John Badami:  My Brother, My Friend

By Mark Crawley

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

I can't remember the first time that I met John Badami. I do remember thinking that it would be fun to hang out with this guy I had heard so much about. I played baseball at a pretty high level and I remember someone telling me that I should meet John because he was a world-class athlete. He played volleyball on a Junior Olympic team and had received a full scholarship to Ball State University as a setter. Hearing this about John did not surprise me. From what I immediately knew about John he was a natural leader and an intense competitor. He played to win but more importantly, he prepared to win. John was not afraid of hard work. When it came to competition, John knew what he had to do to win and he made sure that those around him knew what to do. It was this same drive that made him a great coach of young people. John had a charisma that made you believe that you could succeed regardless of the odds if you did things the right way. John went all out, all of the time.

John's conviction about giving his best was never more evident than when he decided to forgo his last two years of his college scholarship to concentrate on having a greater impact for God in the campus ministry. From the time he became a Christian until he passed last week, John aggressively pursued his Christian walk as intensely as he would have attacked a weak block at the net. John was not afraid of anyone. When John became a disciple and made Jesus the Lord of his life, he felt that everyone else not only had to know, but that he needed to be the one to tell them. Sometimes John was eloquent and profound and at other times he was as smooth as a brick going through your windshield. Either way, there was no mistaking what John was trying to convey: God is in control and you need to be right with God...period.  John was as committed as one can be in his devotion to the Lord. He truly had a "go anywhere, do anything" heart for God. It was this spirit that brought him back to the Chicago Church. I'm glad he came back home.

John was my brother and, quite simply, my best friend. It is a rare gift in life to have a friend that sticks closer than a brother; a friend that you truly feel is a part of who you are. John was a part of my family. Our lives intertwined. He is a part of my heart. John and I shared passions about many things. Some of these things people would understand and others, well...I won't even try to explain. John's incredible passion for God inspired me. His love for Lori and his girls encouraged me. His appetite for food scared me...for such a thin guy, John loved to eat. Our love for sports had me in trouble with my wife on more than one occasion (love u sweetie). Our friendship was the envy of others who wanted to get what we had so that they could laugh like we laughed. John helped me, and I helped him find a way to laugh in the face of adversity and, especially as of late, we cried together too. We shared so many awesome moments together. I am sad that I can't express them all here but I cherish each one in my heart. One thing that I can share and will always hold near and dear to my heart is that I know my friend loved me and I know that he knew I loved him.  He was the big brother that I never had.

It is still hard for me to wrap my arms around the fact that I won't see my friend John Badami here anymore. My heart aches at this loss. I miss him and I know I will miss him every day. I know he will be deeply missed by many especially his loving wife Lori and his two precious daughters. I know that God never makes mistakes, so I accept the pain of John's death in the same faith as I receive each blessing that God gives to me. I know that John has finished the race and received his reward. This has inspired me and provided me with a deep comfort through it all.

Thank you God for allowing me the time that you did with John Badami; my brother, my friend. I am a better man because of it. To God be the Glory.