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June 15, 2012
The Faith of Daredevil Nik Wallenda, Who Walked Across Niagara Falls Tonight
While he walked across, Wallenda, described by Canadian media as a born-again Christian, thanked God and Jesus out loud in his microphone.
Nik Wallenda became the first man to walk right over Niagara Falls Friday night, a 30-minute tightrope televised live on ABC News.
Wallenda told reporters it took "a lot of praying, that's for sure. But, you know, it's all about the concentration, the focus, and the training."
QMI Agency reported earlier on the details of Wallenda's faith.
The King of the Wire puts his faith in the King of Kings.
Just before Nik Wallenda steps onto the wire tonight in an attempt to become the first person to walk a tightrope across the mouth of the Horseshoe Falls, he’ll form a circle with a dozen close friends and members of his close-knit Christian family and they’ll say a prayer to Jesus Christ.
The cross Wallenda wears around his neck every time he walks on a wire isn’t just a fashion statement, it’s a message about the religious beliefs the American performer holds close to his heart.
“I grew up in a born-again Christian family. A Bible-believing, God-fearing family. That’s the way I was raised and I find comfort and peace in that,” he said.
The Toronto Star has these details from tonight's walk.
His wife and three children held hands and prayed with him minutes before he began. They were there when he reached the end. His engineer uncle perched close at hand; he was a key player in making the stunt happen.
...Moments before strapping on the harness, the daredevil joined hands in riverside prayer with wife Erindera — an eighth-generation wire walker herself; Nik proposed on a wire — and their three children Yanni, 14, Amadeus, 11 and Evita, 9. Prayer comes easily to Nik, a born-again Christian, who thanked God and Jesus out loud — and through his microphone to the world — for much of his 25-minute feat.
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune writes, "He told ABC his faith in the Lord kept his emotions in check, but that his extensive preparation was an equal component of success."
The New York Times used a biblical analogy to describe it:
He started just after 10 p.m. in mist so thick he was not visible on the Canadian side for more than 10 minutes after he started. The walk, which took about 30 minutes and was televised by ABC, had an Old Testament feel to it.
"I don't know what people will say about me 100 years from now, but it's got to be pretty impressive," he told ABC.
Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Comments
God will continue to Bless that family, I loved that Mr. Wallenda was not embarrassed to acknowledge our Father and Son on live TV, also I was thrilled every time he praised Jesus, as he deserves ALL the praise but also to let people know that they might take God from all different places like schools and etc. but they will never be able to remove him from our hearts, because if Christ is in you then he is with you wherever you go, and no one can remove him from you because that is eternal. I know that God will continue to bless that family, and I'm so happy for them that their kids also know the Lord. The Wallenda family are very rich, not in money but in the Lord, which is the best wealth to have in your family , there is nothing in this world that can't top having Jesus in your life. God Bless
Posted By: brenda | June 16, 2012 1:09 AM
It would be interesting to read the article Christianity Today had on standby for use if he had fallen to his death.
Posted By: David Young | June 16, 2012 2:34 AM
David Young: We may often pray to God; we will always have a hard time remembering that "no" is an answer.
Posted By: Laurel Van Driest | June 16, 2012 8:26 AM
Does anyone know where I can find the post interview that ABC did live right after his walk, He truly gave God all the Glory in that one and talked about the divine intervention. Would love to share, if anyone has the link! We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us Phil 4:13 , Thanks and God Bless!
Posted By: Kim Meyer | June 16, 2012 10:55 AM
"God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform' NOW WHO would have thought that ABC with all it's low moral programming etc..........would be the station where you would hear a man repeatedly say "Thank You Jesus" "Thank you Father" Well all I can say is Alleluia... and Alleluia...........MIllons of people heard the name of Jesus on ABC Indcrdible and wonderful2000
Posted By: Rita Baumgardner | June 16, 2012 11:13 AM
It seems odd to me that his heavenly father would protect him, and not be there to help thousands of desperate people trapped in burning high towers in New York on 9/11.
Posted By: SashineB | June 16, 2012 11:17 AM
Simple answer to why he had God's protection..he asked for it and it wasn't his time to die.
9/11 is a deep mystery to us, not to God
Trust in the Lord with all your heart..
Posted By: Pam | June 16, 2012 12:25 PM
I'm glad this daredevil made it to the other side for the sake of his family. As a fellow christian tho, I don't see how this occupation glorifies God in such a way that draws people to a personal relationship with Christ. happy if it does tho. He was giving praise/thanks and offering prayers to God/Christ along the way (as would I/anyone if I/they were crossing the Niagra on a high wire!) but there are many brothers /sisters in Christ who's occupations are far more / less dangerous with much lower profile (thankless occupations) that humbly trust & praise Him daily Him also.
I don't know this man and even if I did I have lived long enough to know that only God truly knows a man/woman(s) heart so I'm not judging. I've just never been a huge fan of people who publically tempt God's natural laws and then boast about how their faith saved them from suffering the consequences of those laws.
Posted By: Peggy Jenkins | June 16, 2012 1:36 PM
Let this be a reminder to Christians everywhere, "you are the light of the world...the salt of the earth." No matter where or who you are. No matter your station or situation, God can use anybody.
Posted By: Johnathan | June 16, 2012 7:39 PM
Let this be a reminder to Christians everywhere, "you are the light of the world...the salt of the earth." No matter where or who you are. No matter your station or situation, God can use anybody.
Posted By: Johnathan | June 16, 2012 8:00 PM
Where does holy scripture show one iota of commendation for unnecessarily risking your life for... adrenaline, admiration, records, or money?
Risk-taking like this is immoral, period.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that he give up his life for his friends" (John 15:13) (not thrills...)
Posted By: Ralph W. Davis | June 16, 2012 11:11 PM
"Where does holy scripture show one iota of commendation for unnecessarily risking your life for... adrenaline, admiration, records, or money?
Risk-taking like this is immoral, period."
Ralph, you are total kill-joy my friend. And and a bit judgmental I might add. Clearly, the LORD created Nik to do things like this to inspire others and glorify God in the process. Aren't you forgetting a particular verse:
"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." -Colossians 3:17
???
This is his gift and who are you to judge how he gives Christ glory? Hmm? If God didn't want Nik doing this, don't you think He would have let Nik know in prayer? He's not doing this to be "rich and famous" ... he's doing it because he loves it and it supports his family. Really Ralph, you need to "remove the log" from that eye of yours buddy. Millions of people last night saw a man walk a wire over Niagara Falls and give praise to the Lord Jesus Christ each step of the way ... sounds to me like he's doing a great job at advancing the kingdom of God.
Some people read their Bibles and learn to be the "salt and light" in the world, and others learn how to use their Bible as "club" to beat over people's heads. Which one are you Ralph? (Rhetorical question)
Posted By: Jesse | June 17, 2012 2:57 AM
What a blessing to hear Nik's praise and prayers. It is a simple example of a man doing what he does and giving God the glory. He seems to be a very genuine man who is living his dream. The effort behind the scenes was probably as difficult as the wire walk and I suspect that he prayed about that as well. It was exciting..he demonstrated extraordinary skill and strength. Good for him. He did inspire. I work every day to raise my family and pay the bills and hopefully I can also be an example of giving God the glory. Sometimes I feel like I'm on a wire too....but I know that God is there and loves me..it does give me comfort and peace and I am thankful.
Posted By: Mark Lockhart | June 17, 2012 12:27 PM
I praise Our Almighty God who is not threatened by people who oppose how he uses His children. You may have your opinion but God is always right. Thank you Nik for giving glory where glory is due. For those of us who walk by faith in Jesus...one thing he said really struck me..."for those of you sturggling with hard stuff...we just can't look away"..If Nik had looked away he would have fallen...If we as followers of Jesus look away from Him we too will fall.
Posted By: gloria twietmeyer | June 17, 2012 1:30 PM
he said:
"I don't know what people will say about me 100 years from now, but it's got to be pretty impressive," he told ABC.
does this sound like N.T. Christianity..glorifying God...surely this is glorifying self...
and, how exactly is this being salt and light (as someone said it was, above)?
Go and live in an inner city, day in, day out, and be salt and light there.
Posted By: Marion | June 17, 2012 3:03 PM
Friends, be careful about your critical comments if you don't know Nik and his family. They are truly wonderful people. Don't take his final statement about "100 years from now" out of context unless you watched the entire program. He lives his faith honestly and openly and just happens to do it on the high wire as the Wallendas have for generations.
Posted By: Maggie Rowe | June 18, 2012 12:03 PM
I have to admit that there is something odd about this. On the one hand he did perform a death defying feat on the other hand one has to admit that he did not put his life on the line for his faith (as Jim Elliott did) or his country (serving in the armed forces). His tightrope walk across Niagara was done to prove it could be done...and yes there was a bit of ego there too. But the responses from those unconditionally praising him are to be expected from popular Evangelicalism.
Posted By: Basil | June 18, 2012 12:43 PM
Thankful for Nik and his genuine heart for the Lord.
Posted By: Susan LaRose | June 18, 2012 1:09 PM
One of the following incidents will occur somewhere in the world today: an aeroplane will fall out of the sky, taking the lives of all on board, several cars will crash and all the passengers will be lost, a boat will capsize, etc., etc. In other words, people, who do not believe that they are taking risks, leave home for work every day to carry out normal, routine activities and never return.
Of course, walking a tightrope across Niagara Falls is taking a risk, and of course it is an "unnecessary" risk. But that is the nature of man, he must conquer, "subdue" and demonstrate that he is 'Lord" of the physical world.
Feats like this call for a certain kind of personality, one that is self confident, assured, yes, even, at times egotistical. They call for a certain amount of bravado and a sense of adventure, Chutzpah, if you will.
One man when asked, why he wanted to climb Mount Everest replied, "because it is there". I am sure Nix would make the same reply about Niagara Falls.
And what if he had fallen? Well, someone else would have made a careful note of what he did wrong or failed to do right before making their own bid to cover themselves in glory, and "write their names on history's page".
Good for you Nix! The world need more men like you, who will dare to go "where no man has gone before"; men who will show that it can be done. If you were to come to a venue near me tomorrow, I would try to gather the youngsters in my community to come and hear about what real faith, plus God-given talent, ability, training, determination and guts can accomplish. I believe young men would be inspired to accept the challenge of a real mountain, rather than a mountain of drugs, alcohol, sex etc.
Way to go Nix! Thanks for the inspiration buddy! And please, let us know the next Fall you are planning to walk across, by faith.
Posted By: Steve Skeete | June 19, 2012 8:22 AM
I've never heard a person outside of church talking so freely about Jesus;in his case, openly to millions,while under stress,repetitively. I don't know what delighted me more,what he was doing or how he kept talking to Jesus,into the microphone being heard by millions. I'll never forget it.
His voice remained so calm as he walked where he couldn't see,with wind and water all around him. He talked to Jesus like He was right there with him on the rope. I think He was walking in front of him..I just couldn't see him.
When the media asked him a question,he'd answer,but other than that,he didn't talk about himself or how cool this was,he'd just say the name of Jesus and thank Him.
I can't imagine that Jesus was not smiling as this man was giving his talent to him,before millions, praising Him.
I'll never do anything even close to what he was doing,but I have no doubt some day I'll face something stressful,some day I'll go through something that I can't see two feet in front of me and I'm going to remember Nik and his trust in Jesus. Thank you Nik for your walk with God and for giving your incredible talent to Him. All talent and hard work can be used of Him.
Posted By: Ann | June 19, 2012 8:57 AM
He has a platform like no other person I know, and he used it to glorify God and witness to his admirers about Christ. Why knock that?
Posted By: Louis | June 19, 2012 9:27 AM
Wow. I really enjoyed the spectacle. Judging by some of the comments on hear by so-called Christians I can see it was also a test of their characters as well. Reminds me of Mary pouring the perfume on Jesus and being criticised for not selling it and giving to the poor.
Posted By: Jeremy | June 20, 2012 7:21 AM
IN EVERYTHING GIVE GOD ALL GLORY HONER AND PRAISE! BEING IT WALKING WITH JESUS ON GROUNG OR ON THE HIGH WIRE GIVE THE LORD ALL GLORY HONOR AND PRAISE! WE CAN ACOMPLISH ALL THING IN CHIRST JESUS HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US! GOD GIVES US THE ABILITY TO DO ALL THINGS AND WITH HIM IT IS POSSIBLE! CONTINUE WALKING IN CHRIST JESUS! AMEN
Posted By: CATHERINE | October 3, 2012 4:46 AM
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