To the editor:

Lawrence lost a giant last week. I’m new to Lawrence and only met Nicholas Willems once. However, his contribution to our fine city and to the world has been told to me by many. While so many of us talk about the ills of society, Pastor Willems did something about it.

Growing up in World War II Holland, he and his family were part of the underground resistance to Hitler’s racist Nazi machine, hiding Jewish individuals and families and helping them make their escape. Coming to the United States in 1960, he continued to make an impact by teaching and molding lives at Kansas University.

Still, Willems recognized that the mind was not the only part of folks that was in need of transformation. Spiritual transformation is even more basic. While we often wring our hands and point fingers at where we see problems, this great man began a ministry on the KU campus that ultimately became Mustard Seed Church. I’ve no idea how many lives, families, businesses and churches have been impacted by this man’s vision and action. My sincerest sympathies go to the many lives he touched and particularly to Mustard Seed Church.

However, not only the Mustard Seed family has suffered loss. All of us here have. I personally take this loss as a challenge to stand up and continue a legacy. I pray that others will as well.