David Hesselgrave passed away yesterday. Some of you are very familiar with his name and legacy. Some of you do not know of whom I write–however, you have felt his influence. Trust me on this.
David was one of the leading missiologists of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. He was a former missionary to Japan and a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School from 1965 until retirement. He wrote several influential books–some being used today. Check out Ed Stetzer’s tribute to learn more about his missiological influence.
I was first introduced to David as a seminarian in the mid-1990s. Dr. Robert Hughes (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) required that I read the behemoth Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally and write a 20-page review of the book. I still remember the importance of being “receptor-oriented” in the communication process, and have taught this concept many times over the years.
My appreciation for David grew as I later read Planting Churches Cross-Culturally (the 1980 edition). In fact, I give credit to David’s work for influencing my version of the Church Multiplication Cycle in my book Apostolic Church Planting.
I first met David on a cold February day in Chicago. I was serving with the North American Mission Board and my supervisor, Van Kicklighter, had arranged for a private training session between a few of us NAMB folk and David. We had the honor of spending several hours learning from him and asking questions. This encounter was the start of a very pleasant relationship.
When I was nearing the completion of Discovering Church Planting in 2008 (pub date was 2009), I began to consider the importance of a Foreword. Only one name came to mind. David was extremely gracious and kind in his wording of that section. He was also very generous with his endorsements of some of my other books too. I have been and always will be grateful for him taking the time to read, process, and recommend the words of this admirer.
I did hold my breath when Craig Ott and I edited Missionary Methods: Research, Reflections, and Realities. You see, this book included a chapter written by David: “A Prolegomena to Contextualized Preaching Concerning the Wrath of God and the Judgment of Man: What Did Roland Allen Know that We Sometimes Forget and at Other Times Never Learn?” I mean, how is that for a chapter title? Who would dare edit something this profound from a giant in the field? David submitted to the knife of the editors and loved us for it. I think I finally exhaled about two years after the book was published, knowing that we were still friends.
To me, he was always very encouraging and kind. Tonight, I returned to some of our email exchanges over the years and smiled when I read of his interest in my transition from serving as a professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to becoming one of the pastors with The Church at Brook Hills. A man of his stature and influence still had the time to ask how are you doing.
Over the years, I had the opportunity to hear him present papers and speak at the Evangelical Missiological Society, a professional organization he co-founded. During one of our annual meetings, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award and this tribute video.
However, the most humorous memory I have of David occurred in Louisville, Kentucky on a Sunday morning. I was serving as an elder with a new church in the city. While standing in the cafeteria-turned-worship area (We met in a school.), I heard a very deep and resounding voice behind me, “Dr. Payne!” I turned and was shocked to see the legendary Dr. David Hesselgrave sitting in one of the folding chairs. I then discovered that one of our members was his granddaughter. He and his wife (Gertrude) were in town visiting. Shocked. I turned to his granddaughter and husband and rebuked them for not telling me that they were of missiological royalty. I quickly reminded them that they were of a significant bloodline. Unimpressed, they simply said to me, “We just consider him grandfather.” I love it. That still makes me smile. And with all the accolades showered on him over the years, I am certain that being called grandfather was one of the most important titles and honors he ever received.
I am praying for the Hesselgrave family during this time. I hope you will too. If you never had a chance to connect with David and that resounding voice, take heart believer, you will one day. And when you talk with him, make certain you are able to tell him of stories of how you labored for the advancement of the gospel among the nations. That is what he gave himself to. He’ll be excited to hear your stories.
I am so confused and God leads me here. My concerns churches that judge other denomination,s. I am now getting convinced just to love God the Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to seek the church of my soul. To love Him first and myself and treat others the way Jesus did.
Yes, Dolores, we are to love God and others. Of course, the Bible is very clear that to walk faithfully with the Lord is also connected to walking in covenant relationship with His people too. He provides local expressions of His Body for our good and His glory. None are perfect, but we are all on a journey with Him and one another.