David Swanson Bliss

David Swanson Bliss was born in Providence, RI on January 22, 1946. His father, Sidney Bliss was a minister, ordained in the Disciples of Christ denomination. Virginia Swanson Bliss, his mother, was a Wheaton grad, a teacher and pianist. Her Swedish Covenant parents came to America to minister to Swedish immigrants. David grew up with his older brother Sidney in La Grange, Illinois where his father pastored the La Grange Bible Church. After little sister Winifred was born the family moved to Newton, Massachusetts in 1958 where his father served as New England director for Child Evangelism and then as the Visitation Minister for Park Street Church in Boston. At an early age, David learned to love Jesus Christ and his lifelong desire was to share the gospel with others. He was a natural leader, a strong athlete, a handsome, funny, outgoing and enthusiastic person. President of his graduating class of 1964 at Newton High School and co-captain of the football team, David was accepted at Harvard, Princeton and Yale Colleges. He chose Princeton, graduating with a BA in history in 1969. He took a gap year in South Africa in 1967-68, and developed an intense love for that country, ultimately spending most of his career there. After Princeton, David worked with a Christian start up media company, Clear Light Productions and continued attending Park Street Church in Boston. His many years at Park Street Church formed his deep commitment to worldwide missions and he was ordained to the Holy Ministry and Christian Missions at the church after graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with an M Div. in 1978. David married Deborah Peck in 1972 and was the proud father of three children, Sarah, Susanna and Philip Bliss. He served as a missionary in South Africa from 1979 - 2015, with a six year sabbatical in the USA in the1990’s. During those years he served as a staff minister at College Hill Presbyterian Church, Malibu Presbyterian Church and Quincy First Presbyterian Church. His years in South Africa were devoted to promoting and teaching worldwide missions. His passion for completing the Great Commission of Jesus to “go into all the world and and teach the gospel to every person” was infectious and countless people were inspired by him to pray, support and serve the missionary mandate. He served with Africa Enterprise and Operation Mobilization. In 1986 he founded the “Andrew Murray Centre for Prayer, Revival and Missions” in Wellington, where Andrew Murray spent 40 years teaching, preaching, training missionaries and writing. David, like Andrew Murray, was firmly convinced that missions is the chief end of the church. He also invested many years in prison ministry, teaching the Bible to inmates, helping released prisoners. Retiring to Deborah’s family home in San Diego in 2015, David and Deborah became members of First Presbyterian Church, San Diego. He was overtaken by progressive Alzheimer’s during his last seven years, but he never forgot the Lord and retained a positive, courteous attitude until he passed away peacefully on December 31, 2022 - just three days after his 50th wedding anniversary. He was 76 years old. David is survived by his wife, Deborah, children Sarah, Susanna and Philip Bliss, his sister Winifred Bliss Maki (Peter), nephews Peter Maki (Berkley) and Josué Bliss and niece Bliss Maki Binder (Will), his sister-in laws Susanna Peck Hafner and niece Emily and sister-in-law Nelia Peck and niece Amanda. David’s brother Sidney (and wife Lurdes) Bliss and his brother-in-law, Charles Peck predeceased him. “Well done, good and faithful servant”. A Celebration of David’s Life will be held on February 25, 2023 at 11 am at First Presbyterian Church, 320 Date St, San Diego CA 92101. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in David’s honor can be made to First Presbyterian Church San Diego with the notation on memo line of check “David Bliss legacy fund”.

David Swanson Bliss

January 22, 1946 - December 31, 2022