Many of you have heard these stories from your parents, your close friends, or even folks within our own church. Some of you have witnessed this first-hand when you’ve attended the Great Banquet gatherings fostered within our community. When we, as followers of Jesus, share the story of how God has changed us and saved us we open others to a world of grace, redemption, and purpose. We should never underestimate the sheer power of testimony. He shared his testimony with us and how the presence of God and the cross of Christ had utterly transformed him and given him an almost supernatural sense of joy and purpose. He has a moving Story to Tell and the tens of thousands of us there that night were blessed to hear it. That night at Creation, Nick offered one of the most personal and powerful presentations of the Gospel that I have ever heard. But you wouldn’t know that if you heard him speak about Jesus Christ. From trying to do normal, everyday function without limbs, to the cruel bullies of his youth, to his own struggle with suicidal depression…Nick’s story is one with a significant amount of pain and sadness.
We can only imagine how difficult Nick’s life must have been. He has a rare genetic disorder called tetra-amelia syndrome. He is engaging, funny, and a deeply committed follower of Jesus Christ. He is the son of two Serbian immigrants and was born and raised in Australia. You heard me right: our main speaker was carried out. And that summer in 2012, on a hazy Friday night, with all my high schoolers sitting around me on our tarp, I saw someone carry our main speaker for the session out onto the stage. As a youth worker, I loved it for different reasons. Usually, there were somewhere around 50-60 thousand Christians that gathered in that mountain valley in central PA for a week of camping, music, and ministry. It is the world’s largest Christian music festival and always featured the most popular and exciting Christian bands and some of the most compelling and challenging pastors and speakers. Many of you have likely never heard of Creation. In fact, our own Juliette Kuhn was there with my youth group as a freshman. I was at the Creation Music Festival in central PA with several of the high school students from my church. I had an experience like that in the summer of 2012 when I heard a powerful story from someone who caught me by complete surprise. And that spontaneity only further heightens the thrill we experience when a story comes from an unexpected or underestimated place or person.
Moving stories of inspiration can come at any moment, from any source. It can happen on the steps of a courthouse, a church sanctuary, and even within a friend’s living room. It can come in the form of a speech, a poem, or a song. The world has bared witness to several truly inspiring orators, authors, and teachers who are able to so compellingly weave together a powerful story that we are left awestruck.
Occasionally, we encounter someone who has a really remarkable Story to Tell. There’s something about telling a story that is just as great as hearing a story. And don’t think I don’t know the difference between someone who is smiling in genuine interest and someone who is smiling out of painful obligation. Have you ever known someone who always had a Story to Tell? As in, no matter what the situation or context, they always seem to have an event from their life or conversational contribution to offer? A little personal awareness here, I know I’m guilty of this.