Bill Nash
Because of the Heartbeat retreat, I’ll be unable to speak at Bill Nash’s funeral. So let me say a few things here about this dear brother who served over twenty years on the Highland ministry staff.
Bill was about as open about his failures as anyone I’ve known. And because of that — and because he didn’t have a judgmental bone in his body — people knew they could trust him. People traveled from hundreds of miles away to whisper secrets in his ears. When you sit in the presence of someone full of God’s love, it’s much easier to be honest.
He was a devoted member of AA, convinced that the power of God shows itself amid human weakness. To many people, he was “Mr. Recovery.” They took heart from his persistence in the program and from his constant flow of encouraging words.
He loved children, little league baseball, Christmas, broken people, Emmaus, Highland, and “jokes.” (Those who knew Bill will know why I put jokes in quotation marks. Enough said.) He helped start Mom’s Meals, a ministry that began to help families struggling from AIDS.
One time he met Henri Nouwen. I wish I could have watched the two of them together. One wrote “Wounded Healers”; both were wounded healers.
I learned homiletics, Greek, and Hebrew from very bright people with Ph.D.s. I learned ministry from Bill Nash. I loved him. And — I’ll never ever forget this — I was loved by him. Thousands of others understand because they were, too.
Anyone else out there with a Bill Nash memory or a few words about him?
How true….. I loved Bill…. and I too will never forget that he loved me. I rejoice in his legacy. -gina
I’ve known of Bill for years but not until this past year did I really know him. When our Wednesday services focused on special interest classes, I attended his 12 step group. Although I’ve never struggled with alcoholism, my mother has struggled through a dependent relationship for years with an alcoholic. It only took about two sessions before I realized Bill wasn’t here to talk about alcohol, he was here to help us recover from addiction. For some it was drugs, some sex, some food – for me it was anger. It didn’t matter, the point is if you were there – Bill had been there before you and was here now to help you.
Soon after, my mom met Bill when he came to address our young families class and commented how she could see that he had truly mastered the ability to recover and help others recover. Thank you, Bill.
My parents first met Bill while serving with the bus ministry at Highland in the early 80’s, and Bill was always a part of mine and my brother’s lives. Bill teased my family about events that precede my memory. His love and generosity and kindness have shaped my life from the very beginning, and I am so blessed because of that. It’s why I asked him to baptize me when I was teenager.
One of my favorite memories about Bill was when my brother, who is older than me by two years, came to realize that Santa Claus was not a real person. He asked my mom the big question before bedtime one night, and she felt that he was old enough to hear the honest answer. After she broke the news, Bryan responded, “I guess I always thought that Bill was the real Santa.” After that, Mom decide to come tell me the truth about St. Nick as well, knowing that big brothers can sometimes be cruel. My response echoed my brother’s: “I thought Bill was Santa Claus.” Of course, our childhoods had been marked by Bill and Audrey’s Winter Wonderland, and once they had even come to the house on Christmas Eve in costume as a special surprise for us, so we recognized his face. But I think that there was something else there, too. Bill embodied in my life the warmth and love and generosity that Santa Claus stands for. It was not a loss in my childhood to learn the truth about Santa because the person who best symbolized the Christmas Spirit for me was Bill.
After learning of his passing Monday morning, my first reaction was that Bill was finally home and I was envious. After being in a prayer and accountability group with Bill for the past fourteen years I thought I had heard all the stories and jokes but no…..even as late as last friday as he was dying and grasping for breath……he was shooting off a one liner to Cheryl & I. Where do you start and end with Bill Nash? An amazing life from growing up in a loving Christ centered family……prison camp……abandoning several families with children at home……. alcoholism and destruction…..meeting Audrey(the angel sent from God)……watching Bill greave after Audrey died…..ministry to the fruits and nuts (his words and he included himself in this category) of Abilene…..breaking down denominational walls in Abilene through the Emmaus community……reconciling with Carol after all those years of abandonment and re-marrying her……his precious care for Carol as she lay dying…..his love of children……Winter Wonderland……Santa Claus on the fire truck …..Bill’s love of his own children, those he fathered, those he did not and even those he wasn’t sure of…..his love of his reunion group……Carla……looking death in the eyes and muttering “where is your sting O death”. No college degree or formal education in ministry but an absolute “master” at ministry especially to the down and out and smelly. The shadow Bill Nash cast is long…..very long. I am a much better person on this earth for knowing Bill Nash. I will miss him greatly. Good Bye Precious Friend !
I was able to spend a few precious minutes with Bill in hospice last week. Bill was always a “David” to me… a sinful, broken man who was truly a man after God’s own heart; a man who God used to minister to so many people. He never was an elder at Highland but I told him many times that he was my own personal shepherd. And sure enough, his number was the one I dialed when I thought my world was ending in October 1997. I’ve always thought Bill was the inspiration for the saying “I Put the ‘Fun’ in ‘Dysfunctional.’”
I learned early on to brace myself when Bill started to tell a joke. Because you never knew where it was going to end up. The best Bill Nash jokes were the ones he made up on the spot. One of my favorites, like most Bill Nash jokes, shouldn’t be repeated here, but it involved a toilet and the Jewel Miller filmstrips.
And in case anyone ever thought there were no dirty jokes in heaven, there are now. Get used to it.
Our girls were still in elementary school when we moved here so they enjoyed a few Winter Wonderlands at Highland with Bill & Audrey as Mr. & Mrs. Santa. We have pictures of them with “Santa” Bill — their last pictures with Santa.
Last Christmas Bill played Santa again for the MOPS children and our 6-month-old granddaughter had her first Santa pictures taken with him. He also insisted on getting her mother and me in the pictures.
We’ll treasure those pictures and remember him as he always remembered and asked about our girls whenever we saw him.
Bill was one of the most wonderful men I’ve ever known. I believe he as much as anyone brought Highland into the position of confronting our sin, especially our collective pride and accepting others. His open way of communicating his own failures encouraged us all to admit our own.
I enjoyed being with Bill in so many different works and meetings. Church, adult classes, Emmaus, Deacon’s meetings…,etc. I can never remember a single time when he was unpleasant.
Bill’s selfless attitude was often shown. He sponsered me on a Walk to emmaus in 1998. He told me a while before that he wanted to do this but I would need to wait a while. I figured out later that time was needed for my name to come up on a list and he to save the money required by sponsers. Bill’s salary was by no means large but I believe he sponsered over 100 people to go on a walk. I have been doing a lot of reading about heaven lately. I look forward to hugging my brother Bill there, Kent
Bill Nash was one of the most approachable men of God I ever met. My heart breaks at hearing this news, but not for Bill, for all those who will be apprehensive to go to anyone else. Bill had a gift of sharing in others difficulties without getting weighed down.
Bill was real, authentic… in a way that invited you in; with open arms for a great big hug.
He was a great friend to this college student 20+ years ago at Highland.
This may be legend (Steve Hare would know), but didn’t Santa Bill drive to Michigan to get a huge enough Christmas tree for the FLC and bring it back strapped to his old station wagon?
One of God’s servants rests with him now.
Wow! I wish I could have known him.
Royce
What a wonderful and great truth -Bill always let me know he loved me too. He had a way of looking through my eyes into the depths of my being, recognizing another prodigal that has come home – and as a result, gave an extra measure of understanding, encouraging love. How I miss him already, but that wonderful conundrum of a Believer, happy, joyful for him!!!!
I’m wondering if one of Bill’s thoughts arriving home was not a “Hey! Who do I help around here?” PTL!! \o/ he will not have to worry about pain, it’s left behind with us and he can just rejoice with his LORD, waiting for us to catch up with him.
Bill, This week, although very sad of his passing, I have just found myself smiling this week as I have thought about the times I spent with Bill. He made me laugh always, but his words of love, acceptance, and constant encouragement is what I will miss deeply. I moved away from Abilene, but when I think of those days in the past, Bill is Abilene. He will always be a part of my girls childhood, precious pictures of he as Santa with them. Bill, you showed us how to live past our weaknesses and sins. Your life lives on in my heart.
No, it’s not a tall tale, I was there when it was unloaded off his car one year. I think he may have done this more than once. What lengths he would go to for the kids or adults for that matter.
Thanks Kent! I thought I was fabricating a memory (getting old stinks!)…
Bill Nash was the heart of Highland–and was it ever big! A master of ministry has gone home, and we remember the blessings he brought us.
Where does anyone even begin to start a sentence about Bill Nash. So many things I aspire to be in one person. I visited him in hospice this past week also and the feelings I had took me by surprise. I didn’t realize that this one man had gotten so in touch with my emotions. My husband and I had sought council with him a few times. I have listened to his jokes more than once. My daughter has felt such love and compassion from him in her struggle with her disability and mobility. I watched him struggle to raise an eyebrow at me all the while looking me square in the eye while I talked to him. I am part envious that he’s gone on to be in a place of more mercy than we will ever know. The struggles are history. I am more than blessed to have been his friend for over 15 years now and to even be able to serve him and Carol with housecleaning for awhile when it was needed. People like Bill creap quietly into your life and the level of care you have for them takes you by surprise all the while they are changing the dynamics of your life forever with love, acceptance and Christ like example of humility. I spent a few moment in his room in the quietness with him looking at me as I talked (probably one of the few times I had so much to say but could only utter a few words) and you could very much see the efforts he was making to speak and tell me something. Probably a joke. While I will sorely miss this man that has had such an impact on my life and who I am, I am also rejoicing with the angels that he’s whole. I would have given anything to have a father like he was in the father figure he played in my life. Bill always listened, cared, and loved unconditionally- we can all aspire to those qualities.
Shelly
Bill ministered out of brokenness. He was a living testimony that God enters into the mess of life to redeem it. He had a glorious ministry. It was an honor to partner with Bill for a couple of years at Highland.
I often hear people say that Bill Nash and his love for the broken is one of the biggest influences for the direction Highland has taken toward it’s neighborhood and those searching. For that we are forever thankful. -Joe and Becky
I was part of his Wednesday night class he held and Bill taught me that anyone, regardless of any addiction, could benefit from a 12 step program. After I left the class, I went on to an Al-Anon program in my hometown and that program has taught me about myself, more than any other program has. And it was all because of Bill.
I was struggling early on in my marriage with finances and Bill opened up Highland’s food pantry, just for me, on a day it was normally closed. I had the luxury to ’shop’ all by myself, it was just Bill and me in there!
Heaven has gained a servant and Earth (and Highland, Abilene, etc.) will never be the same! I am saddened, of course due to selfish reasons, that I will never get to hear Bill’s ’stories’ again. What a Godly, redeemed man!
I loved him! He made us laugh and made us cry as we prepared “Mom’s Meals”. He had no facade….he epitomized “what you see is what you get”. His life was an open book and he accepted everyone else’s life without question or judgement. I miss him!
I didn’t know Bill very well, though I remember he was always very supportive of the outreach to single-again folks in which Angi and I served during our years at Highland and in Abilene.
My memories mostly come from the article in Wineskins that Michelle Morris wrote: A Broken Vessel.
I will never forget the series that you and Bill preached together on Wednesday nights my Senior year at ACU…”When Life is Spiraling…” talking about the spiritual principles of the 12 steps of AA and other 12 step programs. I bought every tape and still listen to this day…Bill talked about how he didn’t want to speak publicly, but you convinced him and so many of us were transformed by the words which God spoke through him those evenings. I still have a note from Bill that he gave me, I keep it in the front of my bible…a prayer that he prayed one of those Wednesday evenings after my grandmother died…such loving, comforting words…a TRUE man of God!
Thank you all for your comments/stories about Dad. Although I was able to write his eulogy I was unable to give it because I was arrested and in the Taylor County Jail on an old warrant during his funeral. Although it was the hardest time of my life not being at Dad’s funeral, I am happy I was able to spend those nights with him in the hospital the last couple of weeks of his life. My daughter, Jacquelyn did a fine job in my absence and Dad was probably cracking up in heaven about the irony of it all. My Dad was the best minster of people I have ever met…..all people. Yet he always gave God the glory. I am blessed to have had such a wonderful relationship with him and to have learned so much from him. Heaven is a better place and I for one will do all I can to try and be just a little more like him.
These past couple of weeks I have learned more than 13 years of formal education could. I’ve learned that death should not be feared and if you are strong in your faith you will be reunited with the Father in heaven. It is amazing to “hear” (aka read) all of these postings about my Grandpa. It is so nice to know that he effected so many lives in powerful ways…but it wasn’t really him it was God working through him and his ability to step up to the proverbial plate and answer God’s call.This past week has been one of difficulty for everyone who knew Grandpa…this is nothing but the natural process of grieving. My dad lost not only a father but a best friend, and that’s difficult, no doubt. Before he died , I was sitting in the hospital with him and asked him if he’d (Grandpa) would be my guardian angel and he said “Yes”, so he is still here with all of us and like my dad posted above me…we can all strive to be like Grandpa who was a good and faithful servant to God and strived to be like Christ.
Jacquelyn, you did an amazing job at your grandpa’s funeral….so poised and articulate. Bill was proud, I am sure. I wanted to meet you on Saturday but was overwhelmed with my own grief and had to leave to finish crying it out. Your grandpa was an amazing man and I will miss him tremendously.
I first knew Bill Nash back in the Anderson era at Highland. When Lynn indicated he was leaving, Bill actually asked me if I minded if he promoted me to the Highland shepherds to preach in the Highland church (I was working with a legend named Glenn Owen at the time). It was an outrageous suggestion to me then, but it “sobered me up” – pardon the expression – that someone believed in me and what God might be doing with me. There are few people who have expressed that level of confidence in me and encouraged me to go the distance with God, in the way he did. Reading your stories let’s me know, he wasn’t that way with just a few. The apostle prays in Ephesians that the eyes of our heart might be enlightened. I think God answered that one in spades for Bill. The eyes of his heart must have had xray vision. I have no doubt he and Glenn are having the times of the ages with the Lord, enjoying the place in the arena with the witnesses; I have no doubt, as well, he wants us to win the race ourselves all that much more. Truly, one among the saints and the height and depth of redemption. Way to finish, Bill!
This loss leaves a huge hole in my life – what an incredible man our beloved Bill was. I am thankful for opportunities to read how much he meant to others through this blog and other sources, especially the notes and cards that have been sent to me.
I have been imagining the “great cloud of witnesses” as they have received Bill. One of my sweetest imaginations has been of Bill and Audrey reuniting. She was indeed the love of his life and now they can enjoy eternity together.
Bill leaves a great legacy – Highland Church would not be the church it is today if not for the labor and love of Bill Nash. His son and granddaughter who left earlier comments will carry on that same love to others that Bill modeled. The other sons and daughters and grandchildren will make their mark upon the world by following Bill’s example as well. I have been blessed to have them with me as we walked Bill’s last days together.
If I could take advantage of this venue to say “thank you” to all those who have lifted me up in prayer during these very difficult days, I would appreciate the opportunity. I have been so blessed, even in the midst of deep pain, knowing I have been so graciously brought before the throne.
Farewell to my dear, beloved friend, I am blessed to have been a part of your life.
I’m going to miss Bill Nash, but I know that heaven just got “funner” and funnier! He was honest…and he loved God and loved people. He got it! May we all learn from him. I’ll miss the “jokes” and the cartoons and the hugs…but mostly I’ll miss the man who loved me and everyone else! I’ll bet you and Audrey and Carol and Henri and Jesus are having a great time. I can hardly wait to join you and in the mean time I’ll try to love God and love people like you showed me…
Love you, Carla!!!
I’m sad to hear of brother bills passing . I remember one time a friend commeneted on a tie that brother bill was wearing and asked him where he could perchase one. brother bill took off his tie and gave it to him. he was an especially kind soul who would do anything for you at the drop of an hat. i will miss him very much . he was like an great uncle to me. rest in peace dear friend
I have personally seen Bill work with many people. He was an awesome man of God with a tremendous heart for the wounded. He was able to see through the horrors of the sin and minister to the souls of those torn in heart.
I have been blessed with knowing and seeing Bill love others.
God bless you Bill — your chairing the meeting in Heaven now!
Mike