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) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!