Monday, June 11, 2012

Memorial Service, Central Baptist Church, Brantford, Ontario


Dr. Bob Foster
Dr. Bob Foster
Tributes are pouring in this week for a great humanitarian with strong Brantford connections, who made a major impact in Zambia and Angola.
Dr. Bob Livingston Foster, who died on Sunday in Angola at 87, was a larger-than-life medical missionary who left a legacy of four hospitals in rural Africa, countless churches and dozens of missionaries who were inspired by him to give their lives to the poor.
Dr. Foster married Belva Mark 63 years ago. Her family continues to have strong ties in Brantford and it was the Marks who introduced Dr. Foster at Central Baptist Church then on Brant Avenue, which became one of his supporting congregations.
"He influenced everybody he met," said Brantford's Keith Donald, a former missionary himself.
"He was a man with a lot of energy, vision, confidence and faith and came from an impressive family."
Dr. Foster's father was also a missionary and translated the entire Bible into a Zambian language. Four of Dr. Foster's children are currently working in Angola and another is a Bible translator in Mozambique.
His son Stephen, who was born in Brantford, was honoured in 2010 by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, for medical humanitarian work in Africa.
"I think my father will be remembered as a man who believed God," wrote Stephen Foster on Wednesday. "Not as 'believed in God,' as the devil does too, but rather in the matter of fact way he simply took God at face value ... that God would keep His promises, protect in times of danger, whether from leopards and mambas to the bullets of guerilla warriors."
A man of remarkable directness, Dr. Foster was known for telling people to consider medical mission work and they often responded.
When the doctor wrote a book about his work, The Sword and the Scalpel: A Surgeon's Story of Faith and Courage in Africa, Franklin Graham, son of the famed evangelist Billy Graham, wrote that "Bob is the No. 1 missionary statesman in the evangelical world today and the man God has used in a mighty way to open up new frontiers for the Gospel in some of the roughest areas of Africa."
Graham wrote again on Wednesday to Dr. Foster's widow, saying her husband had influenced his beloved Angola in "monumental ways. But he also had an impact on my life by demonstrating a selfless spirit of a true servant."
The Fosters and their sibilantly named children --Steve, Sharon, Sheila, Stacey, Stuart, Stirling and Shelley -spent several of their furloughs in Brantford, where Belva Foster's mother taught at Brantford Collegiate Institute.
In Africa, Canada or the U.S., where he finally retired, Dr. Foster was known for his big booming laugh and authoritative manner.
Although he often didn't see his parents for years at a time - he was left in a home for missionary children while they were in Africa -he was heavily influenced by them: his middle name was Livingstone in hopes that he would follow in the footsteps of the famous Dr. David Livingstone, the medical missionary explorer -and he did.
Dr. Foster tells tales from his interesting life in both his book and in a professionally shot video presentation where he talks about his education and working in dangerous rural Africa.
During one examination Dr. Foster was surprised when a woman refused to stay for treatment and, instead, warned about 100 other patients not to go to see him. It turned out there was an eight-foot long black mamba snake in the rafters over the exam table. Dr. Foster had to tackle the snake himself as no one else would face it.
In some areas, the African people called him Kahaya, which means "the big white chief."
Dr. Foster's funeral, which is expected to be massive, will take place Thursday in Lubango, Angola.
It will be streamed for Internet viewing.
Dr. Foster leaves his wife Belva, whom he married in Brantford at Central Baptist Church, his seven children and 17 grandchildren.
Memorial gifts in his memory have been requested to Advancing the Gospel in Angola, 25 Maple St., Addison, NY, USA 14801 or The Angolan Fund, CMDS Canada, 246B Main Street, Steinbach, Man., R5G 1Y8, Canada.
Tributes to Dr. Foster can be viewed at http://drbobfoster.blogspot.com and the video of Dr. Foster talking about his own life can be seen at http://bit.ly/drbobfoster.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Greatly missed

Dear Stuart and Sindia, 

Thank you for the pictures.  Uncle Bob to us, is a treasured memory. 

He is one of those people you just do not think of as dying!  He was one of the people that made me feel more secure in the world, just knowing he was there. I know for the family he is a greatly missed rock.

Love and prayer, 

Steve Fields

A few memories I have of Bob

Dear Belva and family,

Pam Young from Brantford, as well as Doreen Ross, let me know of Bob’s death. He will be sadly missed by all of you. However, it is a great consolation that he is free from pain and rejoicing in the presence of his Saviour & Lord. Our loss is heaven’s gain.


Bob was a classmate of mine in Medical School in Toronto. We graduated in 1947.


Bob was a real inspiration to me. I was not a Christian when I started university and he greatly influenced my life. He has been a mentor for me down through these many years.

I fondly remember your parents

Hello Steve and entire family,

I'm Roy Howarth's daughter.  We met many years ago when the Foster family was living in the States (New Jersey, perhaps?).  I live in Oakville, Ontario and my brother, John, is in Mount Albert.

Dad has never embraced the computer world, so I am emailing the attached letter for him.

I fondly remember your parents.  I saw your Dad more often than your mom, and in thinking of him, remember his booming laugh.

Hopefully Dad's letter will be read by your Mom and siblings too, 

Janice Ghent


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Praying for you all

Dear Stuart & Sindia,

We were privileged to serve Dr Bob and Belva with Mercy Air, flying them to Zambia.  They visited where they had lived, and the hospitals he built and worked at,  and lots of people came to see them and hear them teach and share.

We had read Dr Bob's book before we flew them so we relived their adventure with them.  What an amazing couple with an incredible Lord leading and guiding them throughout all the days of their lives!

We are praying for you and your family during this time of rejoicing for your Dad life and the great memories you have to cherish, until on day you see Jesus face to face and your dad too!

Hugs,

Barbara and Ron Wayner

Mercy Air

A special heritage

Dear Sheila and all of the "Family Robert Foster," 
It seems difficult to think of our world without your very special Dad, Dr. Bob, sharing it with us.
For  each of you, I imagine the hole that is left in your heart is still raw and weeping  around the edges and
you may often or occasionally, be ambushed by tears, at the most unexpected times and places.

Friday, January 20, 2012

A handwritten note from your dad

I was so surprised last year to receive a handwritten note from your dad.  Such a busy, competent man took time to greet me and thank me for a word of appreciation!