Astleford, David Richard Lunney (1929–2016) and Della May (Scheuler) (1931–2018)

David and Della Astleford were Canadian-American missionaries to Africa who dedicated their lives to the publishing ministry in East Africa and various other parts of the world. They contributed immensely to the growth of the Adventist Church through literature outreach.

Early Life

David Astleford was born on April 24, 1929, in College Place, Washington, in the United States.¹ He was the son of Lunney Astleford (1899-1972) and Bess Arnetta Rae Astleford (née Smith) (1901-1996). Lunney Astleford was born in Canada to British parents and became a Seventh-day Adventist at the age of 11.² Educated in England, Canada, and the U.S., Lunney held Masters and Bachelor of Divinity degrees from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.³ Over his forty-two-year career, he served as an Adventist pastor, administrator, and missionary in Africa, the West Indies, British Honduras, and across all ten provinces of Canada.⁴ He married Bessie in November 1924, and they had three sons--F. M. Astleford, D. R. L. Astleford, and J. A. Astleford--and one daughter Mary, who became Mrs. Hardy Allen Roberts.⁵ He passed away on June 28, 1972, in Abbotsford, British Columbia.⁶

Education

For David, growing up in a minister’s household involved moving from one place to another, and he even went abroad with his parents. He attended schools in various locations, and when he came of age, he chose to become a minister like his father. He would also follow in his father’s footsteps and become a missionary. David attended primary and secondary schools in Curaçao and also in British Honduras (now Belize) where his father served as a missionary. He then attended the Oshawa Missionary College (which is currently Kingsway College, Canada), Canadian Junior College (now called Burman University), Newbold College in England, and Atlantic Union College in the United States.⁷ He also completed graduate studies at the London School of Foreign Trade and also at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.⁸

Family

In 1953, David married Della May (née Schueler) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Della was born on April 13, 1931, to Joseph Schueler (1906–1988) and Esther Leona Gretsinger (1910–1973).⁹ Together they had four children: James, Pamela, John, and Peter.¹⁰ James became a senior executive at ADRA, Pamela became a nursing professional in Australia, John became a chemical engineer, and Peter became a solicitor in London, UK.

Interest in Literature Evangelism

As a young child, a literature evangelist named Rafael Fleitas visited his family and told David, “You colporteur,” sparking his lifelong passion.¹¹ Even before he understood the meaning of the word “colporteur,” David started selling small Dutch books to neighbors, a practice he continued through primary and secondary school in Curaçao and Belize. This became a lifelong passion that would also see him sell hundreds of thousands of pieces of Adventist literature through his own efforts and the many literature evangelists he recruited and trained.

Mission Service

In 1956, David Astleford became the assistant departmental secretary for Radio and Religious Liberty. He served under H. J. Capman, who was also the president of the New York Conference.¹² He was now based in Syracuse, New York. The following year, Clark Dilts became the publishing secretary, and Astleford was his assistant.¹³ He residence was in Terry Avenue, Schenectady, New York.¹⁴ At this time, his father served at Saskatoon, Canada.¹⁵ In 1958, yet another publishing secretary, C. L. Wilbur, was appointed, the third one in as many years.¹⁶

In 1959, Astleford accepted a call to go to Nairobi, Kenya, to serve in the East Africa Union.¹⁷ He moved to Nairobi with his family to begin their missionary sojourn in Africa. At the EAU, Astleford managed two key departments: Public Relations and Voice of Prophecy, as along with Publishing and Sabbath School. His role was instrumental in advancing the mission and outreach of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the region. Astleford came to Kenya at a time of great change, Kenya was gearing up for independence as were the other territories under the EAU.

Astleford also served as a member and of the Book Committee (which mandated the books to be published in a year and printed at the East African Publishing House at Kendu Bay). At the time Astleford arrived, the Publishing House at Kendu Bay was managed by D. K. Short. In 1960, Short left for South Africa to run the Sentinel Publishing House in Kenilworth Cape, leaving A. M. Webster in charge. Astleford, who was a frequent visitor at the publishing house, was present during the handing over process.

Expanding the Publishing Ministry

In 1961, M. E. Lind replaced E. D. Hanson as the EAU president.¹⁸ At the time of his arrival, there were a little more than 80 full-time literature evangelists in Kenya. Astleford decided to change that. He mobilized staff in the church ranks to become literature evangelists. Teachers, nurses, clerks, and secretaries were mobilized to sell books. He moved to churches and got church elders and lay workers and ordinary members to sell books. Students were especially encouraged to take up selling books to help offset their student bills and school fees.

The flagship publications at this time included Sikiliza and Omubaka, two magazines in Kiswahili and Luganda which topped 27,000 copies per issue. This remarkable feat brought the two Adventist publications to third place in national circulation of all magazines in East Africa.¹⁹

Astleford oversaw the expansion of the printing press, from the initial 4200 square feet to over 14000 square feet. The magnificent new building was completed in 1961, and Astleford followed its progress very closely together with the new Press Manager Athol M. Webster.

On October 2, 1963, the new printing plant was opened officially with a grand ceremony that was attended by EAU President M. E. Lind and C. T. J. Hyde from the Southern Africa Division. The history of the facility, which was established in 1913 by L. E. A. Lane and Arthur Carscallen, was read out by veteran printer Daudi Jakinda. The colonial government of Kenya was represented by the civil secretary of the Nyanza Region GA Skipper OBE.²⁰

Astleford spearheaded the publications of new books by having some translated and by having new ones written. Robert J. Wieland, who was a member of the Book Committee, was himself a prolific writer and meticulous researcher who published his work with the East Africa Publishing House and was himself serving as a missionary. He wrote books specifically for an African audience, such as: In Search of the Cross: Learning to Glory in It (1967), Africa’s New Bondage (1982), Will Marriage Work in Today’s World (1983), Daniel Reveals the Future (1997).

In 1965, the “East Africa Publishing House” was renamed the “Africa Herald Publishing House,” a name that more closely resembled its mission. That same year, Astleford welcomed George A. Huse, the publishing secretary for the General Conference who visited Kenya to discuss plans to double the output in the Publishing House. Gadner left and was replaced by Donald C. Swan in 1968. New equipment worth $66,000 USD was shipped in, and this would now quadruple the production of literature. Astleford oversaw the installation of the two offset presses, one letter press, and two platen presses.

There was now the capacity to produce the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly in several East African local languages, among them Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Ekegusii, Luhya, Dholuo, Lutoro (Uganda), Luganda, Kinyarwanda, and Kiswahili. This literature reached thousands of Adventists and non-Adventists in East African nations and beyond.

Expanding Literature Evangelism

Although the number of credentialed literature evangelists dropped in 1963, Astleford was satisfied to note that sales rose 28 percent from the previous year, thanks in part to the laity and church workers who sold books in their spare time.

Astleford continued the recruitment of both full-time and part-time literature evangelists, taking up the challenge to broaden the distribution of literature. His own son, James Astleford, who was just 11 in 1965, together with his friend David Glass, who was 13, sold small books and magazines in Nairobi in 1964 and completed their scholarship requirements towards their fee at the Maxwell Preparatory School in Nairobi.²¹

By 1964, there were 227 literature evangelists in the East African Union, and James Astleford and David Glass were the youngest on that list.²² Astleford continued reporting great gains made by the literature evangelists across East Africa. He travelled to Uganda frequently to help with the training of newly recruited literature evangelists.

Meanwhile, in 1965, Astleford’s parents, Pastor Lunney and Bessie Astleford, moved to Africa to become missionary educators at Solusi College. They taught in the Theology Department at that college, which was already offering degree courses since 1961.²³

Back in 1964, changes at the Division saw the name revised from the “Southern Africa Division” to the “Trans-Africa Division.” The change in name came with new leadership, with Robert H. Pierson becoming president. Pierson greatly supported the publishing ministry and immediately stated that the Division would need 32,472 literature evangelists.²⁴ This was on the background of just 328 full-time literature evangelists in the entire Division.²⁵

Astleford took up the challenge and began a massive recruitment of literature evangelists.

In November 1966, shortly after returning from his first furlough, Astleford organized an inter-union training session for literature evangelists drawn from the two unions of EAU (incorporating Kenya and Uganda) and the Tanganyika Union. The instruction was held at the Ikizu Training School in northern Tanzania. This was billed as the largest gathering of literature evangelists on African soil.²⁶ A total of 147 full-time literature evangelists and leaders attended the event coming from the three East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

When some of the literature evangelists revealed their former occupations, among them were fishermen, shopkeepers, shepherds, farmers, even a former Mau Mau leader, and several who had been ordained ministers in other denominations.

More than 40 attendees had helped establish new branch Sabbath Schools or companies in unentered areas. Union Publishing Department secretaries Astleford (EAU) and R. H. E. Henning (Tanganyika), along with their field publishing leaders, were determined to build an even larger soul-winning literature program in their territories. This resolve was captured in their Swahili motto: “MBELE DAIMA, NYUMA KAMWE,” meaning “FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!”²⁷

By 1966, there were well over 700 literature evangelists in the Trans-Africa Division and who had literature worth over £200,000 and had brought to the faith thousands, with 1,200 being baptized directly from their efforts.²⁸

The Story of Lilian Ngaruiya

In 1971, Astleford helped organize a literature evangelism rally at the Shauri Moyo Church in Nairobi. It was during this event that Lilian Ngaruiya, a young Adventist wife and mother, felt convicted to become a full-time literature evangelist. She had earlier quit her job as a teacher, taking up a position at the Family Planning Association of Kenya besides taking care of her family, which included four sons. Lilian Ngaruiya instantly became very successful in literature sales.²⁹ Within eight months, she sold literature worth Sh. 67,000 (which was then worth US$8,200 or worth about $64,000 in 2024)³⁰ The following year, 1972, she broke all records by selling literature worth Sh. 96,000 or (US$11,800 at that time worth about $88,000 in 2024)³¹. Some sixteen people were baptized through the literature she sold. In 1973, she sold literature worth Sh. 139,000 (US$17,050 worth $118,193.75 in 2023).³² The trend continued until the Astlefords left Nairobi.

Moving to Asia

In 1975, after 15 years in East Africa, the Astlefords moved to India to serve in the Southern Asia Division as the advisor to the Publishing Department.³³ He also became a member of the Division Advisory Council. The Executive Committee Chairman was R. S. Lowry. The Astlefords now lived in Poona, a city in western India, in Maharashtra State.³⁴ The following year, Astleford joined the Oriental Watchman Publishing House as a member of the Literature Committee. M. S. Nigri became the new chairman of the Executive Committee in 1977 while R. S. Lowry chaired the Division Advisory Council.³⁵ He worked here until 1980 when he left and was replaced by L. L. Bock.³⁶

While serving in the Southern Asia Division, Astleford witnessed great changes in the publishing ministry, further deepening the Adventist work in South Asia.³⁷ He served under Director Charles L. Williams. His fellow associate director in charge of Philippines was Elias L. Villanueva.³⁸

In 1986, the Astlefords moved to the Far Eastern Division where he became the associate director of Publishing. They were now based in Singapore. He was one of the Executive Committee members. Ottis C. Edwards was the Division’s president.³⁹ In 1989, Astleford moved to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, serving as the Publishing director for the Western Pacific Union Mission. He worked with Union President J. R. Lee.⁴⁰ He remained there briefly before moving in 1990 to the Pakistan Union Section that was based in Lahore, Pakistan. Astleford served as director of publishing under President Derek C. Beardsell.⁴¹ He also worked at the “Northern Section” of the Pakistan Union Section, which was still under the Publishing Department.⁴² The territory of the “Northern Section” covered the Punjab and the Northwest Frontier Province.

Retirement

In 1993, David Astleford retired, ending a record 43 years of uninterrupted church employment. This included more than 33 years in overseas mission service. He had served in East Africa, Southern Asia, the Far East, and the Western Pacific. His last posting was in Pakistan, and after his retirement, he moved to England. He spent his retirement years in Grantham, near the Stanborough Press, awaiting his “next call.”⁴³

Death and Legacy

David Richard Lunney Astleford died on September 13, 2016, in Bassingham, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom.⁴⁴ He was survived by Della, his wife of 63 years, their four children, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, along with family, friends, and colleagues worldwide. He often expressed gratitude for his wife’s steadfast support throughout his mission service, acknowledging the significant debt he owed her.⁴⁵ She passed away two years later, in 2018. Their legacy is marked by a lifelong commitment to spreading Adventist literature and faith across the globe. In the years of their life in Mission, the better part of it was spent in Africa, specifically in Kenya before moving to Asia and the Pacific region.⁴⁶ Their longest ministry was in East Africa.

Sources

Astleford, D. R. L. “East African Publishing House.” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, February 15, 1964.

Astleford, D. R. L. “Publishing Gains in East Africa.” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, May 15, 1964.

Astleford, D. R. L. “Youthful Literature Evangelists.” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, March 15, 1965.

Astleford, James. Obituaries. British Advent Messenger, October 21, 2016.

Beaton, E. Kate. “Let Us Reap - - The Sun is Setting, Meet Our Workers.” Southern Africa Division Outlook, February 15, 1960.

“David Astleford.” Obituary. Canadian Adventist Messenger, December 2016.

Dawkins, Ms. M. B. “From Hither and Yon.” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, July 15, 1965.

Familysearch.org. Accessed June 2024.

Henning, R. H. “Coordinated Evangelism.” Mission Quarterly July 1, 1978.

Hunt, J. N. “Report of the Publishing Department.” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, February 1, 1967.

Hunt, J. N. “Trans-Africa’s Mighty Army.” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, November 15, 1966.

Murdoch, Todd C. Canadian Union Messenger, September 15, 1972.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Notes

1. “David Astleford.” Obituary. Canadian Adventist Messenger, December 2016, 43.↩

2. Todd C. Murdoch, Canadian Union Messenger, September 15, 1972, 299.↩

3. Ibid.↩

4. Ibid.↩

5. Ibid.↩

6. Ibid.↩

7. “David Astleford.” Obituary. Canadian Adventist Messenger, December 2016, 43.↩

8. James Astleford, Obituaries, British Advent Messenger, October 21, 2016, 19.↩

9. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GWXX-QVY, June 30, 2024.↩

10. E. Kate Beaton, “Let Us Reap - - The Sun is Setting, Meet Our Workers,” Southern Africa Division Outlook, February 15, 1960, 3.↩

11. James Astleford, op cit.↩

12. “New York Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1957, 23.↩

13. “New York Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1958, 24.↩

14. Ibid.↩

15. Ibid.↩

16. “New York Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1959, 25.↩

17. “East Africa Union,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1960, 174.↩

18. “South Africa Union Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1961, 313.↩

19. Ibid., 43.↩

20. D. R. L. Astleford, “East African Publishing House,” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, February 15, 1964, 3.↩

21. D. R. L. Astleford, “Youthful Literature Evangelists,” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, March 15, 1965, 7.↩

22. Ibid.↩

23. Ms. M. B. Dawkins, “From Hither and Yon,” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, July 15, 1965, 12.↩

24. D. R. L. Astleford, “Publishing Gains in East Africa,” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, 1964, 1.↩

25. Ibid.↩

26. J. N. Hunt, “Trans-Africa’s Mighty Army,” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, November 15, 1966, 3.↩

27. Ibid.↩

28. J. N. Hunt, “Report of the Publishing Department,” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, February 1, 1967, 3.↩

29. R. H. Henning, “Coordinated Evangelism,” Mission Quarterly, July 1, 1978, 18-19.↩

30. https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation, accessed October 16, 2023.↩

31. Ibid.↩

32. Ibid.↩

33. “Southern Asia Division,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1976, 265.↩

34. Ibid.↩

35. “Southern Asia Division,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1977, 271.↩

36. “Southern Asia Division,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1981, 289.↩

37. “Southern Asia Division,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1983, 313.↩

38. Ibid.↩

39. “Far Eastern Division,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1987, 107.↩

40. “South Africa Union Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1989, 290.↩

41. “Pakistan Union Section,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1991, 329.↩

42. “Pakistan Union Section,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1992, 331.↩

43. James Astleford, op cit.↩

44. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GWXX-MCG, June 30, 2024.↩

45. James Astleford, op cit.↩

46. https://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/Canadian_Adventist_Messenger/2016/2016_12.pdf, June 13, 2024.↩