I have had the privilege of meeting many people in my life, and to me some stand out as game changers, which is how I would describe my good friend Ernie Nullmeyer. When I first met him over 40 years ago, I sensed that he was a special person. His confident, friendly manner and mile-wide smile told me that I was in the presence of a unique and gifted individual. As I got to know him better and watched him in the pulpit and working with others, I saw a man who didn’t just love God but adored Him.
Ernie lives and breathes the Word of God and delights in its revelation. He is an extraordinary communicator whose command of the written and spoken word has helped him to witness for his Lord so powerfully for over 60 years. Whether as a radio broadcaster, a preacher, a pastor, a family man or a friend, Ernie has always had two hands in the air reaching up to God and those same two hands reaching out to those in need. As the leader of the Barrie and District Christmas Cheer Association for nearly 30 years, Ernie lived out his faith, helping thousands of less-fortunate men, women and children to celebrate Christmas with food on the table and toys under the tree. He led an army of volunteers to create a living, breathing testament to the words of Jesus “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:19) and showed how much he cared for others through sacrificial service and selfless commitment. Rightfully earning the nickname “Mr. Christmas,” Ernie helped spread joy and hope to people who were lonely and in need of help, a position he well understood, as he would often reflect on his own boyhood memories of his family receiving assistance when they were in a time of financial difficulty.
Our pastor recently preached on the theme “Healthy voices in your life accelerate healthy choices in your life.” When I think of the people that God has brought into my life, Ernie Nullmeyer is one of those healthy voices, helping me to make wiser choices. His buoyant enthusiasm, consistent witness and unquestionable integrity have encouraged me to grow in my faith and commitment to our Lord. God has blessed this man with many wonderful gifts, all of which he has invested wisely through his many years of Christian living and ministry, which you will discover for yourself as you read this book. Ernie has dedicated his whole life to putting into practice the spirit of the two greatest commandments: “Love God and serve others” (see Luke 10:27).
Jeff Walther
Long-time Broadcaster
My Tribute to Ernie Nullmeyer
A Man Blessed of God
As you look back in retrospect
You have much in which to rejoice
For all the blessings from our Lord
As you made Him your choice.
God has been faithful through your years
He’s blessed you with so much
He’s used your “gifts” in manifold ways
So many other lives to touch
You’ve been such a great blessing
To many along the way
Being a pastor, friend and guide
Knowing just the right words to say
You’ve left an imprint on many lives
You’ve been a mentor and friend
May God reward you continuously
Until your earthly journey ends.
Written for my favourite pastor and friend
By Jean Anderson
(nee McDonald)
As a young boy, Ernie Nullmeyer was “bigger than life” to me! One weekend my parents took me to Barrie to visit my grandparents, who attended Emmanuel Baptist Church where Ernie was the pastor. On the Sunday, we all attended the worship service at Emmanuel. I had never been in a church where the service was broadcast on the radio. I was fascinated by it all—and more so by the complete sense of peace that Ernie had as he welcomed the radio listeners and entered into his sermon.
He was an amazing preacher—his strong voice and evident sense of confidence in what he was speaking about spoke volumes about him as a person and orator. He had this great smile and a twinkle in his eye that conveyed a great love for the Word of God, his parishioners and his radio audience.
I could hardly wait to get back to Barrie, simply to hear Ernie preach. As I shook his hand upon departure, he made me feel so very welcome and valued. While there were further visits, the next moment of deeper memory came when Ernie took on the role of conference director at the famed Canadian Keswick Conference on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka. I had a similar role just up the lake at Keswick Youth Camp. Our friendship intersected on many occasions. The enterprise was challenged financially, which had significant impact on our leadership at many levels but more so for Ernie and his family than for me. His dependence upon God and his patience during very stressful moments impressed me deeply as a younger leader and have carried on to this day.
As the years have gone by, we each have faced trying times and changes in our leadership contexts. Once again, Ernie’s approach to life—to serve God fully and humbly and to be a blessing to others—has challenged me to bask in God’s presence and to allow His Spirit to touch each moment of my day and in turn to be a blessing to others.
I am so thankful for Ernie’s mentoring example over these many years.
John H. Wilkinson D.D.
Chancellor, Tyndale University College and Seminary
Executive Coach and Strategist, Youth For Christ Toronto and Canada
“Young man,” the preacher asked me, “what would happen to you if you met death tonight?” These words burned into my heart on May 24, 1954, I as sat in a Christian youth rally, listening to a 25-year-old dynamic preacher by the name of Rev. Ernest Nullmeyer, the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Barrie, Ontario. I was 17 and had been in trouble with the law and living a rather reckless and purposeless life.
Neighbours of ours who had recently become Christians through the ministry of Pastor Nullmeyer invited my mom and me to go with them to a service at Emmanuel. My mom wanted to go and persuaded me to go with her. The first thing that amazed me was how many youth were in attendance, and the second thing was how young and dynamic the preacher was. At the service Pastor Nullmeyer encouraged the youth to attend an upcoming out-of-town youth rally at which he was to be the guest preacher. It was Pastor Ernie’s inspiring and passionate preaching that inspired me to attend the youth rally, where I realized my need to accept Christ as my Lord and Saviour, which I did that day in May 1954. Through the exemplary life and teaching of His servant Pastor Ernie, God transformed my life forever.
Pastor Ernie encouraged me—with only a grade 8 education—to go to Toronto Bible College (now Tyndale University and College), which he had graduated from. There I graduated with a bachelor of theology. He has been a sterling role model for me for 62 years and also a spiritual “brother” and “father.” My own father took his life when I was three years old.
Pastor Ernie is a man of God with an amazing knowledge of God’s Word, which he articulates with great clarity and passion and lives by daily. He is also blessed with a wonderful infectious sense of humour through which he blesses many each and every day.
Fred Campbell
