A Tribute
Malcolm Graham: A Life Well-Lived 1931-2020
When prospective students arrived barefoot and penniless, but hungry for an education, Malcolm Graham could relate. Now director of Gitwe Adventist Secondary School in Rwanda, he, too, had at one time been barefoot and penniless in his youth. So he created jobs for them that were paid out of his own pocket. At the time Malcolm and Lorine, with 10-year-old Loritha and four-yearold twins, Dari and Devon, accepted an invitation to serve in Rwanda in 1965, Malcolm’s passion for Christian education had already developed strong roots. Now, with Lorine’s support and encouragement, he was fulfilling his life-long dream of mission service. Although born in a tar-paper shack, Malcolm was able to attend church school and academy. He had studied theology at Burman University and education at Pacific Union College. Responding to the need for Adventist teachers, he had taught in both elementary and secondary schools. Now in Gitwe, Malcolm was intent on upgrading the infrastructure and legal status of the school. By the time the family left Rwanda, Malcolm had grown the enrollment of girls at the school 10-fold, he had added a ministerial training program, and he had seen many of his students accepted at national universities. The campus also had a new science and administration complex. Malcolm dedicated his life to giving as many opportunities as he could to as many young people as possible. One of his signature accomplishments when working for the Alberta Conference after returning from Africa was starting the summer Friendship Camp for disadvantaged city youths. 24
Many had never experienced stories told around a campfire. His son, Devon, recalls, “They hung on to every word of Dad’s ‘continued stories,’ and there was always a groan of disappointment when he stopped each segment right at a cliffhanger moment. Nobody ever missed a campfire.” Another program Malcolm established was for the visually impaired. He wanted everyone to have a rich experience, so he introduced archery at the camp. Devon writes, “It could have been a recipe for disaster, but it quickly became one of the campers’ favorites. Each archer was paired with a staff member who pointed him or her in the right direction. When the balloons that had been attached all over each target began to pop, the excitement levels went through the roof.” As Burman University’s 17th president (1982-87), Malcolm encountered exceptional challenges that required all his ingenuity, creativity, and diplomacy. They also required personal sacrifice. For example, Burman was deeply in debt. At a memorable meeting, the Canadian conferences pledged funds. So did Malcolm. In faith, he pledged $10,000 he didn’t have. Subsequently, the members of the Gideon Club, moved and inspired, also pledged. Together they eliminated the debt. In retirement Malcolm continued to be active in educational work, serving in various interim positions. He also assisted ADRA-Rwanda for a year (1992-93). In 1998 he was back in Africa with ADRA and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Guinea, West Africa, during the Liberian refugee crisis. Then, in 2003, once again he returned to Rwanda— this time with his second wife, Betty (Munroe)—and served as ADRA interim director.
With his prayerful attitude and dependence on his Lord for strength and wisdom, Malcolm was not afraid to be the first. If something was worth doing, he did it with all his might. Malcolm Graham was tall not only in stature, but in spirit. He will be missed. Malcolm was known for his willingness to follow God’s promptings. For him, education was the key to opening up opportunities, and service was his motto. The morning he died, he was reading his French language Bible because, he explained, he wanted to “stay relevant.” This story appeared in the Canadian Messenger in the August 2020 issue.
