In January, I had the privilege of attending the memorial service for Tony Campolo who passed in November of 2024. I have known Tony since 1997 when I started my undergraduate degree at Eastern University (then Eastern College). I got to take several classes with Tony during my time at Eastern. I heard him speak several times during that time and also got to know him one on one, meeting with him and learning from him as he answered of my many questions.

I have been shaped deeply by the many mentors in my life: youth leaders, camp leaders, professors, pastors, colleagues, authors, and many more. I am who I am today because of Jesus and the people that Jesus put into my life. Who I am as a follower of Jesus, husband, father, pastor, professor, and consultant is due to the great men and women who encouraged me, challenged me and most importantly saw things in me that I often could not see in myself. I constantly find myself reflecting with great thanks for the amazing people that God has put into my life. I have been spoiled by sitting at the feet of many spiritual and leadership giants. 

Tony was one of those giants. 

I have countless powerful, challenging, meaningful, humbling, and funny stories from interactions I had with Tony over the years. I will never forget introducing him to my wife for the first time at a National Youth Workers Convention only for Tony to look at Jessica, look at me, look back at Jessica and then back at me to say, ‘boy, Carlson, you married up.’ I will never forget the time I went to him one night after class to ask him for help finding a church. In college, I struggled to find a church that I could call home, so naturally, I went to Tony to get his input, sharing my hopes and frustrations. He listened carefully, looking down as I spoke. Then, as I finished, he looked up at me, and proclaimed to me, with spit flying in my face, ‘Marcus, if you find the perfect church, don’t go there – you will ruin it!’ 

Anyone who spent any time with or around Tony has countless Tony stories. I am not sure I can even remember all of mine. He was truly larger than life.

What made him larger than life was his love and passion for Jesus. I did not always agree with him theologically, but that was irrelevant. He lived exactly what he taught and preached, and he loved everyone he encountered, even those he disagreed with. Those days seem long gone in American Christianity, especially in the evangelical world, which truly is a tragedy. Tony believed that anything was possible with Jesus and how we lived our faith mattered as much if not more than what we thought or believed about matters of faith. It was not enough (and should never be enough) to just believe in Jesus; we have to think, act, speak, live and love like Jesus too. Tony pushed me to really live out my faith. He really helped me understand and live the gospel more deeply, especially with the poor and oppressed. He gave me a healthy understanding of biblical justice. As one person at his service said, ‘Tony was a great big spoon stirring up our cauldron of apathy.’ He taught me that influence and authority do not spring from power, but from service. He helped me learn that testimonies matter more than titles. Tony not only deepened my understanding of the scripture and the faith, but he also he broadened my mind in so many ways, creating a deep understanding and passion for sociology. I learned far more from him than I could ever recount in writing. 

My college years were probably some of my most, if not the most, formational years of my life. I was formed deeply as a person, Christ follower, and minister of the gospel. Tony was a huge part of that season of formation. I am who I am today in large part because of him. Very few people have challenged me in the way that Tony did, and I am better for it.

For almost 29 years, I have served in ministry in some capacity. Today, I am involved in a variety of ministry efforts, few of which I would have ever pursued without Tony Campolo’s influence. One in particular is the international ministry work that I do. I go to areas around the world where deep poverty prevents pastors and ministry leaders from access to education and training at great risk to my own life at times. I raise money to go into these areas to provide training to pastors and ministry leaders, I would have never even considered leaving the country, let alone doing this work, if it were not for Tony Campolo. 

Through Tony Campolo, Jesus changed my life. Tony changed my ministry. I am who I am in part because of what Tony showed me and taught me. I could not be more thankful. 

Thank you, Tony, thank you. I rejoice in knowing that you are now hearing the well deserved words from Jesus, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ As many have already said, for you, after a long life of Fridays, Sunday has finally come.

See you in glory, my friend. 

Marcus