'Well done, good and faithful servant!'

David and I have been friends for some 50 years. In many respects we have had parallel ministries, although there were many issues on which we were not in agreement. There was mutual respect and we each valued the other’s ministry.

David’s church in Guildford gave generous support to our ministry in the East End of London in the early 1970s and that is where our friendship began. He and I were both members of the Lambeth Group set up by Archbishop Donald Coggan in 1976 and we often spent time together thinking and praying about the situation in the nation.

David was one of the main speakers at the 1980 National Congress on Evangelism, of which Monica and I were the organisers. David clashed with Dick Lucas of St Helens on the subject of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Dick led the morning Bible studies, taking a strong conservative evangelical standpoint, and David responded at the evening meetings – which contributed to lively discussion!

David was never afraid of controversy and he often took an unexpected view. He was a strong supporter of Hebraic studies, introducing the term ‘De-Greecing the Church’. He was an excellent Bible teacher and even though I personally did not agree with some of his interpretations he was always thought-provoking and utterly dedicated to biblical study. We always exchanged books and had lively discussions, which I miss. He leaves a valuable heritage of recorded Bible studies and his passing leaves a gap in the generation of charismatic leaders among whom he was outstanding. Well done, good and faithful servant!

Rev Dr Clifford Hill

'One of God’s finest servants'

Many will be saddened to hear of the passing of David Pawson, aged 90, but will equally be filled with gratitude for a long life of service to the Lord, not just as an international Bible teacher but also as a local pastor in his early days.

I first encountered David at Spring Harvest in 1981. He was the main speaker on the final evening. I had not come across his name before, let alone heard him speak, but I recall his message (from Deuteronomy 1) vividly. By the end I understood the Church better, the Bible better and most importantly God better.

He ended by issuing a call from the Lord saying that Jesus was looking not just for a few ‘big names’ to lead thousands and hundreds but for many to become leaders of fifties and tens. This was at the start of the house church movement which saw small groups gain in importance. This call impacted me immediately and profoundly. Along with dozens of others, I stood to accept it. We then moved to another tent to hear him say more on this. Although already involved in Bible teaching, I now knew more clearly what the Lord wanted from me and how to fulfil this.

Through his books, audio messages and video recordings, David indirectly became a mentor to me, as I’m sure he has been for many who have followed his ministry over the decades. Last year I visited him in his care home and had the privilege of spending an hour with him. I was able to thank him personally and share with him how the Lord had used what he had taught all those years ago. It was sad to see him so frail and tired, but our final prayers for each other was a profound moment.

This weekend I shall be re-reading his autobiography, Not as Bad as the Truth, which I can recommend to any who want to know more about the life and ministry of one of God’s finest servants.

Paul Luckraft

'A great personal debt'

I owe a great personal debt to David Pawson for his inspiration over the years. It was 40 years ago that I first heard him speak in a large auditorium and was profoundly stirred by the word he gave. His love for Israel has been a particularly strong influence on my thinking. 

Charles Gardner