Liz Myers

Interview by Diana Gipson

If you're a "Grover," Liz has probably ministered to you in one way or another!

Liz Myers has been an active member of SGC for a long time, and you've probably had opportunities to interact with her as she has greeted you with a friendly smile on Sunday mornings.  The greeter ministry, along with the missions, kitchen and women's committees, keep Liz busy at SGC.  If you have young children, she has probably touched their lives through her work in the nursery and Sparks.

Liz became a Christ-follower during her college years, when she saw the Billy Graham Association film, A Time to Run, which was playing in a movie theater in her home town.  Afterward, she went forward and accepted Christ.  Soon after, her family moved to Goshen, and the Billy Graham Association did a great job following up with her, introducing her to a local church with a Youth for Christ Bible study for young adults.

God apparently led her to that particular place for more than one reason--on her very first night of Bible study, she met her future husband, Dave!  "The first night of Bible study was April 25, 1974.  I know that because it was Dave's 21st birthday.  I was his birthday present!"  Dave and Liz have two grown children.  Teresa just finished her doctorate in communications at Ohio State, and is in a fellowship there.  Andy is a realtor with Myers Trust and part owner in an ink company.  He is active at SGC with the youth ministry and missions.

The couple also has three children waiting for them in heaven, including their first child, who was miscarried.  "We were so excited and had just told all the family, so it was hard," she recalls.  Their son, Jacob was stillborn in 1987.  Jessica was born, in 1989, with "Biliary Atresia," a condition of the liver which required surgery at the age of ten weeks.  When she was eight years old, her liver began to fail and she was put on the transplant list.  Her first transplant was successful, but then her body rejected the liver.  In October, 1999, she had another transplant, followed by many more surgeries, but the Lord took her to heaven to be with Him.  "As difficult as that was, NEVER did I feel alone," Liz remembers.  "His presence was always with me to comfort and guide me.  And He used so many sisters and brothers in Christ to be His hands, His arms, His feet, that we were constantly reminded of His faithfulness and love for us.  Praise belongs to Him!"

When asked how she would define integrity and character, Liz replies, "Character is one's nature, a sum total of a person's qualities or behavior, exemplified by what they think, say or do.  Integrity is the quality of being honest or truthful, even under pressure."

Liz credits three main things for helping build character and integrity in her life.  First, her Savior, Jesus Christ, has been her guide and her rock through many events in her life.  "Faithful is He!" she says.  "Often we think the difficult times in our lives help shape us, and they do to an extent, but the difficult times really just show what our character is.  And for me, they have served as course correctors, steering me back to a closer walk with Him."

Secondly, God's Word has helped build her character.  She quotes 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

The third main ingredient in building character and integrity in her life is family.  "The growing up family, my own family and my church family--I have learned and grown from them all!  What a precious treasure they are in my life!"

Some of Liz's "favorites" include playing games, reading and enjoying time with friends.  Her favorite vacation spots so far?  "My recent trip to Hawaii--still got my tan! :)  I went to London with Becky Merrell and on an Alaskan cruise with many friends--good times!"

Some of Liz's favorite verses are:

Isaiah 26:3  You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Habakkuk 3:17-19  Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD.  I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Psalm 91:1,2  Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."