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NICHOLAS OF TAIPEI:
MAN OF GOD
by Pastor Max Solbrekken

"Some men's ambition is art...some fame...some gold. My ambition is the souls of men."       - General William Booth

"The greatest need in the world today, is power  from on High."                                               - Charles G. Finney

Down through history, great men of goodwill as well as men of infamy have often been identified with their city, nation, beliefs, occupation or deeds!

The Bible speaks of Daniel the prophet, Rahab the harlot, Mathew the publican, Luke the physician, Zenas the lawyer, Simon the leper and Alexander the coppersmith!

We read in the historical record about Atilla the Hun, William the Conqueror, Richard the Lion-hearted, Ulysses the Conqueror of Troy, Buddha the Seeker after truth, Abraham the Friend of God and Honest Abe Lincoln! 

JESUS OF NAZARETH, SON OF THE LIVING GOD AND SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD!

Many are familiar with great men of God who ministered so long and untiringly and with such an impact that they have become inextricably linked with their city of birth or labour! Good examples of that concept are Joseph of Arimathaea, Saul of Tarsus, Stephen of Atioch, Augustine of Hippo, Francis of Assissi and I could name a number more, like NICHOLAS OF TAIPEI!

The reverend Dr. Nicholas Krushnitzky is being honoured by the Government of Taiwan, this November - together with four other notables - for forty years of service to that country!

Pastor Nick - as he is affectionately referred to - was converted to Jesus Christ as a young man in Powell River, BC - where he was working as a structural steel iron worker - by a Baptist pastor who showed some interest in him and his activities! Hearing that Nick had earlier (1953) won the title, 'WESTERN CANADA'S STRONGEST AND MOST WELL BUILT MAN' (for age 21 and under) and the Western Canadian Weightlifting Title (1954), he simply asked if he could watch him workout! And Nick was thrilled to accommodate him!

The pastor invited him to attend a church service and when the altar call was given, Nick immediately responded and was saved! His life was drastically changed by God's power and he enrolled at Western Pentecostal Bible College, North Vancouver.

Later, he began attending Glad Tidings Tabernacle where a great revival was stirring the young people into becoming soul winners and missionaries. At that time Glad Tidings ranked number two in Canada - following People's Church, Toronto - in missionary giving at $400,000 annually.man 

Discipled by Pastor Reg Lazell, he was sent out as a missionary to Taiwan in 1958. Concerned about learning the Mandarin Chinese language, he was given good advice by his mentor, Reverend Lazell: "Speak much in tongues. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. He will help you to learn the language"!

Throwing himself into the work of winning souls and building churches, Nick associated only with Chinese people and within six months was preaching in Mandarin! He had come to Taiwan primarily to be a missionary, and so deliberately spent very little time with his English speaking colleagues!

CHAPLAIN OF CHINESE CULTURAL UNIVERSITY FOR 25 YEARS!

Getting a team together, they criss crossed Taiwan for fourteen years making disciples for Jesus Christ! And in 1973, the door opened for Nick to become the first and only official Chaplain at the Chinese Cultural University (21,000 students). He has affected thousands of students for Christ, during the past twenty-five years and is presently the Senior Chaplain there, together with four other chaplains whom he has trained!

Forty percent of the hundreds of pastors which Nick has trained, have come from his university contact. Many have entered the Lord's service, after graduating from the University!

Besides being pastor of a strong church in Taipei, he has planted several other churches in that city, as well as launching numerous churches across the nation, with the help of his many loyal workers! He has also had the responsibility of being a full time English professor at the University for about 14 years, and an unofficial spiritual leader and chaplain to many senior Armed Forces officers and personnel!

Twenty four years ago, Pastor Nick determined that by God’s grace they would knock on doors and give a gospel tract to every person (22 million) people in that nation. That feat finally became a fact August ‘98!

ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, COULD ONE PERSON BE INVOLVED IN SO MANY PROJECTS FOR OUR LORD AND DO THEM ALL SO WELL AS DR. NICHOLAS KRUSHNITZKY HAS DONE!

HEREIN, I BELIEVE, LIES THE SECRET OF HIS SUCCESS: When Nick heard about the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, he prayed diligently to the Lord for this great gift. Even though his non-Pentecostal friends discouraged him from seeking the Lord in this manner, he did not listen to them. He continued praying and reading his Bible, and seeking God for the fullness of the Holy Spirit!

Then, God gave him the scripture: "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost; whom God hath given to them that obey Him." (Acts 5:32) 

"Will you obey Me?", asked the Lord. "Yes", came the reply. "Then give up your Pro Sports career and follow Me", came the answer!

Nick had just signed with the B.C. Lions Football Club and didn’t want to give that up, since he felt he could witness for the Lord there. But that wasn't what God wanted. He wanted a life-time missionary, not a Pro-football player whose career might last only a few years and where he could witness for Jesus publicly, only sporadically!

Also, it meant eventually giving up his business enterprise - a well known Vancouver, BC gym where Doug Hepburn, the world’s strongest man did his weight training!

When he cried out, “Yes, You can have me totally. I am willing to give everything up for You”, he was baptized with the Holy Ghost and power! And spoke in other tongues “as the Spirit of God gave utterance!”

Regarding Nicholas Krushnitzky, there are two more things I wish to share: At the age of 40, Nick married Debra, a beautiful & committed Taiwanese school teacher and church pastor. They have three intelligent and beautiful children; Rebecca (20) third year micro biology student at U.B.C Vancouver, Esther (18) starts at U.B.C. this fall and Samuel (14) a brilliant, outgoing young man attending school in Taipei! They are a beautiful example of true Christianity!

Finally, when I observed the high regard in which Nick holds his mentor and the glowing words he uses when referring to his former pastor Reg Lazell, I knew why God has blessed Him! And I was touched by the dedication he has toward Rev. Kirk Duncan and the Bible Christian Fellowship, Surrey, B.C that has stood by him all these years!

In my books, these are the things of real value! Our Lord is looking for more than a profession of faith. He desires us to be faithful to God, our families and to those among whom we labour. He also wants to give us a genuine burden for lost souls!

Early in my ministry, I heard about Nick Krushnitzky from Rev. Tommy Tutyko. He would say to me, “Max, you should meet Nick. He’s on fire for God. You and he are so much alike”.

After meeting Nick Krushnitzky 35 years later, I realize what a great compliment that was!

And I believe, when the books are open on that great 'Home going Day' and we stroll through God's Great Hall of Heroes, 'NICHOLAS OF TAIPEI' will be there among God’s great heros & giants of faith & vision!    AMEN AND AMEN.