April 17, 2017
Dear SDARM family,
Accept our warm greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus with Revelation 21:4:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
It is with heartfelt sadness that we inform you that our dear Brother Francisco Devai (Lucacin) went to his rest in the Lord on April 16, 2017, in Sacramento, California, USA, at the age of 89.
Though we are saddened by the separation we must bear now, we are thankful to God for calling His servant to rest peacefully in Him.
Brother Devai was born in Brazil of Hungarian descent on August 30, 1927, and was raised in the SDARM church. He was baptized at the age of 15 and served the church as a canvasser, Bible worker, pastor, and minister, holding many offices in the church, including the General Conference presidency from 1967 to 1979 and vice-presidency from 1979 to 1987.
This beloved brother will always be remembered for his tremendous dedication to the Lord’s work and for his amazing self-denial and remarkable love for others above himself. He has left us an example of meekness that was always ready to serve whenever there was a need to help—literally at any place on the entire planet at any time, even on a moment's notice. He was undaunted by inconvenience, pioneering, and persecution in dangerous places, and could always be counted on to seek out earnestly the lost sheep anywhere and to tenderly nurture the flock. Wherever this gentle servant was to be found, he genuinely blessed all with whom he came in contact.
Brother Devai is now resting peacefully in the Lord, yet his inspiring method of labor will continue bringing forth fruits to glorify God’s name. The full results of his work will only be known in eternity, but we appreciate the opportunity that God gave us to know him and for using him to bless people in so many ways. Indeed this was a modest, unassuming man whose heavenly crown will likely be quite brilliant with an abundance of stars, symbolizing the many precious souls deeply touched by the wondrous love of Jesus that shone through this humble vessel.
We pray that God will comfort the extensive Devai family, especially his wife, Sister Dora and their children and grandchildren, along with our church family around the world. May the Lord give us all the strength we need to continue looking forward to the day when:
“He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8).
By God's grace, on that day we will meet Brother Devai again and those who did not have the opportunity to meet him in person will then be given this privilege.
“Be of good courage. Keep looking up. Jesus is the only hope of us all. He will not leave or forsake you. Precious are the promises of God. We will hold them fast. We will not let them go.”—Letter 57, 1890.
Brother Devai's funeral service will be held on April 23, at 2:00 p.m. at the Moriah Heights property: 240 Highway 16, Plymouth, California 95669.
With Christian love, yours in the Blessed Hope,
Eli Tenorio da Silva, Secretary
On behalf of the SDARM General Conference