I have written before about Dr. Frank Dennis. He’s still going strong, still preaching twice a month in a Chinese church in Colorado Springs, and continues to visit Taiwan where he founded a hospital and served for 33 years. He just turned 94 and recently returned from Orlando where he attended a conference for 100 medical doctors contemplating medical mission work and preaching in a Chinese church there.

On September 24, he wrote the following “reverie” on Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, the organization I serve with. I present Frank’s letter in its entirety:

It is Sunday afternoon, September 24, and as many of you who know me well are aware, my “Retirement Plan” is lunch followed by a  nap, coffee, and chocolate, in moderation of course.  My naps are not always sleeping, but often a reverie.  Today, with many thoughts going around about an upcoming speaking opportunity in a  Chinese church in Las Vegas, a wonderful memory of Dawson Trotman floated into my mind, refreshed me, and moved me to tears, but inspired and invigorated.  He was the founder of Navigators and very well known.

I met Daws twice in 2  small group meetings at the U of Minnesota about 1949. He quickly learned the names of all 20? of us and challenged us to walk closely with the Lord Jesus.  But the memory that came instead of sleep was of an athletic young man swimming across a lake late in the day.  The wind came up, waves slowed him, it was getting dark and he realized he was not going to make it to the other side!  Despite his amazing memory of many Bible passages, he has done that for prizes and to amaze everyone.  They had not affected his life.  But in this crisis, he prayed to Jesus, “Jesus, if you save me,  I’ll serve you all my life!”  A boat crossing the lake saw and rescued him and he was faithful to that promise, mightily used by God.

Other memories from a reel-to-reel tape by Lila,  his recent widow.  Daws tried to speak to someone about Jesus every day.  One night, after he got in bed I think, he remembered he hadn’t spoken to anyone all day.  He got up, went for a drive, picked up a man standing by the road, and led him to Jesus! He had no doubt God would have someone for him!

Lila told about a night at the Word of Life Camp when Daws walked with her by the lake and told her he wanted to share his vision (or plans, I forget) for Navigators for the next 10 years.  She said just tell me tomorrow.  “No, I  want to tell you now” and he spent a long time sharing ideas and plans in detail with her.  The next day, Daws was out on the lake in a small speedboat with some young campers who were waterskiing when a girl fell overboard.  Daws jumped in and held her up until the boat came around and picked her up.  Then he sank into the lake!  Autopsy revealed a heart attack.

The circle of his life, saved from drowning in a lake by God and then taken from a lake to heaven as he saved a girl just brought tears to my eyes,  No doubt a great shock to many and a loss to Lila, but what a way to go!  What an interlude of souls saved, disciples taught, an organization that continues to bless and advance the kingdom!  From lake to lake and what a life in between! And really,  what a way to go!  I recall my dear Sally fading away in hospice, seemingly unaware of the love around her, over 2 slow weeks and finally gone.

This reminiscence of Dawson blessed and encouraged me at a time when a lot is going on, many loose ends, nail puzzles to be prepared, the house a mess, hearing aids dead and getting replaced with difficulty, and a computer that sometimes seems to hate me, can’t find files, and shows me a bouncing ball instead of following commands., The day’s mail!  And the day’s emails!

Thanks for the memories, Lord, of one of your delightful servants who exuberantly walked the path and inspired so many.

Help me keep my perspective and balance Lord,  as I try to finish well in your time and your way.

Still in His glad service,

Dr Frank Dennis  譚維義醫師。（譚爸爸to my friends)

A testimony of a great man, written by a great man.

Frank’s prayer would echo the Apostle Paul:

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ… (Colossians 4.2, 3, ESV)

P.S. After Frank sent this letter out, someone sent him a link to a video that summarizes the life of Dawson Trotman and the history of The Navigators. It’s worth the 5 minutes!