Dr. David Allen Lewis of Springfield, Missouri, well-known author and lecturer on eschatology and Israel ended his ministry here on earth and went to be the Lord on June 2, 2007 at the age of 74. Dr. Lewis was ordained with the Assemblies of God in 1956 and served in the ministry for over 50 years. He graduated from Central Bible College in 1954 and later earned a master of arts degree in theological studies and a doctorate of theological studies.
Dr. Lewis felt strongly that God called him to be a Christian ambassador to the nation of Israel and for the nation of Israel. In 1975 he formed the great organization, Christians United For Israel (CUFI), following a prayer demonstration that he led in front of the White House. His advocates displayed a large banner proclaiming their group of about one hundred clergy to be Christians United for the biblical right of Israel to her land! As their prayer vigil ended they were invited to meet with President Gerald Ford’s top advisor on Mid East affairs, Mr. Robert Oakley. Their delegation conferred with Mr. Oakley for over an hour.
As a clergyman, lecturer, researcher and publisher he had been very active in national and international circles in promoting the well-being and needs of the Christian church, Israel and the Jewish people. David Lewis felt God called him to be a Christian ambassador to the nation of Israel. In 1975 he founded Christians United for Israel (CUFI). He also was one of the founders of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel, and was the current chairman of the board.
Later in 1978 Dr. Lewis was one of the five founders of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel (NCLCI). David led this group in a similar demonstration in Lafayette Park, across from the White House in Washington D.C. Once again their delegation was invited to a conference. Their meeting that time was with Morton Blackwell, who was an advisor to President Ronald Reagan.
In March of 1992 Dr. Lewis co-sponsored the First Annual Evangelical Christian Zionist Conference in San Antonio, Texas. He was also a speaker for the First Christian Zionist Leadership Congress in Basel, Switzerland, and later at CZLC Congresses in Jerusalem, Israel. He spoke for the Christian Celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem and at various locations in the United States.
Dr. Lewis authored over 40 books, produced thirty-nine television documentaries on location throughout Israel and traveled to the Middle East sixty-seven times. He is remembered for his radio program, God’s Word For Today’s World, and his publications, Jerusalem Courier and Prophecy Digest, Prophecy Watch, Audio Prophecy Digest, and his Tape of the Month Service. He also operated the Prophecy Research Center and directed the Springfield Regional Eschatology Club. His wife, Ramona was very involved with his ministry.
Some books by Dr. Lewis include Magog Cancelled 1982 (New Leaf Press, 1982), Signs of His Coming (New Leaf Press, 1999), Prophecy 2000 (New Leaf Press, 2001), Mysteries of the Bible Now Revealed (New Leaf Press, 2001), The Last War (New Leaf Press, 2001), and Can Israel Survive in a Hostile World? (New Leaf Press, 2001).
David was greatly loved by the Israeli people forming lifelong friendships with many of them. H often met with Israeli dignitaries on his frequent trips to Israel, including Menachem Begin even before he became prime minister. Begin was giving a speech and Dr. Lewis was in the audience. He was so impressed with the way Menachem Begin made constant reference to the Bible during his speech that he even commented a number of times he thought that Begin would become prime minister one day. After Dr. Lewis passed away his family and ministry received the following letter from Freda Keet, an Israeli journalist:
As a Jew and an Israeli it is my great privilege to write these words in tribute to the life and work of Dr. David Lewis, ‘zichrono le bracha’, of blessed memory.I had the great pleasure of meeting Dr. Lewis more than twenty-five years ago in Springfield, and was moved beyond words, not only by the extraordinary breadth and depth of his knowledge but for his remarkable dedication and devotion to Israel, my beloved country, to the Land and to its people.
This was at a time when there were few who were willing to go out on this risky limb and state their positions in so forthright a manner. Israel was still largely unknown territory, but Dr. Lewis through his very many visits to the Land and based on his wondrous knowledge of Scripture was able to bring to all who heard him and read him a new understanding of the meaning of the return of the Jewish People and their re-birth and restoration in their ancient homeland.
He was able to build bridges across time, he married his Bible to modern events and this remarkable understanding made him a staunch and unyielding friend at a time when Israel had few such. And during all the years since then and in spite of failing health and when the world increasingly turned against us, and our enemies were legion and the attacks against us venomous, Dr. Lewis was a great pathfinder and a “watchman on the walls of Jerusalem.”
He leaves a great legacy of teaching and preaching and his words will live on in his writings and in the memory of all who knew him. ‘Yihiye zichro baruch,’ may his memory be blessed–Freeda Keet, Jerusalem, Israel
David Allen gave his all to ministering to others holding Israel high on his list of priorities. Surely when he came face-to-face with the Lord upon his death, he must have heard the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”