Meet the BUG Boys: Zeke, Josiah, and David
When I started writing about three friends on a small-town adventure, I knew their names mattered. I wasn’t trying to recreate Bible kings, but I did want to borrow their backbone. So Zeke is short for Hezekiah, Josiah is—well, Josiah, and David is David. Not because these boys are perfect champions of faith, but because I hoped their names would tug them forward. Kids don’t wake up courageous or wise. They grow into it. That’s the kind of story I wanted to tell.
I also wanted them to feel like real kids you could meet at church or on your street. They laugh too loud sometimes. They get things wrong. They’re brave in one moment and unsure in the next. They care about each other, even when they don’t know how to say it. Their names nod to history, but their lives are firmly planted in the small, ordinary places where faith actually grows.
So, meet the boys. Not as heroes on a pedestal, but as friends you’ll recognize:
Zeke (short for Hezekiah)
King Hezekiah was remembered for his courage and prayerfulness. He faced overwhelming odds and chose to lean on God when others might have given up. My Zeke doesn’t part seas or defy armies, but he carries that same thread of quiet determination.
Zeke uses a wheelchair, and while that shapes his world, it doesn’t define his character. He’s thoughtful, steady, and observant—the kind of kid who notices details the others miss. He doesn’t always share what’s going on inside, but when he speaks, his words matter. Writing him reminded me that courage isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s simply refusing to quit, even when the hill feels steep.
Josiah
The biblical Josiah became king at only eight years old, remembered for rediscovering God’s law and bringing people back to truth. He was young, but his heart was tender. My Josiah doesn’t rule a nation, but he does wrestle with what faith means when it feels like everyone else already has it figured out.
He’s sharp—sometimes even sarcastic—but never cruel. His words can cut through with a quick wit, especially when he’s feeling insecure. Underneath it, though, he longs for something real. Writing Josiah reminded me of every kid who’s tired of being measured against an older sibling or expected to just “believe” without questions. His story is less about having easy answers and more about learning that God can handle his doubts and still meet him personally.
David
King David’s story is full of contrasts—shepherd boy, giant slayer, poet, flawed but deeply devoted. My David doesn’t carry a slingshot, but he does know how to make a room erupt with laughter. He’s the loud one, the goofy one, the kid always ready with a joke.
But the humor hides something deeper: a loneliness he doesn’t talk about. He wants to belong, and sometimes the laughter is his way of making sure he isn’t forgotten. Writing David reminded me that joy and pain often sit close together. His loyalty runs deep, and while his jokes may fill the silence, his heart is what anchors him to his friends.
Why these three?
Because together, they reflect something bigger than themselves. Their names carry echoes of the three kings who pointed people back to God in their own ways. But these boys aren’t polished leaders. They’re kids—learning, stumbling, getting back up. That’s what I love about them. They show that faith and friendship can grow strong roots in the middle of ordinary adventures.
And that’s really what BUG stands for: Brothers Under God. Not just three characters in a story, but a reminder that brotherhood—real, honest friendship shaped by faith—is something kids need now more than ever.
And one more…
I’ve introduced you to Zeke, Josiah, and David, but there’s another boy you’ll meet in the story—Axton. Unlike the others, he isn’t named after a king or connected to the Old Testament. He’s completely fictional, created to bring challenge and surprise into the boys’ journey. Axton doesn’t carry a biblical legacy, but he does carry something else: the questions, rough edges, and struggles that make him feel just as real as the others.
I’ll share more about him in a future post. For now, I wanted you to meet the three boys whose names carry echoes of history—and whose story, I hope, points kids toward faith, friendship, and adventure.
