Ron Kopczick, promotions coordinator (March 30, 2001)

I received the news after arriving at the office on Monday. Rick Davis had died the day before. He was 46

Chaplain Rick Davis

Last fall, Rick had corrective heart surgery and was scheduled to return to work January 2. Rick never made it back. Instead, it was one complication after another. Several times Rick was the subject of corporate prayer here at the Assemblies of God Headquarters.

Eventually, we believed, he’d recover and resume his duties as the representative for Institutional and Occupational Chaplaincies, a post he held for 15 years. But God had other plans.

I first met Rick shortly after I joined the Pentecostal Evangel nearly 2 1/2 years ago. One of my duties is to coordinate the annual Key Bearers appeal in cooperation with Light for the Lost. The Key Bearers program raises donations to provide the Pentecostal Evangel and Spanish-language Evangelio Pentecostal to America’s incarcerated.

Since the inception of Key Bearers in 1996, it was Rick’s responsibility to match requests for the Evangel from prison chaplains and inmates with available funds. As giving to Key Bearers increased, Rick and his office deftly handled the growing demand for sponsored subscriptions.

The 2000 Key Bearers appeal raised a record $130,900. When I would e-mail monthly updates on donations to the Evangel leadership and to Rick, he’d always respond with a cheerful word of thanks to the Lord for His provision. That was Rick: pleasant and grateful.

Approximately 11,000 copies of the Evangel are now shipped every week to more than 500 prisons and jails across the United States. And the weekly cost of nearly $2,500 is covered by Key Bearers donations. The program is a success due to those who care about this country’s prison population.

During Key Bearers’ existence, thousands of inmates have written the Pentecostal Evangel that they committed their lives to Jesus after reading the publication. Many more have told us how they’ve found spiritual strength in the pages of the Evangel while trying to live for Jesus behind bars.

The Pentecostal Evangel and I have lost a good friend and an invaluable co-laborer for the Lord. But Key Bearers will continue as a tribute to Rick Davis.

Thank you, Rick. Until we see you again in eternity, you’ll be missed.