At twelve years of age, he showed an anxiety about his spiritual welfare. At twenty he was converted. It was a natural stepping stone from the Christian home to membership in the church. His folk were worshippers at the Hamilton Church. Two of the elders instructed him in the doctrines. For five months he walked regularly from his home in Blantyre to his little church in Hamilton to be taught by and be prayed with by one of the elders.
After this he was duly allowed to become a communicant member. It was then he made the decision to consecrate himself to the service of Christ in some form of missionary effort. After graduation in medicine and theology, he applied to the London Missionary Society. Could he come down for an interview? He had no money for his fare. Two friends helped him. The necessary probation period in the London school over, he was ready for his life task. China was his choice; but the Opium War had closed the door; his heart was turned to Africa, and to that continent he sailed, and landed at Cape Town in 1849. What did he look like as he set sail? Moderately tall, slim in build; a wiry, closely knit frame suggesting great powers of bodily endurance. He gave as his reason: “when first I felt the expansive benevolence of the gospel in my heart, it became an interesting question to me; how can I spend the remainder of my days in bringing my fellowmen to the enjoyment of the same happiness and peace?” How can I spend my years? ...”SPEND AND BE SPENT” the missionary ideal was constant in all his years.
Preaching and teaching, Livingstone was also a physician to the sick. He had a genius for friendship with these Africans. “Love begets love” was his motto. His hands were never idle; bricklayer, carpenter, stones man and general director of the social economy of his settlements he passed his days in intense action.
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Culled from Chapter 17 of Church Planting by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills
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