DAVID LIVINGSTON
David Livingston (1813-1873) was born in Blantyre, Scotland. At the age of 10, David was working 12 hour days at the cotton factory. After work, he attended a school for 2 more hours. With his first wage, he purchased a Latin text to prop on his machine to read while working.At the age of 21, he fell under the inspiration of one of Scotland's greatest missionaries, Robert Moffat, remembered for the impassioned call for workers to come and help in South Africa. "On a clear morning the smoke of a thousand villages can be seen where the name of Christ has never been heard" He committed his life to medical missions and began studying medicine and theology in Glasgow.
At 27, he was sent by the London Missionary Society to South Africa as a doctor and ordained minister. This would begin a life spent in the interior of Africa where he would trek over 29,000 miles. The adventures of Livingstone could fill many volumes, and there are several to be found in a local library. His life-work could be summed up under several categories, missionary, doctor, explorer and humanitarian. His life inspired tens of thousands of Christians all over the world toward world missions. His efforts in closing the slave trade was a dream he never realized, the House of Commons passing action against the trade one month after his death.
Jeanie and I have visited the museum in Blantyre, which commemorates his life and legacy. As long as there are "villages" where the "name of Christ has never been heard" this legacy or chain of grace will never stop. One man's life kindled at the fire of the life of another whose fire is passing from the scene. May God continue to inspire us and place us under the influence of godly men and women.
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