Nick's passport was nearly as thick as his high school transcript. By the time he arrived in Los Angeles in 2014, his mother, a single parent, moved them from Columbia to Costa Rica, back to Columbia, and then on to New York and Orlando before finally arriving in the city of Angels.
His mother's dream was to make a name for herself as a Hollywood actress, which meant Nick, now 21, never stayed in the same school for more than a year until they settled down in Southern California. Without the stability of deep roots and never knowing his father, Nick was unable to forge supportive or lasting relationships. He tried to fill the deep void with a heavy dose of self-reliance.
Thanks, however, to persistent love and care by the Norris family — and the Holy Spirit — Nick has exchanged the lack of an earthly father for an eternal relationship with his heavenly Father.
"I used to live only for myself," he said.
Tom and Shannon Norris, staff members with Cru® Inner City Los Angeles, recognized that independent streak when their daughter, Abi, first introduced them to Nick three years ago. The teens were high school classmates and became fast friends, despite conflicting worldviews. Abi persistently shared her faith in Jesus, but Nick, now college-age, rebuffed the effort.
"I always loved to debate with Abi whenever she said anything about God," Nick said recently.
Because of their extensive work with the community and their tender hearts for people, the Norrises quickly realized that Nick's greatest need was finding Christ, so they invited him on numerous family outings and together they prayed the young man would establish his own relationship with Jesus.
"Little did we know that God would use COVID-19 to play such a big part in Nick's story of meeting Jesus!" Shannon said.
In February 2020, Nick's relationship with his mom — the one constant in his life — became strained after she asked him to move out. Forced to be resourceful most of his childhood, Nick did what came naturally, use dogged determination to make a way for himself. So, with little cash on hand, he hatched a plan to join a 24-hour gym where he could take showers and, hopefully, steal some sleep. Nick asserted this arrangement would allow him to save money for his own place while also affording him the opportunity "to experience homelessness so he could better understand their situation." There would be no rules, no expectations.
Then came COVID-19.
Statewide stay-at-home orders soon followed. With the gym shuttered, Nick got a closer view of the homeless experience than he intended. He hunkered down wherever he found space, often getting drenched during an unusually wet winter. With all public spaces closed, there was no place to escape, no means of distraction — even for a few hours.
Despite the magnitude of the pandemic and his own personal disappointment about the unforeseen restrictions, Nick remained committed to his plan.
Soon, Los Angeles officials, desperate to curtail the pandemic's spread, began rousting out street sleepers.
"Move along," they ordered as their droopy-eyed targets searched for an unpatrolled patch of sidewalk.
| "If it weren’t for COVID it would have been too easy for me to just go back to my old life and live for myself." | Concerned for Nick's physical and spiritual well-being the Norrises suggested he seek temporary housing at The Nehemiah House, which could minister to both. The home, often used by Cru to house its interns, is a ministry of First Evangelical Free Church of Los Angeles, where the Norrises are members. |
Nick balked, but agreed to a meal.
His heart quickly softened, though, as he met people affiliated with the church.
"Wow, these people are pretty nice," Nick told Tom. "OK, I'll sleep on the couch for a night."
After meeting with Pastor Scott and agreeing to contribute his videographer skills to the church in lieu of rent, Nick moved into The Nehemiah House, where daily devotionals augmented the food and warm shelter.
During one of the devotional times, Pastor Scott was going around the circle praying over each person. As Scott approached Nick, the pastor's wife, Sarah, leaned in whispering to the young man, "You can say 'No.'"
"That gave me all the freedom to say, 'Yes,'" Nick recalled, revealing that, until that moment, he had every intention of declining the prayer.
Nick looked up at Pastor Scott.
"I think I am ready to meet God," a surprised Nick responded.
The young man realized his intention went from declining a prayer to accepting Christ as his Savior in an instant. The "Yes" freely flowed from his spiritually thirsty heart to his lips.
He is thirsty no more.
Since his salvation experience just over a year ago, Nick has been discipled by Pastor Scott and attended weekly studies with Tom as he diligently "decoded" the Bible. He's also made good on his promise to help the church, setting up its first-ever YouTube channel and videoing the weekly online worship services.
When the church reopened for outdoor services, Nick attended his first-ever worship service.
"If it weren't for COVID it would have been too easy for me to just go back to my old life and live for myself," he said.
Tom and Shannon report that Nick remains committed to daily devotions and prayer time. He also invested time in a summer internship program where he shared the gospel with youth, ministered in the community and participated in various work projects.
"Now I see people differently, and I want to help others because I know God is always there with me," Nick said. "God has changed who I aspire to be."
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Lori Arnold serves as senior writer for Cru's inner-city ministry.
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