‘GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS’
Memoirs of a Bible Translator
By David Bendor-Samuel
Independent. 589 pages. £10.98
ISBN 979 8 666 039 939
An introduction to the life of David and Margaret Bendor-Samuel by their newphew, Paul Bendor-Samuel. David and Margaret are well-known figures in the Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC). Paul was formerly Interserve’s International Director; now he is the Executive Director of the Oxford Centre For Mission Studies. The introduction is followed by a review from Tom Hawksley of David’s newly-published memoirs.
Paul writes: In the 1970s my parents were serving in West Africa and so, like many missionary children, my siblings and I attended boarding school in England for our secondary education. My parents came back in the summer, but for the Christmas and Easter holidays we went to stay with friends and relatives – and this included my Uncle David and Aunt Margaret who opened their home to us. Reflecting on those times all those years ago, the word that comes to mind concerning my uncle is graciousness. Uncle David was always welcoming and for me, a young teenager, he was very personable, easy to talk to. A great storyteller, he was also fun to be with.
After my childhood our paths separated. I am grateful though that in recent years the meetings of the Wycliffe Global Alliance International Board have taken me to Dallas where Uncle David and Aunt Margaret live. Again I have been welcomed into their home. And again – after nearly 50 years – graciousness is still the word for my uncle. He is gentle, appreciative, curious, an attentive listener, wearing his keen intellect easily. His deep love for global Bible Translation work easily seen.
My uncle has had to navigate many changes in Wycliffe. He has never worried about a personal agenda, but always trusted in God’s sovereign grace. Interestingly, my uncle’s response to change and challenge strongly reminds me of my grandfather, Theodore Bendor-Samuel, who for many years was the chairman of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC). My grandfather was assured in his Reformed theology, his focus wholly on the final authority of the Scriptures and the absolute sovereignty of God. As a university Christian Union leader, I always enjoyed discussing theological issues with my grandfather, including the growing charismatic movement. My grandfather listened carefully, keen not to judge, but seeking to sense what God was doing. This is exactly the same quality I saw in his son, Uncle David – a graciousness and acceptance of the other.
I found my Uncle David’s memoirs an inspiration, illustrating powerfully a life of obedience. If asked to do something, his question was always: ‘Why would I not do this?’ This was submission to the will of God – mediated through God’s leaders. There was not a millimetre of hankering after recognition or status. I hope you have time to read my uncle’s memoirs; if not, you can read Tom Hawksley’s thorough review here:
The book is not thin. It is a portly 589 pages; however it is a smooth, easy read. Before you know you are at the end of one chapter and wondering if you have time to read the next.
The focus is wholly on the author’s life – his childhood as the son of a well-known FIEC pastor, a romantic drama with his childhood sweetheart, National Service, a promising start in banking – and then over 50 years of ministry with the Wycliffe Bible Translators in Brazil, the UK, and the USA.
His life has lessons. One is that important decisions – marriage, calling – were marked by careful thinking. not emotionalism. Another is the way setbacks were handled. David took them on the chin. David and Margaret (the childhood sweetheart, now his wife for over 60 years) faced the burning of property (both in the UK and Brazil), a motorway coming through the UK Wycliffe Centre, sudden orders from seniors to change their ministry and relocate, and equally-sudden removals from work he was doing well. The setbacks are ‘blows’, there is ‘dismay’, there is ‘spiritual struggle’, but soon there is a bounce back as David submitted to God’s providence.
Pushing forward
David’s determination to push things forward is another lesson. As Wycliffe’s Vice President for Academic Affairs he ensured the entire organisation benefitted from all that computer programming could bring to Bible translation. He set up the ‘Language Data Processing’ department. As anyone who has had any contact with Bible translation will know, the Wycliffe computer programmes are renowned in this field. There are many other examples of David seeking to make things better: using gospel recordings on the field; pioneering a development office for Wycliffe in the UK; urging on a project to see how many languages in need of Bible translation there were in the world. And much more. For example, during his National Service, David made things better for soldiers he was training. He proved it was possible to do without swearing at the men. And for missionaries needing some light-entertainment, this academic and mission leader held court, reading – in all the different voices – the story of Winnie the Pooh.
Things have certainly got better for the Guajajara people. When David and Margaret first arrived there were hardly any Guajajara Christians. Now, according to the Joshua Project, 60% of the tribe, that is about 14,000 people, are Christians. No wonder there is much celebration when the New Testament – initiated by David and Margaret – was dedicated.
