400 Students Gather to Sing for Teacher With Cancer

On September 7, hundreds of students and faculty from the Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, showed support for one of their own.

Ben Ellis was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in 2015 and has been teaching Latin and Bible at the school since 2008. Despite his diagnosis, the teacher continued to teach and be there for his students. Bing there for his students is why 400 of them showed up at his house to sing in his honor.

Nate Marrow, the headmaster at the school said, “It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my entire life. He is one of the kindest and intentionally loving people I’ve ever met in my life. I think that’s what really characterizes him. He’s always pursuing other people in wanting to get to know them and love them.”

Even when Ellis began chemotherapy treatments, he continued to be involved in the school and community.

According to ABC News, Ellis is married and has five children who all attend the school.

The group sang and played instruments for over 30 minutes. ABC reports that Ellis wrote a note to his students that said, “I love you … I believe now more than ever that God is good, and that he is with us…”

If you thought it couldn’t get any better, even county singer and celebrity Tim McGraw paid Ellis tribute by sharing a video of Ellis looking out from his window, which received over 24 million views on his Facebook page.

“I think we were honored that so many people would watch a man receive love from his students,” Morrow said. “Ben is a dear man and the fact that people want to honor him, we are so grateful.”

Ellis revealed that “in that moment, I felt like I was not alone.”