Comments on: Bill Nash

By: Mike Driscoll

Mike Driscoll — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:48:38 +0000

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

By: Kelly Jo Fields

Kelly Jo Fields — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:37:41 +0000

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

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:38:18 +0000

Love you, Carla!!!

By: Terry Cagle

Terry Cagle — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:57:48 +0000

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…

By: Carlamac

Carlamac — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:20:57 +0000

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.

By: Ken Mick

Ken Mick — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:59:23 +0000

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!

By: julie

julie — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:32:34 +0000

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.

By: Jacquelyn Nash

Jacquelyn Nash — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:43:46 +0000

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.

By: Kirk Nash

Kirk Nash — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:30:54 +0000

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.

By: D.J.

D.J. — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:49:36 +0000

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!

By: Keith Brenton

Keith Brenton — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:13:05 +0000

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.

By: Kathryn Worrall

Kathryn Worrall — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:39:32 +0000

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!

By: Bonnie Young

Bonnie Young — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:28:36 +0000

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!

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:23:16 +0000

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

By: Josh Ross

Josh Ross — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:24:56 +0000

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.