Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Man born without limbs to speak at Hill: He will also attend other area National Prayer Day events

By MITCH SHAW

Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
mishaw@standard.net

HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- For Nick Vujicic, life without limbs hasn't been easy, but his story helps others overcome their own difficulties.

Vujicic, a 26-year-old motivational speaker and preacher, was born without arms or legs. He will speak at Hill Air Force Base for a special National Prayer Day observance on May 7.

Vujicic, an Australian native, will participate in four events that day: A community leadership breakfast, the special event at Hill at noon, an afternoon community rally in American Fork and an evening session at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City.

"Normally, we try to meet at the city halls and do something for Prayer Day," said Pastor Tom Koehler, from the Christ Community Church in West Point. "But this year we wanted to do something big."

Vujicic was born with the rare Tetra-amelia disorder. He's missing both arms at shoulder level, and has one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh.

After a life spent overcoming the obstacles related to the disorder, he graduated from college with a double major in accounting and financial planning. Shortly after graduation, he began his travels as a motivational speaker and began his nonprofit organization, Life Without Limbs.

He's since toured countless schools, churches, prisons, orphanages, hospitals and stadiums in 19 countries. He's also become an Internet phenomenon by way of YouTube videos.

Greg Johnson, a pastor with the Salt Lake City-based Standing Together Evangelical Ministry and state coordinator for National Prayer Day, said Vujicic delivers a message that people of all faiths should hear.

"When you look at him and you see no arms and no legs, you immediately have empathy," Johnson said. "How would it be to never hold someone's hand, or hug someone, or run or walk? People look at him and see that he's truly happy and think they can be, too."

Johnson said word about the event has already spread quickly.

"We're already seeing a lot of excitement being generated, and we haven't really even advertised," he said. "A lot of people have seen him on the Internet and want to get a chance to meet him. We have about 300 seats available (for the Hill event), and I'm convinced there won't be one of them empty."