A LIFE DEDICATED TO CHRIST
David Hamill (known to his friends as 'The Legend') is in Heaven with the Lord he loved so much and served so well. The ripples from his life go on as he was, and is, such an inspiration to, and has had such a tremendous impact on, everyone who met, knew and loved him. He lived a life dedicated to Christ. He made his life for Christ really count! His work HERE was complete and God took him HOME.
Although we have the assurance and deep comfort that David is at HOME with his Father in Heaven and walks daily with Jesus, the emotional and physical pain of missing him is sometimes overwhelming.
We love you and miss you so much David. You are still part of our family life - OUR "WEE FOUR" and always will be until we meet again. Our little family was SO close - the fun-filled times we had together are such happy memories - we still talk about you a lot and thank God none of us have any regrets as we never had a falling out with you, or you with any of us, in your entire life - but the emptiness left now in our hearts will never be filled until we are together again , never to be separated for all eternity. There would be a very large part of our lives missing without you having been part of it. Life for us will never be the same but, despite the deep pain, we must go on living because that is exactly what God asks us to do (and we know that is what you would want us to do too) We know God has a purpose for each one of us - until the day He calls us or comes to take us HOME.
Yours was a very special life - you are very special, loving and much loved. You certainly lived up to the meaning of your name - DAVID - Beloved one - a loving heart and loved by everyone who knew you. "To live on in the hearts of those you love is NOT to die" - you have now just begun to live. You were and are loved by SO many people and many hearts are grieving because you are no longer here with us physically. You will never be forgotten and we still feel you are around - that lovely smile will never go away! We know that big smile came from a deep contentment in God in your life. Thank you for all your love.
David's deep love for God was evident to all who knew him. He had a passion for souls of people and could never understand anyone living without Christ in their lives. He gave his life to Christ when only 5 years old! He lived out his commitment to Christ to the end! He had a spiritual maturity and insight into life which was well beyond his years. He wanted always to be identified with Christ - in fact at his Thanksgiving Service his Pastor, Andy Smith, told of how David had a strong Ulster accent, which identified the fact that he was born in Ballymena, but David thought it would be a wonderful idea if Christians universally had an ACCENT which would identify the fact that they belonged to Christ - what a wonderful idea.
David enjoyed life to the full up until a short time before God called him Home. He loved fun and his friends tell us of many funny memories they have of him, both those at home here and in England, when he was at University.
David loved life, he loved his family so much, he loved people, he loved children, he loved fun, he loved his sports, he loved (and lived) to worship God - but most of all he loved Jesus - his Best Friend - and all who knew David knew that without him even having to tell them. "He sat so close - he shone so bright".
It was GOD who had chosen the exact time, place and means of how and when David would go Home to be with Him in Heaven - in His Sovereign will, He knew this even before David was born:
"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" - Psalm 139 v 16.
The Thanksgiving Service for his life is still being talked about by so many, even months later. Many have said it was the most uplifting, inspirational, moving, warm, positive and "full of hope" service they have ever attended. The tributes to David and to his Saviour in the Book of Condolences is amazing. Lives, of young and old alike, have been saved and totally transformed by the testimony of David's life and that Service. Despite his many talents, David was a very humble guy and would want all the glory to go to God alone!
David's motto for life was Romans 12 v 1 - 2 "Be ye transformed" - a Transformer. He and his friend Nathan formed a band called Row 12 (based on Romans 12) and their CD called "Standing Room Only" captured David's love for God in the lyrics and music written by him. The aim of the CD - "Our vision is Jesus - our aim is to make him famous". What a vision for two young students to have - their hearts were for God.
Although he graduated from University in 2005, the Chaplaincy and Christian Union of St. Martins College held an unprecedented Service of Celebration of his life in Lancaster University on 9th June, 2007. A memorial football match was held in his memory and another match was held on 31st May 2008 at St. Martin's College, when the "Dave Hamill Memorial Trophy" was presented by Sportsreach UK. in his honour. A very large number of his peers from University attended on that day. This shows the respect and love they had for their University friend. Annual football matches are then to be held in his memory. The gospel will be preached before each of these matches. We know this would have made David very happy - we pray someone will come to know the Lord at these occasions.
On 31st May 2008 a lectern Bible was presented to the University Chapel in David's memory by David's dad, Peter. Again, we know David would be very happy that God's Word is being read and upheld by those using the Chapel and we pray many will come to know the Lord in that place.
Many of his Christian friends and peers were at the Service in Lancaster in 2007 and verbal and written tributes were paid to him which included words to describe him like:
"A mighty man of God; A legend; a gentle giant; loving and caring; full of integrity; honest; dependable; trustworthy; God's servant; humble; always smiling; had time for everyone; unjudgemental (rather tried to understand); pure gold; a big man in stature and for God; a perfect friend; a great musician; he had a very special singing voice; no one could sing "I Can Only Imagine like Dave!; a cracking footballer; a wonderful colleague; a man with self control; unique; unconventional; an ambassador for Jesus; he oozed Jesus - he was as real as Christ; inspirational; an encourager; a man of prayer; an outstanding example of a life devoted to Christ; never wavering in his faith; loyal to his best friend Jesus; pure; morally upright; an unsung hero; he had a servant heart; a chosen one; a life of Christ to follow; he chased after God; always had time for people and made everyone feel important; he walked his faith so loud you could hardly hear him speak"
His friend Stevie said "there is a 'Hammy' shaped hole in my life and it is a big hole because he was a BIG guy in every way"
Another friend from church said "Dave lived and walked God just by being himself"
What a testimony and legacy to leave behind.
"It is not the DURATION your life which matters - it is the DONATION you put into it for others and for God"
"The success of our lives is not determined by how long we LIVE but by how much we LOVE (and have been loved)"
Christians have been challenged and encouraged to live their lives more effectively for God. Many have said that their lives have been "turned right around" and they must Seize the Day! Non-Christians are being challenged and inspired by David's life. His Christian and non-Christian friends alike speak of him with the utmost regard and esteem. Tributes, memoirs and comments continue to come in on a very regular basis - so many lives have been touched and influenced by him.
Various memorials have been put in place in David's memory but we know that no-one needs a visual reminder of such a special guy as David Hamill "The Legend" - his life said it all and that will never be forgotten.
David - you are a son and brother to be very proud of (in the correct sense) as you never let us down in any way during your entire life.
What a guy - what a son - what a brother - what a friend!
We all feel so privileged to be your family. Your memory will live on forever - you have left such a legacy and wonderful testimony by your life. Your life, although short, was full and worthwhile. God used you, and is still using you as the ripples from your life still go on in life's pond.
For you, we know it is - "With Christ which is FAR better". Phil. 1 v 23
We have been told by David's pastor that at a time of worship in church just a few weeks before God called him Home, with tears flowing down his cheeks, he said he just "wanted more and more of Him". Two weeks before God took him home (11th March 2007 - Judith's birthday) he told our family, in conversation, he was "prepared to give his life for Christ". A life in total surrender to God. God wanted you David and you were in total submission to Him and willing to go. You couldn't get any closer to Him while you stayed here - now you have seen Him face to face. What assurance we have - until the day we see you again. We know we are never far apart. You, David, are WITH CHRIST - CHRIST lives IN US - our little family will never be broken up. This is a great comfort.
David was a school teacher of primary age children and they all loved him so much. They called him "kind - a friend - smiling - encouraging - fun, fun, fun - so so so cool, a "real" teacher, loving, helpful, a great musician, "footballtastic". They have all said they will never forget him. On the day he went to Heaven, the school had to close as the pupils were all so emotionally upset.
His one desire in life was to "work full time for God". During his last year in life, he worked at W5 at the Odyssey, Belfast (an interactive discovery centre) as an Education Officer. From what we have heard from his collegues and friends, he worked TIME AND A HALF FOR GOD while he was there (and in all his spare time).
In November 2008 a wonderful painting called "HOPE" - by artist L. Dyson - was presented to the Odyssey in David's memory - commemorating his life and the HOPE we have of spending eternity with the Lord and with David and other loved ones who are already in Heaven.
David had just become a Leader in Belfast City Vineyard church where his servant heart was very obvious and he is deeply missed by all his dear friends in that church family as well. There again, the ripples from his life go on and on........ in the lives of others whose lives he touched.
David's life, his memories, his writings in his Bible, notes in his journal and lyrics for songs have left us with the assurance he is in Glory. He wrote "to worship YOU have to be the sacrifice". He said NOTHING would come between him and God. A friend of the family commented that "As for the things of God, David was on another plain".
David, we praise God that you are now safe and secure, free from breathlessness, free from tiredness, free from all the frustrations of life - and you can never again be hurt by anything in this world. You are enjoying the presence of God and are worshipping Him now in perfection. You don't have to sing "I Can Only Imagine" any more. Your work WILL go in in our lives until the day God calls us or comes for us. You KNEW God when you were with us and you now KNOW Him face to face. We always wanted the best for you and now you have got it!
We look forward to the day when we will never be separated again for all eternity. Until then, there will be a BIG gap in all our lives - because you were a BIG guy, in every sense of the word. You will never be forgotten. We look forward to that smile again and to hear your voice! We can now sing the other MercyMe song "Homesick" because that is what we are - we are looking forward to going HOME.
This is a very difficult journey which God has entrusted to us. For now, we don't know why? - one day it will all be revealed. We find comfort in the fact that David now knows why! God only asks us to trust Him, whose ways are perfect, and believe that He knows best as he works out His purposes and Divine will. Our Hope for the future rests in God alone. The path we have been asked to walk is not what we had expected but God will guide us - to the very end. God does not ask us to understand; He just says "Trust Me".
God does not take us TO anything unless He will take us THROUGH it.
John Ch 17 v 24: "Father I want those you have given to me to be with ME where I am"...
Every day of our lives will be an anniversary of your life. We praise God for all you have been, and still are, to us and re-call all the happy times we had together. We are thankful we can look forward to a great re-union day when we will all be together again.
David worked hard and ejoyed his life right up to a couple of weeks before God took him home - he became very tired and breathless but still continued to live life "to the full". None of us were aware (despite many blood tests and chest x-rays) that he had an underlying pre-disposition to blood clotting, some strange mutation in his blood. One week before he went home to be with the Lord he was diagnosed with Atypical pneumonia and came to stay with his mum and dad - where his mum tenderly cared for him. At the end of the week he became very ill and this culminated in multiple clotting of his major organs. He died from Acute Cor Pulmonale (following a Pulmonary Embolism - clot in the lung). Pathological Reports revealed he was a very healthy young man with a very fit body - the report said all his organs were "remarkably healthy" and that his brain was active up until the last second before he died (he looked after his body so well, inside and out) but GOD WANTED HIM and he had to go. John 17 v 24
Although the shock and pain of our little family watching David in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit was VERY hard to bear, he was not in pain and, as we look back, we see how God protected us from so much and His mighty Hand was evident in so much over that entire unforgettable weekend. Many of the nurses and doctors who ministered to him medically were Christians and his Cardiac Surgeon and anethetist were both Godly Christian men who not only tended to his medical needs but prayed over him and the drugs they placed in his body - their Brother in Christ. We witnessed God's hand in a miraculous way during that time in the hospital.What a privilege to know God had all HIS servants in place! God had it all in his Divine Plan - David's homecall was as meticulously planned as Christ's death at Calvary.
As we witnessed David pass into God's presence, we knew we were on Holy Ground. David looked so radiant as God took him HOME.
The medical staff were overwhelmed by the number of people who visited the hospital because of love for David and our family. Dozens of young people gathered in the Restaurant of the Hospital to pray for David - keeping a round the clock vigil in prayer. Although David was unconscious, we have been assured he heard every word we said to him up to his last second - we praise God for this. He was aware he was not alone and that his friends and family were praying for and with him and that his dad, mum and Judith (the most special people in his life) were there beside him.
Some of the nurses who cared for him so lovingly and well beyond the call of duty came to his Thanksgiving Service. One of them commented afterwards "We knew the guy we heard about in the Service was that kind of guy". When asked how she knew, because David had never been able to speak to them, her reply was "There was an aroma of God came from David". What a testimony from a Godly man!
From Ann - A broken hearted mum - who adored her son - (love much - grieve much)
(Pray you have a guitar in heaven!! Can't imagine you without one!!)
XOXO - look forward to many of these when we meet again - and forever
Each time I think of David I try to make it a "Praise Stop" for his life dedicated to Christ.
Through the pain we have CHOSEN to trust God and we know that our little time of suffering here will not be worthy of our first night's welcome to Heaven. We look forward to seeing Jesus and seeing David again - and to be with him for all eternity.
What assurance and what HOPE!
I HAVE WRITTEN THIS MEMORIAL TO DAVID (AND IN THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS LIFE, LIVED IN FULL TO THE SAVIOUR HE LOVED SO MUCH) PRAYING IT WILL BE A HELP TO SOMEONE WHO VISITS THIS SITE. MY PRAYER IS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE BLESSED, ENCOURAGED AND MOST OF ALL CHALLENGED - BUT MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS THAT GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED AND THAT OTHERS WILL COME TO KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOUR TOO.
If this has been helpful (perhaps you are going through a similar situation) or you have been challenged, or if you want to know more about how to trust in the Saviour David loved - click on "Contact Author" God bless. Ann Hamill
