David Jones, 26, and his wife Evelyn, along with their 16-month-old daughter Kathy, got off the boat in Valparaíso on November 14, 1959, to start their new life for God in Chile. They settled in the city of Talca, and with boundless energy, David began studying Spanish and the Chilean culture.
With Bill McBride, they labored during the dry, dusty summers in gospel tents. The Lord blessed and an assembly was formed in the city of Curicó. Meanwhile, the Lord blessed the Jones family with two more daughters, Barbara and Dawna-Lyn, who were born in Talca. The Lord also blessed them with a son, David R., completing the family.
In February 1963, they moved to San Felipe to help a small assembly. That year, David started a daily radio broadcast, “Palabras de Vida” (Words of Life), which continued across the country over the next 50 years. As he matured in his service for the Lord, David’s teaching ministry took on an increasingly important role. With a shepherd’s heart, he detected a need among God’s people for sound doctrine regarding assembly principles. David ministered to the needs of God’s people and had an edifying impact on many lives.
God opened up other avenues for the gospel: children’s work and literature. With his compassionate, loving character, he easily made friends with children and endeared himself to young people and was a mentor to many.
Literature was another avenue that David used effectively for the Lord’s work. Through the printing of gospel tracts, children’s Sunday school papers, booklets, and calendars, he spread the good news far and near. In later years, showing his affinity and aptitude for technology, David moved into the digital age by transferring much of his work to a web site.
On February 27, 2010, at precisely 3:40 a.m., a devastating earthquake struck Chile, registering 8.8 on the Richter scale. Many lives were lost and much property was damaged, including gospel halls and believers’ homes. Through the generosity of many assemblies and believers in North America and other countries, reconstruction projects soon commenced. David’s integrity and wise administration made it possible for the funds to be channeled quickly, through him, to those in need. Wherever possible, he faithfully followed up the disbursement of funds, personally monitoring the rebuilding efforts.
On August 20, 2013 he moved up to another sphere – glory! As the news of his home-call spread through Chile, many expressed their affection via phone calls, emails, and personal words to the family. David Jones leaves a legacy as a man who lived for God; he had spiritual wisdom, strong convictions, and that steady, fatherly influence, that so many of us appreciated in him. He often would say: “Today is the first day of the rest of your life, so get busy and serve the Lord!” That he did.
