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David was truly a man of great stature. He was admired and honoured in so many different ways ... ... His friends in PRIME worldwide have been greatly enriched by him. David will remain highly honoured.
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David Chaput de Saintonge
In That Land
In that Land
There is no faith, only holding.
There is no thought, only knowing.
There is no journey, only being.
There is no need, only loving.
There is no hope, only finding.
There is no shadow, only light.
There is no seeing, only sight.
There is no distance, only presence.
There is no creation, only essence.
There is no all, only One
In that land,
in that land,
to which I go.
David Chaput de Saintonge (from At Blackpool Mill)
David was truly a man of great stature. He was
admired and honoured in so many different ways.
We first met him in the early days of Doctors
Dilemmas at Burrswood. Only he could hold thirty
GPs enthralled for a full morning. He was a born
teacher. We admired not only his interactive forensic
mind but also his honesty as he revealed his own
humanity. We were later struck by his commitment
to a pilgrimage in Spain: here was a unique person
combining academic brilliance with piercing
spiritual enquiry as he explored his personal inner
journey.
It was this combination of gifts that were the
foundation of his vast and generous ministry in
PRIME. He traveled extensively, inspiring hundreds if
not thousands of doctors and students from
numerous cultures, amongst whose swirling
uncertainties he was a point of rocklike security. He
inspired so many teachers to emulate his
educational gifting. He was well loved.
His initial diagnosis set up a signpost along a very
difficult road. It was not at all easy at times. He
faced it and walked along it, seeking to express the
very fullness of who he was and who he had
become at the centre of this new reality. He was
determined to pass on his academic gifts, writing
the PRIME manuals with such care. At the same time
he poured his heart into the beauty and poignancy
of his poetry, along with a library of keenly observed
and recorded photographs. Together they
expressed his warm relationship with God and his
confidence that he was being held secure as his
earthly path gradually descended and faded.
His friends in PRIME worldwide have been greatly
enriched by him. David will remain highly honoured.
John (UK)
I was first put in contact with David by Prof Stephen
Evans of the London School of Tropical Medicine
and Hygiene. It was in the days when we were still
‘Doctors Dilemmas’, mainly running courses for UK
GPs. Stephen described him as “probably the best
medical teacher in England” and David certainly
lived up to that description scoring a virtually
unsurpassable 34.5 out of 35 on the RCGP
evaluation of his first session with us. He had an
extraordinary ability to contact the hearts as well as
the heads of participants in such a way that he filled
them with the same passion and excitement for the
subject that he had himself. I resolved there and
then to make him my role model as a teacher and
indeed he became much of a role model for many
and for the whole work of PRIME as it developed.
In early 2001 we received an invitation from the
newly formed Christian Medical Association in
Albania to run a three-day course on clinical skills
and family medicine in May of that year. This was
something that I knew David would be the ideal co-
tutor for – but, having recently retired, he had
decided to go on the gruelling pilgrimage of the
Camino de Santiago where he believed God would
guide him about his future, arriving back in UK only a
short time before the Albanian programme. He was
not willing to commit himself to anything, but by
God’s grace I managed to get him to agree to do
this even if it were the only thing he would do for
PRIME! As we all know, it was just the first of many
years of whole-hearted commitment to the vision.
He fell in love with the country, its people and the
life-changing potential this work offered.
I have of course many memories of David but one
very strong one is from one of those early visits to
Albania - this time in the winter. We had had a long
but exhilarating day’s teaching in Tirana and then
talked until late evening, when David announced
that he felt like a raki (Albania’s national tipple). It
seemed a good idea to the other two of us so we
set off exploring the darkened back streets of the
city - still unrestored from the long years of
communism until we came across a tiny café with
some chairs outside. We sat together, sipped our raki
and swapped tales with snow flakes falling gently on
us and around us.
David was a great academic with a logical incisive
mind which he put to great use in bringing together
PRIME’s main teaching material and methods in the
Whole Person Medicine Tutor Handbook and then
working with Ros Simpson to produce the superb
publication The Good Teacher. But he was also a
person of warm humanity and profound spirituality,
capable of writing around 150 scientific papers, but
also producing moving poetry and emotive
photographs. He will be sorely missed but in so many
ways his work goes on in the lives of the many many
students, doctors and nurses whose concepts of
medicine he greatly enriched, and through this
many thousands of patients in many countries and
cultures will receive better care.
John (UK)
It was a privilege to observe first-hand how David,
a Christian medical educator, went about inspiring
another generation of medical students with his
infectious enthusiasm. I thank God for David's
passion for Kingdom values to be adopted into
medical education and for his teaching about
maintaining a compassionate nature in medical
care.
Anthony (UK)
Although I first met David (or Mark as he was then
known) at the St. Bart’s and London hospitals
during the late nineties when we were both
engaged in developing communication skills
education. I did not really know him until we
worked together on some of the early PRIME visits
to Moscow and Tver in 2005 and 2007. During
those visits, as we lived in the cramped premises of
the Agape flat (through the kindness of Bill
Becknell), one was struck not only by David’s
educational skills but by thoughtfulness and his joy
in life: a joy born of his deep Christian faith. I wish I
could depict that thoughtful interaction and
radiant joy better than words can.
Carl (UK)
I am a relatively new and young tutor in the PRIME
family.
I had the honour and blessing to do a teaching
together with David in Ternopil, Ukraine. He made
a powerful impression on me with his teaching by
using his own illness/patient status as an example.
Many eyes were filled with tears in the end, and I
do believe he made a lasting impact on the
students’ attitude towards their patients.
David was for me the perfect picture of an ‘English
gentleman’. He had a lot of knowledge and
wisdom that he shared freely if asked. He was kind,
with a bright sparkle in his eyes. A person I liked to
be with, and a person of respect at the same
time...
We also stayed together at Ros' home during a
tutor training. When I think of David I think of him
sitting in her kitchen, that was a wonderful evening
with wonderful people. He is still present for me in
his books, which I use a lot.
It’s a big loss that he is gone, but when I think
about it I am thinking about the Bible verse:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
Anna-Lena (Norway)
David was a truly inspirational person and we are so
blessed to have got a chance to meet and know
him at the xx University in xx through the Whole
Person Medicine conference.
His spirituality came across to all who met him.
Participants still ask about him and reminisce on his
words. He will always be remembered by us.
Drs. Waris and Marie (Middle East)
Greetings.
We feel sorry for the loss of such an intellect and
wealth of compassion. Our sincere sympathies with
the family.
May God rest his soul in Eternal peace.
Mutooro (Uganda)
!
I first met David - when he was known as Mark - and
teaching/ researching (I think in something related
to Pharmacology) when I started the clinical
medical student course at the London Hospital. Our
paths did not cross again for very many years until
PRIME appeared. I recall David’s gentle, clear and
confident teaching of PRIME material. He so
obviously knew what he was talking about and had
a real care for his learners. Greatly missed. John (UK)
It is with deep sorrow I received the sad news
of the death of David. May he rest in peace.
I have followed the course of his illness and admired
his courage in continuing his mission. He will be
rewarded eternally for it. I offer my prayers and
sympathy to his family and all the members of
PRIME.
I assure you of the prayers of all the Poor Clare
Community. God bless you all.
Sister Marie Veronica from The Poor Clare Sisters (UK)
We join you all in the sadness of hearing about the
death of David Chaput de Saintonge and yet
rejoice too in the certain knowledge of his place in
heaven.
We do pray for his family, friends and colleagues
and all of you in PRIME who knew and loved him.
Jo (UK)
We offer you all our deepest condolences on the
passing away of the respected Director of
Education, Dr. David Chaput de Saintonge.
May Almighty Allah shower his blessings on him and
rest his soul in peace.
Our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences.
Dr. Iman and the Team Members (Middle East)
Although I met David for only one extended
conversation on joining PRIME recently, his gentle
endurance came over as a great inspiration to me.
He exemplified the organisation that I wanted to
join, as a person who clearly lived what he taught.
He was a model of compassion even at a time
when he must have been suffering. I shall always
remember the impact that had on me, which must
have been happening to many others who met him
at that time.
His legacy will be not only in the manuals, but also in
people’s hearts moved by their reading.
Trevor (UK)
I will miss David's direction, wise guidance and razor
sharp intellect both with substance but also
delivery. In the short time I knew him he became to
me a model I wished to copy both in academic
excellence but equally his love for people and for
God.
During his illness, I never heard him complain and
his You Tube interview with Richard and his Sharing
the Journey From Grief to Hope are testaments of
his courageous fortitude, belief in his Lord, love for
others and for life both here and after.
I will miss him as an older brother to whom I looked
up to but know I'll meet again.
Andy Charley (UK)
A great teacher, physician, mentor and friend. A
man who knew his God and who was at peace in
the Son's arms.
Tony (UK)
We first met David in the early days of PRIME when we
were all on the trustee body together, and immediately
appreciated his sharp and incisive grasp of issues that got
straight to the heart of things, an invaluable asset in a new
organisation struggling to define its mission and vision. His
capacity to plan, organise and deliver inspiring teaching
was always great to see, and his passion for Jesus shone
through all he did. He was also hospitable to a fault, and
we enjoyed many comfortable stays at his and Gail’s
home during trustee meetings.
He was sensitive to the emotional climate in a newly
developing team who were learning by trial and error to
communicate extensively by email, and would take the
trouble to phone and check things were OK after the
inevitable misunderstandings and differing perceptions
had caused conflict.
I (Huw) had the privilege of travelling and teaching with
him in Albania, Russia and Krygystan over a number of
years, as well as sharing the running of some of our early
UK conferences, and always found him a totally reliable
and helpful colleague who would never fail to deliver
what he had promised.
His contribution to PRIME, and through it the extension of
God’s Kingdom in medical education around the world,
has been immense. Thankfully his attention to detail and
forward planning mean that his legacy lives on through
the two manuals he contributed significantly to writing, so
his ideas and inspiring communication style will continue
to benefit PRIME partners worldwide.
Huw and Mary (UK)
We were very sad that David has died, "Been
promoted" in the terms of my early student faith.
This is extremely sad for his family and for his friends
in PRIME but as for him, he is rejoicing in the
presence of his Lord without pain or weakness. PTL!
Edwin (UK)
My dear beloved brother David had fought the good
fight, finishing the race, keeping the lifestyle faith, and
now he is there, where our Saviour Jesus Christ is.
I can say that Dr David was truly a man of God with a
unique attracting attitude. He was a respected teacher
and highly appreciated as an honoured and valued
doctor.
I first met him in Austria 2008 during ICMDA conference.
During those great days, we had a lengthy chat and
discussion regarding ACMA-PRIME cooperation and
partnership.
ACMA has a special respect and admire to his person and
personality, where both science “academically” and spirit
“as lifestyle” met together and brought out a special kind
of thinking to his audience and very unique practical way
in handling life issues mainly in medical field as well.
David as an inspired gifted teacher if not scholar, had
united in partnership ACMA with PRIME. The first journey to
Armenia started in 2008 with a group of other gifted
teachers styling a new way of dealing with emergency
situations. The first course was “Earthquake Medical
Emergency” and more than a dozen of doctors
graduated with the acknowledgment of the high
governmental personals and churches’ leaders and then
continued the task accompanied with his PRIME
colleagues, into the YSMU (Yerevan State Medical
University) where with his creative thoughts and
approaches grasped the university staff alongside with the
students and others.
In spite the diagnosis of his dreadful disease, he continued
to carry the load throughout the world, with special
encouragement to us in Armenia. ACMA was privileged
with his combined tutors in his early days of his disease,
setting up the schedule, heading to fulfill the vision,
reaching out hundreds of academic personals throughout
a very difficult road.
From the midst of war, from xx, a special word should be
added which was a great commitment to all of us here, in
xx, xx. In spite his great fight with disease, in the last few
months, Dr David had a very special burden for us as a
Baptist church and as a Christian community. He wished a
lot to come over and visit us here and share his tasks and
be in contact with our xx university, but it remained an
unfulfilled wish. But, his role in his community was not less
than this. He had delivered special talks and speeches in
his church and other known societies on our behalf raising
funds and supporting poor needy families who are in
danger.
Dr David’s brothers and sisters in Armenia, friends and
colleagues in ACMA have been greatly enriched by him
and he will remain highly admired and respected.
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the
time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I
have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store
for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous
Judge, will award to me on that day …” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 Jany (Middle East)
I would like to give my condolences to all who loved
David.
Although I only had a limited time with David during his
later years and can't say that I had the privilege of really
knowing David. What I can say is that sometimes in life you
meet people that are unique and remarkable, and you
are immediately aware that this person has the potential
to teach you and greatly influence your journey, David
instantly struck me as one of these rare people.
I don't know whether it was the twinkle in his eye, that
he was humble, warm, open, enthusiastic, and
passionate in nature, his great intellect and wit, or the
fact he was respected by all and a great teacher. With
all David's qualities he still had the ability to make you
feel a valued team member. David's way of being
served as a great example and inspiration to me,
especially his care and compassion to others
(particularly when he must have been suffering
himself).
David's faith, embrace, peace and acceptance of
death helped me in my own faith and dealing with the
loss of loved ones.
It was a great honour and privilege to have met David.
I know David's legacy will continue within PRIME, in the
many ways he contributed, whether it be in those who
were taught by him, in his many teaching materials,
poetry books, relationships with PRIME partners, tutors,
team members, students ... I am sure that David will
continue to influence many more journeys.
Emma (UK)
We’re very sad with the news of David’s passing but comforted that he’s now with our Lord.
Jorge (Portugal)
When I first met David six years ago I had already
been teaching in General Practice for over 20 years.
However, observing him teaching, especially the
sensitive and insightful interactions he had with his
students, both inspired me and gave me
confidence to teach in ways which have not only
been personally fulfilling but also, I believe, greatly
benefited my own students.
David, we shall miss you, but you have left something
of yourself within us. Rob (UK)
I first met David at Burrswood, at other conferences
and later in Romania when we were both teaching
PRIME values.
My heart was moved by his gentleness and humility.
A man with poignant educational + teaching skills
whom I respected professionally.
However, also a person who made one feel valued
and appreciated. He lived out compassion for the
patient - the individual.
I remember on our last meeting how he responded
to my concerns about his health. He was out in
Romania doing what he loved best - teaching
PRIME values.
He knew he was dying. With a smile he told me "the
medication was controlling symptoms” (which he
minimised) “but his business about the Lord's work
was fulfilling him”...
A remarkable person in the face of adversity. I hope
he will be a model for myself and many others. His
memory leaves me with a warmth in my heart. He
will be sorely missed. Mike (UK)
Dr Chaput, as he was then known, was the
consultant when I did my first house job at St
Leonards, Hackney in the 1970s. He was newly
appointed and clearly a rising star. He was young,
brilliant, acerbic, handsome, always impeccably
dressed in navy blue suits. He expected meticulous
attention to detail and a very high standard from his
junior staff. I found him terrifying.
It was a very different David I met 37 years later at a
PRIME weekend. Still handsome and impeccably
dressed but warm, humorous, accessible and we
had one of those memorable conversations when
you feel you have really connected with another
human being at a deeper level without having to
go through all the usual social niceties. He told me
about his journey and of the transformation he had
been through into the open loving human being he
had clearly become.
We emailed for a short time after sharing our
favourite poems and he wrote again of the power
of change: "Hopefully this has led me away from
utter selfishness and self-centredness into a slightly
more humble and generous way of living. I just
wonder why it takes so long, but maybe there are
some things you just can't hurry."
Perhaps the soil has to be fertile for the miraculous to
happen.
He was one of the most generous and inspiring
people I have met. Jo (UK)
It is very difficult to understand that David is not with us. David was a great man.
Andrey (Russia)
Surely it will be said of David that he followed in the way of
the saints of Jesus Christ who shared in our Lord’s
sufferings. As Paul writes in Philippians 3:10,11: I want to
know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship
of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death , and
so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the
dead.
David was always supportive and encouraging and
appreciative of all people, recognising where they stood,
and, like Jesus, meeting with them at their point of need.
As I met with other colleagues during the development of
the PRIME vision I was deeply influenced by his generous
spirit. He became a Trustee of the Charity Medical Service
Ministries for a short time, when it was trying to find a new
vision. He encouraged us in supporting the development
of Primary Medical Health Care across the majority world,
with indiscriminate love but always promoting the
Christian Gospel.
‘The Good Teacher’ manual reflects David’s gift as a
teacher and will be treasured as more communities
embrace the compassionate, evidence based medical
practice which he promoted.
I will personally miss being able to share with him articles
from my wide disparate medical journal reading which
illustrated how we all have much to learn from each other
in the Global World.
David, in his humility, made the least of us feel valued.
May the spread of ‘value added medical practice’ be a
fitting memorial. Anita (UK)
I share your sadness at this time. David's passing is
clearly a great loss to all who knew and loved him
and it is clear his contribution to the work of PRIME
has been immeasurable.
Though I knew him by sight from my presence at
meetings, I never had the pleasure of chatting with
him.
I should therefore say that I didn't know him. Yet
oddly, through reading his work, crammed full of
insights, reflection and inspiration I did know him
perhaps better than I had realised.
With love and prayers for all who knew loved and
cared for David. Ron (UK)
David was an inspiration.
A compassionate, sensitive man - honest about his
own struggles and absolutely committed to his Lord
whose company he now shares where there is no
more death, nor sorrow nor any pain.
I have many fond memories of David. He will be
much missed. Trevor (UK)
David visited Moscow several times, leading teams to do
training courses for Moscow Region family doctors. The
subject of this training was not “traditional”: the British
doctors encouraged their Russian colleagues to try to
understand “the patient’s inner world”, which perplexed
the audience at the beginning. But little by little the
trainees joined discussions and shared their own
observations on how physical well-being depended on
the patient’s perception of his life. These changes
happened in a great measure due to David’s talents. He
was patient, attentive, helpful, he shared his knowledge
and experience generously. And he was a gifted actor
which made his classes so captivating and exciting.
David was an amazing person. He dedicated his life to
serving patients and teaching doctors. We will always
remember his noble appearance – the appearance of a
real teacher. We will remember his words: “Our goal is to
treat the patient, not the disease. We make our patients’
interests the cornerstone of our work. We need to cut the
distance between the doctor and the patient, and
approach the patient with a strong desire to help him. The
doctor’s work is to give life and hope to the patient.” We
will remember these words as an admonition for us as
doctors and an instruction for our self-improvement.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Gail, David’s
faithful companion and life partner.
Boris and Natalia (Russia)
May God rest him in peace and give condolence to
all his family and friends.
Mina (Egypt)
We console with you upon the loss of David. He was
a brilliant teacher, and he taught in Russia about
pain and loss many times.
As we helped PRIME to do training courses for
primary care doctors in Moscow region we had the
privilege of watching David teach Russian doctors.
He shared generously and with all his heart. At the
beginning his Russian audience would be somewhat
distant and moderate (which is typical in our
country), but as the course developed the
audience would become enthusiastic and excited
about helping their patients to be “whole”.
We have the PRIME manuals which David wrote. We
study them and hope to be able to translate them
into Russian. It will be a special privilege to let
Russian speaking doctors become acquainted with
the idea of restoring Christ’s caring love to the
academic curriculum of medical teaching. And we
believe that a lot of Russian students and doctors will
be enriched with translation of his books.
David will always be loved here.
Medical and non-medical staff, Agape Ministry, Moscow (Russia)
It has been a joy and a privilege to work with David
over many years in PRIME. Even among his fellow
PRIME tutors his teaching stands out. I think literally
he could teach the Green Cross code and any
room would be totally engaged. It almost goes
without saying that he will be missed by us all, both
professionally and personally, except that would not
be at all honouring of his life or his unique and
crucial contribution to PRIME. His faith and trust in
God was humbling and encouraging to many of us,
and certainly to me personally. I consider myself
blessed to have known and worked with him.
Jo (UK)
Preparation:
Mix a giant intellect with palpable humility; stir in gentle, self-effacing frankness without hard edges.
Prepare extracts of incisive analysis and dissolve them in a flowing beauty of words and pictures. Perfuse them with wisdom - original, practical and appealing.
Saturate the whole with the Spirit that everywhere engages, lifts and nourishes hearts.
Dust with a bright twinkling of understated humour.
The mixture requires no heating; it has abundant warmth and passion of its own.
Effects:
Brings heart-warming clarity of thought and vision. This is likely to be permanent.
Dose:
Highly effective even in small amounts. Unusually, no upper limit has been reached, but many have found it addictive.
The Essence of David
How$do$you$describe$all$that$David$was$and$the$legacy$he$has$le6$us$as$across$the$world?$His$life$in$Pharmacology$and$Medicine$prompted$me$to$recall$his$rich$talents$and$generous$quali>es$in$the$form$of$a$doctor’s$prescrip>on…$
It$was$a$joy$and$inspira>on$to$work$with$David$and$to$observe$the$las>ng$benefit$he$brought$to$innumerable$people.$He$will$be$greatly$missed.$
Richard$Vincent$
How do you describe all that David was and has left us as a
legacy? His life in Pharmacology and Medicine prompted me
to recall his rich talents and generous qualities in the form of
a doctor’s prescription:
It was a joy and inspiration to work with David and to observe
the lasting benefit he brought to innumerable people. He will
be greatly missed.
Richard (UK)
I first met David when, as a rather wet-behind-the-
ears 16 year old I was considering a career in
medicine. I grew up near to his home and my
parents arranged for us to meet. I was struck even
then by his high regard for the medical vocation in
its fullest sense. Later, as a junior doctor I was
interested in the work of PRIME and sought him out
occasionally as I was developing my own ideas of
medical practice.
I found his affirmation of the whole person
approach life-affirming, not only for patients but also
for myself as I struggled with some of the impersonal
aspects of a medical career. I then sought to refresh
others with that same inspiration and David came to
Norwich to help me teach a seminar on the whole
person approach.
He was a brilliant communicator and educator and
amazing to work with. He has inspired me to
continue to show frontline NHS staff how the whole
person approach can not only bring better
outcomes and patient satisfaction, but also
refreshment and inspiration to beleaguered staff.
Matt (UK)
It's really very sad that David is not with us anymore. We loved him so much and he became very close person to us. But Praise the Lord who gave us hope, thanks to the Holy Spirit who comfort us and we know that because of Jesus Christ we all will be together one day.
Kristina (Armenia)
I feel very blessed to have met David. I was
immediately struck by his humour, compassion and
acceptance - I deeply admired his obvious huge
intellect and knowledge (always worn lightly), his
ease in conversation on all and any topic, but
mostly his acceptance of me as a human being first
and foremost. It was just good being around him.
I really enjoyed working with him on his manuals,
and poetry anthologies - all exchanges of opinion,
editing, proofing etc were always (from his side at
least) incisive, pertinent, right, and underpinned with
humour. I learned much from his close attention to
detail and style, which always resulted in extremely
professional, elegant, sharp and graceful
productions.
Whilst filming ‘New Horizons’ David’s beautifully
inspiring visions of the life to come will forever be
with me.
He remains a great role model to me - warm,
human, gentle, graceful, strong, accepting. And
with a profound and compelling love of God that
simply permeated and radiated.
Rollo (UK)
Our dear friend isn't anymore with us...
Our hearts grieve, grieve together with his beloved wife and
his dearest children!
David Chaput de Saintogne is our friend, he faithfully served
us, he was not indifferent, his heart was open to receive
Russian students, doctors, teachers and everyone, he met in
his ministry in Russia.
He is our teacher. We will remember his lectures forever!
Once he said that his teachers gave him the bright torch of
knowledge and he sees his task in passing that torch to
others. And he did… Thus changing forever our
understanding about our patients, relationships between
doctor and patient, about spiritual component of medicine.
He taught in such a way, that no one could repeat, his
words were interesting, inspirational and he believed in what
he taught, and the main thing – he himself lived as he said.
But the biggest passion of our friend was Gospel. He shared it
with everyone: students, doctors, officials and dying patients.
He shared with people the largest value – love of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Our friend is not anymore with us on earth, but he is in our
hearts, our memory… We believe, that once, when our hour
will come and we will stand at the throne of Great King, we
will meet him there and will sing together the most beautiful
song. Song to the One, for whose glory lived and served our
dear friend and teacher!''Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.’'
Hebrews 13:7
Christian Medical Association (Russia)
I have very little to contribute on this occasion, to
honour and remember fondly, such a one as David
Chaput de Saintonge, that many others will not
already have said…
However, my own involvement with PRIME may not
ever have happened, were it not for this man's very
gentle, humble, yet winsome encouragement to
me, when I had looked like I had a contribution to
make, during my first experience of a PRIME small
group discussion, which he had led, and where I
had felt totally inadequate to speak.
He seemed to treat ALL people with the same huge
amount of respect, which is a real gift and sign of a
godly man. I am very sad he had such a long illness
before going to be with His Lord, whom he loved
passionately. He will be very much missed in the
PRIME family. I count myself blessed to have met
him.
My sincere condolences to his family and close
circle of friends, on their loss.
Lyn (UK)
Dear Gail, family, friends and PRIME collaborators,
I met David Chaput years ago at an international
PRIME meeting. First of all I saw a handsome man
with a very fine sense of humour. But as I knew him
better, I was more and more fascinated by him.
Never before I had the opportunity to work with a
man like him. Behind the CV there was a greater
doctor, lovely person and an extraordinary teacher.
He will always remain as a model of a teacher !
Paul (Romania)
Dr David M Chaput de Saintonge
1942 to 2014
Teacher, Doctor, Visionary, Encourager, Counsellor,
Empowerer, Role-model, Friend, Spiritual Father,
Elder, Brother, he was all these things to all who met
him in PRIME. But to each of us he was also just
David, a wise colleague who would listen to us,
advise with wisdom, and work with us to achieve the
vision we agreed on together with our partners.
He said the happiest time of his life was the last 15
years after he retired from University work. From that
point on he blossomed from a university-bound
teacher running a single-handed department of
communication skills in Bart’s and The London
Medical School, to a worldwide voice bringing
teaching on relationships, values, compassion, the
patient‘s world and student-centred teaching
methods to thousands of people in about 15
countries, most of whom were completely bowled
over by his teaching. The development of his
academic and spiritual leadership, teaching in other
cultures, and his creativity to teach to move hearts
developed like a horse galloping free across the
steppes of Russia (yes, he did that too in Tver).
David loved the excitement of new teaching
opportunities and immersed himself completely in
the people, the teaching and the development of
compassionate medicine. He chose the Eastern
European grey places, Russia, Albania, Armenia,
Bulgaria and Romania and everyone loved him.
Each country was his concern, and not just for
teaching - he loved the people. In Armenia, we
were in an ancient church chapel in central
Yerevan, not completely destroyed by the
communists, and we met an old Armenian woman
praying with her heart and kissing items in the
chapel. We prayed too and became one with this
woman, who as if she was mother Armenia, kissed
David twice to bless him. Events such as these David
knew were God speaking to him and anointing him
to work for Jesus in this place. Steeped in prayer the
blessings just kept on coming, spun along by the
energy of this passionate faithful son of Jesus, who
spoke the meaning and truth of these blessings to
the people around him. All were captivated by
David, as a visionary servant of the Kingdom of God,
not just as an itinerant teacher. David loved being
that person, blessed, giving, loving and being loved
and receiving so many many blessings back from all
- just as the gift always returns to the giver. He truly
was blessed to be a blessing.
The wild horse of creativity continued into his long
journey of illness with prostate cancer, which lasted
over 5 years and instead of shrinking, David’s
creativity grew into photography, poetry, filming,
writing a PRIME book about teaching entitled ‘The
Good Teacher’ and continuing to preach at
churches, and inspire youth and individuals. His last
legacy of grace and inspiration is the book ‘From
Grief to Hope’, a book of sensitive poems that
describe his feelings in the journey towards death
and hence eternal life. His faith was steadfast and
certain, but humble, loving and trusting in scripture
and shared always with Gail, the wife he loved more
passionately with each year of marriage.
What lasting legacy did contact with David leave
with the people he met? Love. Strong, faithful,
dependable, wise, tough, humble love, the love
that comes from knowing Jesus as a friend and
saviour and loving Him. In Romania after a session of
teaching, a Buddhist student came up to us
amazed by the session, where his heart had been
touched and moved. He recognised the person of
David as a loving person reflecting spiritual love.
“Where does all this love come from?” he asked.
David explained.
We have lost our dear friend and colleague, but the
world has gained from his life and work, and will
continue to do so , as we teach many more
students, doctors, nurses and teachers about how to
teach like David, how to serve Jesus in PRIME like
David and how to love your patient like David. His
legacy will go on and on.
Praise God that we were allowed this man to be
part of our lives and our organisation.
Praise God for all that he did through his servant
David.
Glory to God who loves us all as we do not deserve.
Ros
(UK) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!