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Report of Bro.
David Madden's Death |
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(Faith & Victory : June 1964) |
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Pictured is Bro. David Madden
standing with Bro. B. U. Etuk, the native minister and
superintendent of the Church of God Mission, and taken the first
part of April in front of Bro. Etuk’s home in Nigeria, West Africa,
where Bro. Madden labored very strenuously in missionary work from
March 28 to April 10.
As we write these lines, our hearts are heavy because of the loss
that you and all of us –the Church of God—have sustained in the
passing of our first American missionary to Nigeria, our beloved
Bro. David Madden who so recently faithfully labored there under
very trying circumstances. A few days after his arrival back home at
Tulsa, Okla. On April 12, he took his bed with what was posthumously
described as malaria. The ministers and saints were called for
prayer, some of whom remained with him to the end. Though many
prayers ascended in his behalf, the Lord, in His infinite wisdom,
called him Home on April 28. We may often wonder why, yet we humbly
bow our heads and hearts in submission to God’s will, sorrowing not
as those who have no hope of seeing him again, for Bro. David is
there now on that eternal blissful shore awaiting the Homecoming of
all the faithful pilgrims. (His obituary appears elsewhere in this
issue.)
Bro. Madden felt burdened of the Lord to make this missionary trip,
which was the first personal contact from the Church here with the
native Church of God Mission in Nigeria. Because of his sudden
illness on returning home, he was unable to make a full report to
the Church on his labors and investigation, but those close to him
were informed of the highlights and sidelights of his experiences.
His consuming interest was the Nigerian mission field.
May his passing create in the Church a greater vision, zeal and
fervency of Spirit to meet the challenge of the great foreign
mission fields! May each of us redouble our efforts, grasp and carry
onward the soul-saving gospel torch which Bro. David laid down. We
in turn will reap that eternal reward if we faint or fail not, and
what would be a greater memorial tribute to Bro. David Madden than
to make certain, under God’s blessings and direction, the
establishment of a permanent mission as a base for the
evangelization of the 40,000,000 people of Nigeria, which is the
native and original home of our American colored people?
Under date of April 15 a letter was received from Bro. B. U. Etuk in
which he enclosed the picture shown herewith. Then under date of
April 29 Bro. Etuk’s field secretary, Bro. Friday F. Ekpo, wrote a
typewritten report of their activities for the months of March and
April which is too long to publish in the space available. Included
in this report is an interesting record of Bro. Madden’s visit to
the headquarters’ chapel, and the visits and services held at all
the outlying stations, the farthest away from the headquarters being
about 30 miles. Bro. Madden and Bro. Ekpo traveled together on these
visits in the Volkswagen car which is owned by the mission. The
following epilogue is written in this report by the secretary who
was Bro. Madden’s traveling companion and interpreter:
“We all hope Bro. David has enjoyed his short trip and 13 days’ stay
with us. He quickly adapted himself to local conditions, and for
this I am particularly happy. He comported himself with Christian
dignity and felt (could it be outwardly?) himself at home. We all
will miss him, and being his closest here, I will miss him most. Let
us all hope Bro. And Sister Wilson will be like Bro. David.”
Another letter was received from Bro, Etuk under date of April 30, a
part of which reads: “We were not unaware of Bro. David’s feelings
that several of our teachings were quite different from yours-and
that was and still is the reason why we wanted someone from you to
come and get us out from this mess. . . of irregularities. We have
no doubt that Bro. And Sister Wilson’s stay will be well for us. We
are happy to hear that they will start from there by ship in about
five weeks’ time.”
Bro. Etuk also writes that they have started construction of a
permanent-type addition to their headquarters’ chapel, which is
their No.1 project. They are appealing to the Church here in America
for funds for this building, and hope, by the blessings of the Lord,
to complete it in three months.
In response to Bro. Etuk’s request for more literature, we mailed
him 26 lbs. Of tracts and books just recently.
With regrets we mailed a letter to Bro. Etuk on May 1 informing him
of Bro. David’s passing. This, likewise, will be shocking news to
them. Up to this date of May 24 we have had no reply, but we expect
it any day.
Under date of May 16 Bro. Ostis Wilson informs us by letter, that
they do not yet have their visas for going to Nigeria, and as long
as they do not have it in their hand they cannot make definite
announcements in regard to their trip. They cannot tell when it will
be forthcoming or whether there may yet be more details to be worked
out. If it does not come through soon, it would seem quite certain
that they could not make the schedule announced in the last issue of
the paper to leave New York City by ship on June 9.
Above all, pray fervently for the home and foreign missionary work
and workers. The Lord will not be unmindful of our work of faith and
labor of love in His cause.
--Lawrence Pruitt |
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