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SALT LAKE CITY -- An internationally-renowned motivational speaker has come to Utah to be part of several events on the National Day of Prayer Thursday.
Nick Vujicic is a charming, articulate 26-year-old born and raised in Australia. He calls himself a man of faith, a man of God, who lives his life without limbs and without limits.
Dynamic, charming, a man with a message; and he's is bringing that message to Utah for the first time.
"If God doesn't give you a miracle, you are a miracle of God. And when you and I stand before God face-to-face, He's gonna ask you two questions: ‘Do you know me?' and ‘Who'd you bring?'" Vujicic told a few dozen pastors and ministers Wednesday.
Vujicic believes there are no coincidences that he's here for the National Day of Prayer. "Without the power of prayer, I would not be who I am today. I would not be here, period," he said.
He was so discouraged that he tried to commit suicide at age 8, but then he read the New Testament story of a man born blind man, Christ said, so God could show his glory in him. Vujicic says then he realized his calling.
"I've seen many people from 24 countries. I've seen 3 million people face-to-face. I've given 350,000 hugs so far, and I've never found someone who doesn't need hope. The three -- love, faith and hope -- without love there is no faith, but without faith there is no hope," Vujicic said.
He brings hope and inspiration through as many as 250 speaking engagements a year.
"I think people are looking for something: Give me something true. Give me something absolute. Give me a hope that I can believe in, "Vujicic said. "That's what they're curious to know, why a man without arms and legs has more joy than anybody's seen before."
Vujicic will speak Thursday at a breakfast at the Hilton Hotel in Salt Lake City, at noon at Hill Air Force Base and at 6:30 p.m. at the State Capitol. He will return for speaking engagements in September at the Salt Palace and the Salt Lake Tabernacle.
E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com
