“If a person without hands and feet can surf the world’s top surfing spots, then everything is possible for you!”
Australian limbless evangelist Nick Vujicic was invited by Eden Social Welfare Foundation in Taiwan to speak at a series of conferences titled “Never Give Up” held in Taichung, Taipei, and Kaohsiung beginning from July 1. Over 40,000 participants were recorded, setting a new benchmark.
Hopes of Miracle as a Child
Having toured 25 countries and spoken to over three million people, Vujicic, 28, has hoped that he can also experience a miracle; when he was little, he would place a pair of shoes in the shoe cabinet, hoping that God will give him a pair of hands and legs the next day. Although this miracle didn’t occur, he has become the miracle in other people’s eyes. Despite his experiences of falling into depression, being bullied, and suicide attempt while growing up, the love from his parents and his Christian faith have transformed him into a “fighter of life.”
While speaking in Taipei, Vujicic said that many times we don’t necessary realize nor understand the things that God wants to do in our lives, but there is definitely a wonderful plan that God has for our lives.
Then, the evangelist with only a torso and two toes reads the story of Jesus meeting a blind man in John 9.
The crowd asks Jesus, “Why is this man born blind? Whose sin is it? Is it this man’s sin or his parents’ sin?” Jesus replied, “Neither this man nor his parents’ sinned, but it is so that the glory of God may be revealed in him.”
Vujicic said that after reading this story he realized that even without hands and feet he can still become a blessing to others.
Instilling Active Attitude into Taiwan’s Society
Ms. Chi-Chiung Lo, president of Eden Social Welfare Foundation, pointed out that when the world faced the financial crisis three years ago, Taiwan was among the casualties, where every sector of the society was deeply impacted – many parents committed suicide because of inability to face with the pressures in life, leaving behind helpless children to grow up by themselves. The economic depression has covered the society in a prolonged state of hopelessness.
In order to instill an active and optimistic life outlook into the society, the foundation hopes that through Nick Vujicic’s humorous and touching life testimony those living under life’s depression would have the will to change.
Lo said that it is really a coincidence that Eden Foundation was founded only three days before Vujicic's birth date on December 4, 1982. Ms. Liu Hsia, founder of Eden, and Nick are similar in that they both lived out a life of abundance despite their severe handicaps; neither of them considers himself as a hero, but they've traveled around the world, embracing the crowds, all while they don't have a pair of mobile legs nor hands that can be raised. Both of them have the will to courageously face life and live without limits.
