Building Fortress Friendships for Perilous Times—Earl Glisson on Covenant Loyalty

Pastor Earl Glisson of Anchor Faith Church in St. Augustine, Florida joins Philip Cameron to unpack the life-changing message behind his new book, Fortress Friend — a deep dive into what it truly means to build covenant-level relationships in an age of social-media superficiality. Glisson argues that most people today have acquaintances masquerading as friends: "Their relationships with others is pretty surface," he observes, noting that even church community has thinned as digital convenience replaces personal presence. Drawing on the David and Jonathan narrative and Proverbs 18:24 — "there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother" — Glisson traces how genuine fortress friendships are defined not by good times but by sacrificial loyalty. He highlights how David's covenant with Jonathan extended beyond Jonathan's death, protecting Jonathan's son Mephibosheth even when political pressure demanded otherwise. That multigenerational faithfulness, Glisson contends, is the true test of a fortress friend. The conversation turns practical for pastors and ministry leaders navigating succession, with Glisson drawing on his own experience at Rhema Bible Training College and the Hagin family's four-generation legacy. Fortress Friend is available now at anchorfaith.com. If you long for relationships that hold when storms hit, this episode is essential listening.