There are times when you come across certain people that you know you’ll never forget. Bruce Amason is one of those people. From the start, it was obvious that Bruce and I would be friends. It wasn’t just his sense of humor; it was also his sincere devotion to the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bruce, aka “…the hammer,” is a retired doctor of Chiropractics. His professional practice enabled him to retire early and get involved in a variety of ministries and activities. Whether it was leading Boy Scouts, spearheading the Trail Life endeavor at Denton Bible Church, and more, Dr. Amason would find a way to invest his life in others.
Most recently, his season of investment has been with the GAP ministry at Denton Bible Church. However, most importantly, today, December 18, 2025, is also Bruce’s 70th birthday!
And so, there are three things I want to share as a tribute to Bruce on his 70th birthday: (1) Discipleship, (2) Dependability, and (3) Sense of Humor.
Discipleship
Dr. Amason is a resolute man. He sets his sights on an objective and works diligently to achieve it. Whether it was deciding to pursue a career in Chiropractics while working on the farm in Arkansas or launching Trail Life at Denton Bible, Bruce pursues his goals with focus and decisiveness. When you meet him, you’ll soon hear his greater ambitions: helping others be the best version of themselves. As you look around, you’ll see this in his career: coming alongside young men in the outdoors and, more recently, investing in the gap ministry. This desire is rooted in a deep commitment to discipleship. Bruce finds a way to disciple others. The image above captures his investment in developing gap graduates as up-and-coming gap outdoor cooks.
Lesson: Discipleship is a decision.
Dependability
No matter what you ask Bruce to do, he does it faithfully. He is there on time, the whole time, and with his entire self. He makes commitments and keeps commitments. It does not matter whether the commitment requires him to sleep on the ground, have a challenging (but necessary) conversation with a GAP student, or teach a lesson; Bruce fulfills his duties without fail. The image above captures Bruce helping Year 1 gap students build a fence for a family in need.
Lesson: Dependability drives trust.
Sense of Humor
Hang around Bruce for 10 minutes, and you’ll be laughing at a joke, a story, or some incidental comment. He brings joy into any room. He dispels airs of pretension with clever comments and accurate observations. He cuts through heaviness with a sense of appropriate joviality. We have walked through many ministry challenges, discipling the next generation together, and each one with Bruce was surrounded by someone who could laugh at himself. The image above captures Bruce, sporting his Hawaiian shirt, having inspired other GAP students to do the same.
Lesson: A Sense of Humor builds relationships.
Happy 70th birthday, Dr. Amason! God bless you… And may that include many more years of expanding His kingdom on earth.
Your friend,
Drew