Lloyd David Sanders passed away Tuesday, December 2, in Brasília, Brazil, at the age of 95. A 1943 graduate, Lloyd David and his wife Ruth were pioneer and life-long missionaries in Brazil. His funeral was held Thursday in Brasilia. Ruth passed away in January 2013. They are succeeded by son Daryl and daughters, Marla Castro and Starla De Azevedo.
David Sanders served faithfully in Brazil for 65 years. He remained active up to a few weeks before his death, going to the office almost daily. He continued to dream and conceive of ways to expand the Gospel in Brazil and around the world.
David Eubanks remarked, “In all of my missionary travels I have never known a missionary more loved and respected by the people he served than Lloyd David Sanders.” Brother Sanders was honored for his life’s work on multiple occasions. He was recognized by the city of Brasília, the church in Brasília, churches and conferences throughout Brazil, and by the World Convention in 2004 and 2012. David and Ruth received Johnson University’s Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1975.
Supported by his fellow Johnson alumni from the class of 1943, David and Ruth Sanders moved to Brazil in 1948 under Brazil Christian Mission. While the Sanders began their missionary service in Goiânia, Goiás, Brother Sanders’ heart was set on establishing a work in Brasília, the new capital being planned for Brazil.Through Bill Loft and others, they were able to secure lots for churches in Brasília before the city was ever built.
As a result of David’s evangelistic passion and persuasive commitment, he inspired many missionaries to follow him to Brazil, including a good number of Johnson alumni. They came to Brasília, Goiânia, Belém, and other locations. They and the leaders they trained established churches that have been self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating.
A few years back, there were 550 independent Christian Church/Church of Christ congregations with a population of 55,000, including a few mega churches with attendance over 1500. Some have become strong supporters of missions themselves, sending missionaries to Mozambique, Portugal, Mexico, even establishing Portuguese speaking congregations in the U.S.
