"Ring The Bell" - The Story of Nick Myer's Spiritual Journey

This past Saturday we held a memorial service for one of our students, Nick Myer, who passed away the week before. During that service I shared Nick's faith in Jesus and have been asked by many to post that story, so here it is:

“Ring the Bell” – The Story of Nick’s Spiritual Journey

I remember the first time Nick came to Legacy. It was about two years ago. He was invited by one of our students Kira. I went to meet him and he said, “Hi I’m Nick, I’m an atheist.” Smiling back at him I said, “Hi I’m Mr Bill, I’m just glad you came! What school do you go to?” But that was Nick, always establishing himself, and a great guy to talk to.

So Nick continued to attend legacy on Wednesdays, hanging with friends, hearing about God’s love for him and investigating this Jesus guy.

Then about a year ago I was talking with my friend Greg Stier about a trip he had made to Germany and a visit he made to a concentration camp there. I got permission to share his story in my next sermon and I want to briefly share it with you because it tells

Nick’s spiritual journey. 

Greg told me about his visit to Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany. Under the reign of Adolph Hitler…… tens of thousands of Jews were housed there & died. They were tortured there, in unimaginable ways..… It was a place of death & hopelessness. But today, if you visit Dachau, at 3:00 you’ll hear a bell. So why the bell? And why 3:00? You see, the Bible records that Jesus died at 3:00, and that bell rings today & every day in Dachau to remind everyone visiting that – in the midst of dark & seemingly hopeless times - Jesus offers hope and life! I shared this message with our church family and our Legacy students. As believers, we too are called to “ring the bell of hope”, not just at 3:00, but all the time. Not just in Dachau, but everywhere. We are to remind everyone, that regardless of what you’re facing, there is hope in Jesus! And I say that to you today, as we gather

After I shared that message, we took this bell and we hung it in our Legacy room as a reminder that we are to share the hope of Jesus with those around us. So each week after we began asking students if they’ve had a chance to share Jesus with anyone, and if so, to come up, ring the bell and share their story. We would then pray for them as well as for their friend It’s become a really neat and special practice. Well, one night this past Spring, I asked again if anyone has had an opportunity share Jesus this week. Well, Nick stands up and starts heading towards the bell  - and I’m watching with anticipation not knowing what to expect – which is pretty much what student ministry is always like anyway – LOL!

Nick rings the bell, looks at the room filled with Legacy students and says, “It’s me!” And we were all like, “what?” Nick says again,

 “It’s me! This week I put my faith in Jesus!!!” And everyone was like

NO WAY – THAT’S AWESOME!!!

He shared how he had been coming for over a year, listening, checking Jesus out and finally said he believes that Jesus is who He said he is and he’s placing his faith in Him!

Just two months later, Nick shared his growing faith with our entire student ministry thru the letter on the back of this program and I’d like to read it to you:

1.     There will be times when you feel alone. You’re not. God is always with you.

2.    Don’t gossip. Just don’t do it. It’s not cool. If you’re doing it, stop.

3.    Find times in your week, an hour or two, to get away from everything and not worry about the homework, life or drama in your life.

4.    When I was younger, I used to think that I would change the world, then change my country, then change my state, then my town, then my family, then myself. Now that I’m older, I realized that only God can truly change someone.

5.    And as always, trust in the Lord with all your heart, for He has a plan for you.

Truly insightful and transformation words!!!

The measure of a man’s life in not in duration, but in donation –

 And Nick donated so much to our lives! 

Nick put his faith in Jesus and believed Him when He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6 And if we want to see Nick again someday, we too must put our faith and trust in Jesus just like Nick did. Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey, if you would like to discuss more - I'd love to! Nick would be thrilled to know that his passing brought about new life in Christ to others!
At Legacy Student Ministry, we like to regularly share God's story, check it out HERE