 Donald Gee (1891-1966).
Donald Gee was born in
London in 1891 and from his youth tended to be a good student. His father died of tuberculosis when he was nine years old.
In October 1905, Seth Joshua, the Welsh revival preacher was invited to Donalds church to hold a mission. Seth Joshua had a great influence upon the young Evan Roberts and the Welsh Revival, at this time God was still mightily moving in that land. But that mission in London by this fiery Welsh man seemed a let down, only three were saved, Donald Gee being one of them. He then became a member of the same Congregational church. Not long after his conversion a smiling missionary lady who was staying with his mother very pointedly asked him, "And will you be a missionary when you grow up?" this confronted him with the struggle of total surrender in his own heart. As the years past he was worldly but certainly had a heart for spiritual things. One morning while taking the bread and wine at communion he found his thoughts full of the things of this world which suddenly shocked him. His mother was earnestly seeking God she was soon baptised in water and joined the Baptist church
At Pentecostal prayer meetings he met a Baptist minister who was pastoring a divided church. Half wanted to go the way of Pentecost and half resisted this strongly. When the organist resigned hoping to cause problems Donald offered his services and so joined this divided church. Soon those loyal to a Pentecostal experience followed Pastor Saxby out into a new Church. Of this mans ministry Gee says the first seven years of my Pentecostal experience were spent under the powerful influence of a pastor who was a shining example of his office. It was under this ministry that he stepped out in his first attempts at testifying and preaching. The 1st world war had started in 1914 but in 1916 conscription was introduced. Gee registered immediately as a conscientious objector and so went to work on a dairy-farm in Bucks. He later saw it was the hand of providence as these next three years became Gods school of preparation for ministry. He was a social outcast, most often he worked to the point of utter physical exhaustion and they continued tithing with little to live on. After a year they moved to a second farm where the farmer was a believer who was soon led into the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. Nearby was a small mission hall with simple earnest believers. The Gees joined themselves to this group with Donald often preaching on Sunday nights concerning the coming of the Lord and Pentecostal experience. Their home was used for Tarrying meetings where believers sought and received the Baptism. When the War ended in 1918, now 27 years old, he returned to London with his wife and two kids.
The odd time he had opportunities to preach in some Pentecostal fellowship in London, sometimes cycling 10 miles. One such weekend Saxby asked him if he would consider going to preach in Edinburgh as a church was seeking a Pastor. In June 1920 he made his first journey there. At the first service a dozen troubled believers gathered, he would spend the next twelve years as Pastor of this church. In 21 he attended the international Pentecostal convention in Amsterdam. Also he played the organ while Stephen Jeffreys preached at the Kingsway Convention. That same year at the Swanwick convention it came to light that his old Pastor, Saxby had taken hold of the ultimate reconciliation teaching, that hell would but last a short time and that finally all would be saved even Judas. Elims statement of faith read We believe in the
eternal conscious punishment of all Christ rejecters later AoGs statement said The everlasting punishment of all who are not written in the Book of Life. Gee published articles in the magazines of both groups concerning the scriptural teaching on Eternal Punishment.
After his first anniversary the conditions and pressures against him in the fellowship and outside were so great that he ran off to London in despair. After two weeks he returned ready to battle through. Next came the shocking news that the biggest financial giver in the church was moving to Australia, but God provided and they again continued. In 22 the church bought a new building called Bonnington Toll Hall over the next years men like Jeffreys, Burton, Carter and Wigglesworth ministered here. Gee brought correction to the abuses of the gifts and systematically taught the people the Word. During these years he gave himself to study and personal writing. In 23 he considered joining Elim but finally decided not to as he would have to hand over the deeds of the building. In 24 Gee was one of 14/5 who met together to bring about the formation of AoG in Britain and Ireland. From 1925 to 1963 he sat on the executive presbytery, his calmness and wisdom were always valued.
His ministry in Edinburgh prospered and he was set in heart for a life long ministry in this church. But in 1928 he received a telegram from Australia inviting him for a period of ministry. With his wife they fell on their knees in prayer and received the witness that this was of the Lord. The night before he left he had a dream that he was onboard a big ocean liner, he was all alone stocking
This trip turned out to last 10 months including New Zealand, America and Canada. On the journey to Australia he wrote his first book concerning spiritual gifts which had a great effect across many nations. It was in 29 that he resigned from Bonnington Toll Hall and now used it as a base. This was the beginning of 23 years of international ministry trips covering all five continents. His eyes were opened to the need of teaching across the Pentecostal Movement worldwide. Now invitations poured in from across the world to this vessel who was prepared in years of quite study. He ministered much into a Bible School in Danzig Russia and helped their publishing. The years 31-33 saw him travel to 12 countries annually. Then he took on to be joint editor of the magazine Redemption Tidings. This had been a critical time in the whole movement, the 20s had seen the fiery ministry of travelling Evangelists, but the 30s needed the steadying ministry of the Teacher to keep things on course.
In 39 at the outbreak of war he gave himself to constant travel in Britain encouraging the fellowships. After the war at the Pentecostal world Convention in Zurich in 1947, Gee was chosen to become the editor of the magazine World Pentecost of which he produced 76 issues himself. Again he continued his international travels over these years keeping abreast of the Pentecostal Movement worldwide. In 49 he updated and published his book the Pentecostal Movement later called Wind and Flame which is a true classic which no other man could have compiled first hand. In 51 he was approached by the board of Governors for the newly acquired AoG college at Kenley to become Principle, he accepted. After years of travel and now 60 years old he settled down to this task for the next 13 years, during which he took no salary. Amazingly he had always thought there was no need for Bible school training but now here he was. He was able to leave a mark upon the students who were setting out to serve God drawing on years of Pastoring and travel. No doubt a number of students must have been drawn because of such a man at the helm. In 62 he retired from all his positions and responsibilities but continued writing for magazines. Over the years he had written over 20 books and numberless articles. He had done much in getting recognition for and establishing the ministry gift of Teacher amongst Pentecostals. In 64 while travelling in a taxi this Apostle of Balance took a heart attack and finished his long journey.
John Carter, his friend for over 40 years said the following at the funeral, A gifted writer has laid down his pen. An eminent Bible expositor will teach no more. A distinguished editor has vacated his chair. A renowned author has concluded his last volume. A veteran leader has left our ranks. A great warrior has fought his last battle. Our friend Donald Gee has fallen asleep.
by Keith Malcomson.
(Edited from "Pentecostal Pioneers Remembered" by Keith malcomson).
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