Pastor Dave Bruskas’ son died shortly after being born. That inexpressible loss prompted him to invest in the men around him as a spiritual father. One of the men he served was Treyvon Davis. When they met, Treyvon had no idea Pastor Dave would become an integral part of his life, making a difference across generations.
In the fall of 2001, Treyvon Davis attended a Campus Crusade retreat. There, he met a pastor named Dave Bruskas.
“He was the guest speaker,” explained Treyvon. “He and I, as two introverts, eventually ended up separating from the crowd briefly and engaging in conversation. Who would’ve thought he and I would maintain a friendship? He was a reputable teacher and an incredibly hard worker. I just never thought a college kid from out of nowhere could become an important part of his life.”
It wasn’t long, however, before Pastor Dave became a close friend, mentor, and a sort of spiritual father to Treyvon, then a student at the University of New Mexico.
“I remember even buying him a Father’s Day card one year as a ‘father in Christ’ because he was so important in my personal development,” said Treyvon. “I started an on-campus ministry and was so in need of guidance to keep it grounded in truth.”
Pastor Dave gladly lent Treyvon his reference books for months at a time to help him prepare Bible studies. He also lent Treyvon an ear, welcoming tough questions and conversation anytime.
As their relationship grew, Treyvon found that Pastor Dave put a lot of importance on unity.
“He does not argue with aspects of Scripture that have been points of debate for hundreds of years. He expects viewpoints to be backed by Scripture, though. I remember whenever I’d ask him about certain debatable topics, he’d always back his viewpoint with Scripture and then ask, ‘What do you think?’ He always could maintain open dialogue and I appreciated that.”
When Treyvon started thinking about the possibility of marrying his then girlfriend, Pastor Dave was there to help talk him through that big decision.
“Dave was an excellent model for male leadership and I asked him questions all the time about how he and his wife, Kara, pursued a dating/marriage relationship.”
In the end, Treyvon chose to take the plunge. Pastor Dave did their counseling and helped them get through some challenges prior to their big day.
“He took care to teach me the intricacies of male leadership in the home, leading with truth and love,” said Treyvon. “When we finally got to stand before Dave and recite our vows, it was one of the happiest times of my life.”
Life has gone on and changed, but Pastor Dave’s influence on Treyvon has stretched into an ongoing legacy.
“We have two boys that are becoming young men so fast,” said Treyvon. “The importance of being a leader by example never goes away.”
Pastor Dave’s first book, Dear Son, is a collection of letters to men, expressing what Dave dreamed of sharing with his own son. This book is available now in stores and online.
