“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” Apostle Peter in Acts 10:34,35.
Dr. David C. Thompson pictured above, was born to Carl and Ruth Thompson who were serving as Alliance missionaries in Cambodia. There was much rebel activity in the country at that time. They tricked the French troops stationed in Thompson’s city of Katie to go elsewhere while the rebels planned to destroy Katie. David’s parents decided to stay home and pray while the remaining French troops gathered at a hotel to fight to the finish. About 2 am the attack started with bullets flying but ceased soon after. In the morning there was no sign of rebels and the city was intact.
Later, at the Cambodian celebration of independence from France, David’s dad translated for the French commander who asked the former rebel leader about why they didn’t destroy the city. He said that when they arrived at the city there were so many French soldiers – thousands of them – that the rebels decided to flee. An angelic army had intervened!
David received Christ in grade one. One day the family drove by a dying Buddhist man who didn’t want Jesus – only physical help. It was then, at age 14, that David received a call from God to be a medical missionary. A crisis of faith occurred when he was at college in the US when his parents were murdered in Viet Nam. He decided to put his life fully in the Lord’s hands.
He and his wife went to Gabon Africa in 1977 where he launched the Bongolo hospital. Seeing the need across the continent for surgeons, in 1996 he launched the Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons with a goal of training and discipling 100 African surgeons by 2020. Through these ministries 25,000 people have become Christian in the past 25 years. In 2012 the Thompsons went to Egypt to reproduce their ministry from Gabon. David has said: “We are not working with people who have the possibility of living 70 years – we’re working with people who have the possibility of living eternally.”
We are heading into our annual missions month, with the challenge of ‘give, pray, or go.’ What is the Lord saying to you about your role in reaching wide? What is his calling to you at this time and place in your life?
Pastor Leon Throness
PS – You can find David Thompson’s book “On Call” in our church library.
