Thanksgiving Service held on 25th November 2008 at Parklands Evangelical Swansea for the total life surrendered to God of (Rev) David Morgan Davies, aged 98. Saint, Intercessor, Holy Man of God ------------------- Tribute written by Evan Davies (nephew) - DAVID DAVIES - SAINT, SOLDIER, PREACHER, SCHOLAR, Lecturer, AUTHOR, Translator, Craftsman, AND INTERCESSOR There was something special about David Davies. His love for Jesus invaded all of his life. He was not the flamboyant type who threw his Christianity at you but there was an aura of saintliness about him. He just loved to talk about his Lord. To stay in his humble home was a privilege. Every day started and finished with time in the Word even when his eyes were failing. He loved getting news of what God was doing and fed his soul on the triumphs of the crucified Jesus. It was a normal life full of fun and on the wavelength of young people but infected with what Jesus could do in anybody’s life. God laid hold of him as a young man and after time in Bible College and helping to build WEC’s Hostel in London, it was off to the Congo in the years after C. T. Studd’s death. God gave him real fluency in languages (he spoke at least 7 fluently!) and he soon started preaching and teaching and seeing people coming to faith in Jesus and grow in grace. He became a powerful preacher almost to the end of his life with a lovely ability to expound God’s word in ways that blessed many. In later years students and staff at the Bible College of Wales were touched by his gentle life and scholarly teaching. He was a man of many gifts and his building skills enable him to oversee the construction of a grand church building at Wamba. But as well as having tradesman’s skills he showed aptitude for writing and became the author of various books in Congo languages including a version of Pilgrim’s Progress which influenced the lives of many Christians. Because of his language skills he translated (even at the age of 88) various booklets and made them available to Congolese believers. The events surrounding Congo’s independence and their involvement pushed him into writing for a wider audience the stories of the suffering believers and fellow missionary Winnie Davies. The Congo Revival in 1953-54 touched his life deeply. The story of his experience was shared with audiences in many places and left a trail of blessing. It was so very real to him and he loved remembering the events as he told them in chapter four in The Spirit of Revival (formerly This is That). As he said ‘It is impossible to record everything. We could fill pages with testimonies.’ He and his dear wife loved praying. Every day ended with prayer. Not for them was the pessimism often seen in older Christian workers who kept yearning for ‘the good old days’. David and Anne were up to date in what God was doing today and with vibrant faith they prayed for God’s work. Even though David complained of losing his memory in later years, yet when he prayed he remembered everything and everybody and for 20 minutes he would pray around the world for family, friends, missionary colleagues, Congo Christians and people he had just heard of. For my wife and I it was a lovely learning experience in the school of prayer. We will miss him but he is at home now with Jesus and Annie. For him the words are true ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.’