David Livingstone

David Livingstone (1813-1873) was a British explorer and one of history’s greatest missionaries to Africa (comparable to Hudson Taylor in China and William Carey in India). He is known as the “Father of Africa,” and many places on the map of Africa are still named after him. In terms of faith, he was the first to bring the light of Christ into the dark interior of Africa. Politically, he was a key advocate for the abolition of the African slave trade. Medically, he was the first doctor to venture into the African interior. Geographically, he was the first to map the rivers and mountains of inland Africa. As an explorer, he was the first to penetrate the African interior and cross the African continent. Scientifically, he was the first to meticulously document the flora and fauna of Central Africa. Facing pagan cultures, wild beasts, and diseases, Livingstone was filled with reverence, fervor, and faith.

Throughout his 33 years of missionary work and exploration, which often brought him close to death, Livingstone never fired a single shot at anyone, whether facing cannibals or slave traders. He wrote: “No matter how difficult the path ahead of me, the power of God’s Word is sufficient to overcome all difficulties. I found that whether in England or in Africa, at every important turning point in my life, God’s Word: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight’ (Proverbs 3:5-6) and ‘Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this’ (Psalm 37:5), appeared in my heart.” On May 1, 1873, Livingstone died while kneeling in prayer by Lake Bangweulu in Zambia. To commemorate him, on June 5 of the same year, the British Parliament compelled the Sultan of Zanzibar to close East Africa’s largest slave market.

David Livingstone’s life experience testifies that “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.”