David Boyd Long - called home Feb 4, 2007

David Boyd Long SaKambamba

Coming from “down under”, my first introduction to David Boyd Long was when, as a young nurse at Chitokoloki, I came down with Hepatitis and in order to recuperate, went thru to Loloma Mission to spend some time with Charlie and Ann Geddis. While there, in order to pass the resting time and gain some refreshment, Agnes MacDonald gave me audio tapes of teaching on Revelation, by David Long. What a joy and indeed a refreshment, to listen to such wonderful clear teaching on the book of Revelation – thought by many to be a “difficult” book, but explained so beautifully and simply by such an able teacher. There followed other tapes, equally clear and uplifting. So, it was a joy, at a later time, to have the pleasure of beginning to know this dear brother personally, when he paid a visit to Zambia. Later, in 1975, when my future mother in law was dying, and it was decided that, rather than a wedding in Zambia, Don and I should go to Canada so I would have the pleasure of meeting Don’s mother, we did just that. In August 1975, while a stranger in a strange land but knowing Mr Long, he acted on behalf of my father and gave me away at our wedding. I was honoured to spend my last night, as an unmarried woman, in the home of David and Eleanor Long and enjoyed Mrs Longs sweet hospitality. Subsequently I always affectionately referred to Mr Long as Dad and enjoyed letters from him. When in later years, he revisited Zambia with his new wife Barbara, we were happy to be able to entertain them in our own home in Kabompo.
However, it should be noted that his tape ministry was not only in English but many teaching tapes were also produced in Chokwe. These tapes, together with the hand wound cassette players produced by Gospel Recordings, were left at small assemblies in this district here. Sometimes, when visiting these assemblies, they would tell us that “Sakambamba is sick, he is not talking to us – we ask him how he is but he doesn’t answer us” – of course, they were meaning that the tape player was not working and we would have to take it back for repair. They were and continue to be delighted when Sakambamba is well enough to continue his ministry to them. During his visit to Zambia with Barbara, mentioned above, it was a thrill, for some of the Chokwe brethren, to be able to meet, in person, the one whose translation work and spoken ministry, they had appreciated and benefited from for many years.
We have both been honoured to have known and benefited from the ministry and fellowship of Bro Long –( Don’s association with him and the family is much longer than mine), and we do extend our sympathy to Barbara and the family. However, with them, we rejoice that he is now free from the limitations of a failing body and mind and face to face with the One whom he served and testified about, for so many years. While he is no longer physically present here, yet be assured that his clear ministry will continue to be appreciated and will benefit the assemblies here for years to come, if the Lord leaves us here.
Elva Brooks