19 October 2021 | St Albans, UK [Althea Thomson with tedNEWS/BUC MESSENGER]
The Trans-European Division family remembers with fondness the life and service of Pastor David Currie (1935-2021) who served as Ministerial Secretary from 1990 to 1995 and passed to his rest on 20 September 2021.
Alan David Conrad Currie was born in Taumarunui, New Zealand, on 1 January 1935. In 1956 he married the love of his life, Gaya Wilton, in Christchurch, New Zealand. Together they served God in many places around the world including the Trans-European Division.
At the age of fifteen, together with his friend Athal Tolhurst, Currie attended an evangelism workshop at a youth congress. Upon their return to their hometown of Hamilton, New Zealand, they ran a series of evangelistic meetings. That experience ignited a passion for evangelism that continued throughout Curry’s life. After graduating from Avondale in 1955, he served as a pastor in Tasmania, Western Australia and in South New Zealand, before being appointed lecturer in Practical Theology at Avondale College.
First visit to Europe
From 1975 to 1979 he served as British Union Conference Ministerial Secretary and lead evangelist. Among the many lives that he influenced at the time was a young Bernie Holford who, after working as a volunteer with him in a Southampton evangelistic campaign, became inspired to study for a life of ministry.
Pastor Michael Smart recognises Currie as being, “Hugely influential in me getting to know God and being baptised. I saw him as a true Christian gentleman who lived the life of faith openly – who kept in touch over the many decades, and was still interested in all I was involved in.”
Upon returning to Australia, Currie served as North New South Wales Conference president, and then as Ministerial Secretary for the South Pacific Division.
Serving the Trans-European Division
In 1990 he returned to Europe again for a five-year stint as Trans-European Division Ministerial Secretary. This was a highlight of his ministry, especially his evangelistic programmes in Croatia and Albania after the fall of the Communist regimes in the Balkans.
His 1991 series in Zagreb, Croatia, attracted over 10,000 people to the opening meetings – the first public meetings organised by any church in Croatia since the beginning of the Communist era. Over the next four years, more than 350 people were baptised in Zagreb, including many professionals and businesspersons, and a new church was established.
Responsible for many evangelistic programmes across the division, most notable was his pioneering work of the church in Albania in 1992, following the collapse of what was probably the harshest Communist dictatorship in Europe.
“David lived and breathed evangelism,” writes Pastor Julian Kastrati. “Albania had always a special place in his heart as God used him to be the human founder of the church in the Land of Eagles. On a personal note, God used him to call me to ministry as one of Albania’s first two pioneer pastors.”
As a mentor he inspired many more pastors besides. Pastor Victor Hulbert recalls that he was particularly blessed by Currie’s 1992 ministerial tour of the Middle East, a twenty-one-day tour of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel, with two coach loads of ministers from across the Trans-European Division. “His skills and inspiration encouraged me into public evangelism and enhanced my communication skills. I am forever grateful.”
On his return to Australia, Currie’s final appointment was to serve as the president of the Trans-Australian Union Conference.
Retirement
In his retirement Currie continued his work for the Lord on an uninterrupted voluntary basis. He pastored churches, taught at universities, worked with 3ABN and served in many countries including Croatia and Thailand, where he pastored San Sai Church, and raised funds to build and open Pai Church. He was the adopted Grandpa and spiritual guide to the many children in the Kirsten Jade Rescue Centre, where he is sorely missed.
David and Gaya had four children, Delphine, Kelvin, Adelle, and Althea, and one granddaughter, Sabrina. David’s love for God was supreme and he treasured and loved Gaya and his family. He is survived by three of his five siblings, Alex Currie, Jean McDonald and Colleen Porter.
Pastor Currie will be remembered as a mighty warrior for God, for his mentoring of many younger pastors around the world, and his compassionate love for the people of God.
Liila Skopek, who worked as Pastor Currie’s secretary at the Trans-European Division, remembers “the privilege of working with a sincere Christian gentleman who practised what he preached, loved his Saviour and those around him, especially his family.”
Thousands of members who were brought to Christ through his ministry, as well as many colleagues inspired by him, will mourn the passing of a loving and lovable Christian who gave his life totally for his Lord. May the love of God comfort his family and all who await the resurrection.
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For an additional heart-warming tribute on the life of Pastor Currie see an article by John Cox in the 2014 edition of Reflections from Avondale University.
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Vanesa Pizzuto, associate editor
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