture above) with the love of Jesus. He is a good man by the grace of God.
Y—Yielded. Brady yields himself constantly to the power and leading of the Holy Spirit. He is a man of worship and of prayer.
After Brady and his wife Marin shared their testimonies this past week, I felt confident that the sovereign Lord had a breathtaking plan for their lives. He has tested them fiercely, and yet by His enabling grace their faith has only been fortified through the fire.
I love you, Brady, and I cannot wait to see how the Lord will use you this year and beyond!
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This first week of ministry in Cambodia has been phenomenal. I confess I am a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of trying to capture glimpses of it through blogs. There is so much I would like to say about the local ministry couple alongside of whom we are laboring, about the relationships I have formed, about the precious believers here, and especially about Khmer culture. Forgive me if in ensuing blogs I write too little or too much! I love you all!
