A Tribute to Babu – A Life Lived Well
I felt compelled to share Babu’s story with you. It is an incredible story characterized by adventures, trials, and victories….by Dustin McBride
Babu. A life lived well.
On January 30th in Lusaka, Zambia, Rev. Carl Moyer (popularly known as Babu), went to be with the Lord. After walking this earth for 75 years, and dedicating over 50 of those years to the mission field in Africa, Babu finally passed on from his old earthly body into a refreshing, new spiritual body.
Babu and the entire Moyer family were highly influential in our decision to originally travel to Zambia in 2007. Since then, Babu has been a continual encouragement to us by partnering with both Acirfa (a.ker.fa) and Zambikes. We miss him already.
During the memorial service in Kabwe, Zambia on February 3rd, I felt compelled to share the story of his life with you. It is an incredible story characterized by adventures, trials, and victories. I may not be the most eloquent individual in my storytelling, but I will try to shed light and give you a glimpse into Babu’s extraordinary life…
Babu was born November 4, 1934 in Pennsylvania to his father, a butcher, his mother, a seamstress, and two brothers and one sister. He attended revival meetings with his parents from an early age to hear about God and the bible. It was during that time that Babu knew he would ultimately be called into the mission field – and that it would be a life long calling. Two of his other siblings also heeded the call into the mission field.
He recognized early on that missions would demand more than just an academic education. So, in high school he began taking welding, workshop, carpentry, and mechanics classes to acquire skills that would enable him to fix nearly anything with any available tools (those that knew him know he did exactly that!).
Learning to fly a plane was another skill he saw suitable for the mission field. When he was not in the air, he was off trapping, hunting or getting in to mischief.
At the age of 17, Babu traveled to Texas for seminary school. Outside of class he joined the cowboys in the area by learning to ride horses and herd cattle. Wherever he was, Babu would be found with his toolbox just in case he needed to fix something.
Babu was ready to move to Belgium after seminary in order to learn French for missions work in Congo (French Speaking African Country). He traveled the country by scooter, trying his best to learn the language. His love for guns and hunting compelled him to smuggle a gun into Belgium with him. However, he soon found out how much trouble he could get into with it, so he proceeded to piece it out and drop it by individual piece into rivers that he crossed!
Babu left for the Congo in 1957 after learning how to print the French language. His belief was that if he only shared the word of God verbally with the people of Congo, they would only hear a bit and then forget. But, if he could print God’s word in their own language, God would be able to continue to speak to their souls long after any of his sermons. Babu was 22 years old at the time. When he was asked how long he planned to be in Congo, he would say: “I’m not sure how long. I made a lifelong commitment to missions so I have no plans of returning permanently to the states.” In subsequent years there was so much conflict and trouble in Congo that Babu was forced to return to the States. Despite his location, his time was spent preparing for his return to the mission field.
Babu fulfilled 2 big accomplishments in preparing for his return: he learned linguistics at the Wycliff Linguistics School and found his lifelong partner and wife, Joanne (known as Bibi). Nice move for Babu! Bibi came from a missions based family and also knew her call was to the mission field. When she met Babu she was studying to be a nurse. Very early in their relationship they both knew that God had plans for them to serve together. Bibi’s family had lived in Tanzania (near Congo), so the two of them decided to marry, put their belongings on a ship and move to Tanzania with no expectation of returning anytime soon.
It was 1961 when Bibi and Babu sailed to Tanzania and landed in Tatanda (North east area of Tanzania completely undeveloped and deep in the bush at that time). They stayed in Tanzania from 1962 until 2002 – a total of 40 years. During that time, they lived in Tatanda and later moved to Mumba (where there was a Grace Bible College).
In Tatanda, they lived with the people in the village. They built up churches, a school, a hospital and even an airstrip. I had the privilege of traveling to these areas in Tanzania in 2008 and was able to witness the impact they continue to have on the communities there. Babu was widely known to jump on his street motorbike (all dirt roads of course) and ride to nearby villages to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to people who had never heard it before.
In order to reach the more untouched villages, Babu redesigned his bicycle to be able to bolt together so he could fit it into his small airplane. He would fold up the bike, pack it in the plane, fly to a remote area and then get on his bike to reach villages and share about Christ through the Word of God. Babu learned to pull teeth and perform eye surgery without any medical background. Villagers would come from near and far with toothaches and eye problems. Babu would treat them and give God all the glory.
In 1996, Bibi and Babu moved to Mumba (a few hours traveling on a dirt road from Tatanda). There, Babu taught under Steve Shirman, head teacher of the college. The ironic thing was that Steve went to college with Babu’s sons Dan and David and saw Babu more as a father figure. Babu supported the school and taught there up until 2002, training young Zambians and other Africans in planting churches and discipling God’s people. Babu’s humility and obedience to God’s call continued to shine through his works.
Finally, from 2002 until January of 2010, Babu spent his time next to his son Dan and his family working with Grace Church in Kabwe, Zambia. Babu preached and taught in the Bible school in Kabwe and helped plant a church there that now has over 150 members. Babu never retired.
Babu’s life left a legacy for those that knew him and for those that now hear his story. He shared his heart and love with anyone he was in contact with: the shop owners in Kabwe, the widows and orphans, the local Pastors, visiting foreigners (like me), Americans, African white farmers, and anyone else that crossed paths with him. He showed no favoritism and loved those around him with pure Godly love. He left a legacy of trust. He trusted his wife, his kids, and those he worked with. Showing that trust gave confidence and passion to those around him. He inspired others, usually over a cup of coffee. Anyone that knew Babu had a cup of coffee with him and shared a few stories of the exciting adventures that have gone on.
Babu would say there are 3 important things in following God: 1. Commitment 2. Commitment and 3. Commitment. He firmly believed that you must put God first, family second, and ministry third. Babu took time for people, for church and for family.
My challenge is this: What are you taking time for? Who are you putting first?
Let Babu’s legacy continue to challenge those of us that are still walking this earth. Let us, like Babu, live well and finish well.
Thank you Babu, Bibi and the entire Moyer family for who you are to me and for how you have changed my life.
Dustin McBride
President – A.ker.fa and Zambikes Company
