Obituary of David James Black

In loving memory of David James Black, age 71, who went to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 3, 2023.

David was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 14, 1952, to Jim and Nadya Black.  The family moved to Punnichy, Saskatchewan, when he was a young boy. David grew up on the farm where hard work and mischievous behaviour kept him busy. In 1970, David attended the Full Gospel Bible Institute in Eston, Saskatchewan, graduating in 1973. It was while he was at FGBI that he met the love of his life, Sandra. They were married in Dryden, Ontario, on July 7, 1973.

David was passionate about his love for his Saviour, Jesus, and spent his life in ministry. He felt the call of the Lord at a Bible Camp meeting as a teenager and was proud to be ordained to the Ministry on October 25, 1978. 

He began with a music ministry that touched the lives of the people in the choirs and orchestras he directed, as well as the congregations who were led by this ministry. David’s musical gift extended beyond his singing voice to amazing talent on the piano and organ, and other instruments, including guitar and drums. David wrote two songs and the accompaniment for many, many more. He sang and played keyboards in the gospel music group Christian Company from Bellingham, WA, performing in churches throughout the Pacific Northwest. The trio performed with some of gospel music’s largest groups, including Regeneration, The Speers and for crowds of up to 2000 with Doug Oldham and Family Reunion. David figured prominently on Christian Company’s 9^th album in 1978. He returned to school to further his education at the University of Calgary, obtaining his diploma from the Music Program. While he was Music Director at Valley Cathedral, David led a very large choir and orchestra and had the opportunity to direct the Phoenix Philharmonic Orchestra, as they accompanied the church choir.

Shortly after their wedding in 1973, David and Sandra moved to Calgary where David was the Youth Pastor at the Full Gospel Church in Bowness. Director of Youth and Music at People’s Full Gospel Church in Surrey, BC followed. He was the Music Director and a teacher at the Jubilee Bible College in Vancouver between 1977 and 1982, where he led teams of singers, touring with them across BC, the Prairie provinces and as far east as Dryden, Ontario. In 1982 David took the position of Music Director at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Calgary. Sandra and David moved to Phoenix, AZ, in 1986 where he became the Music Director at Valley Cathedral. In 1998 David joined Faith Christian Center in Phoenix, as Music Director.  

On January 25, 1995, David was ordained as a Priest in the Charismatic Episcopal Church and served at Christ The King in Phoenix. In June, 2002, David and Sandra relocated to Winnipeg, MB, where they founded St. Timothy’s Church.

David loved to cook and family and friends were delighted to be treated to his creamy lemon chicken, homemade pizzas, chicken paprika, burgers on the BBQ and full turkey dinners. In recent years he took up gardening and enjoyed watching his creations bloom through the summer.

David loved to travel and had been to the Bahamas, the Philippines, throughout the US from California to Florida, Mexico, and from Vancouver Island in BC to the most easterly point of Canada, at Cape Spear, NL. He especially loved Northwestern Ontario and the time he spent camping and fishing there with Sandra’s family.

David will be forever loved and missed by his wife of 50 years, Sandra, his son Colin, daughter-in-law Ashley, grandson Braden and granddaughter Bella. He will also be lovingly remembered by his mother Nadya, his siblings Lynn, Susan (Bruce), Barb (Rick), Ruth (Doug), John and Ken; sisters-in-law Pat (Jim), Janie (Bill) and Lori; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. David was predeceased by his father Jim, his brother Bill and his sister-in-law Elizabeth.

The memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB. 

If friends so desire, donations may be made in David’s name to the Salvation Army or Heart and Stroke Foundation.