Donald Harling ’50

Don Harling, 94, was called to his heavenly home on Saturday, November 19, 2022, in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  Don was born April 25, 1928, in Kaltungo, Nigeria to Harry and Frances Harling, missionaries with SIM.  Being raised in a Christian family, Don learned at an early age about the Lord Jesus and what He did on the cross.  In 1936, Don and his brother went to Gowans Home where they attended elementary, middle, and high school.  It was here that Don heard the good news of the gospel and received the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior.  Following high school, Don attended college, initially at Collingwood Collegiate Institute and then Hope College.  Then, in 1951 he was drafted into the armed forces.  These years were not always easy, but Don found comfort in the Lord’s promise to not only save us, but to also keep us.  After being discharged from the service, Don began to think about what God had planned for his life.  Not long after that Don attended a missionary conference where he dedicated his life to serving the Lord.  He knew he needed training in the Word to be prepared for ministry, so he went to Moody Bible Institute to study missions.  The years at Moody were a rich time that allowed Don to know the Lord more fully and deeply.  During his time at Moody, Don met and married Ginny Erhardt.  Together they felt the Lord leading them to serve Him in Africa.  In 1956, they submitted their application to SIM and were accepted.  Two years later, with two very young sons in tow, they set sail for Nigeria as missionaries with SIM.  The Harlings spent their first two terms in Kagoro, Nigeria where they helped establish a boys secondary school.  Don’s responsibilities included building, administration, and teaching.  They, then, transferred to Jos Nigeria where Don taught Biology and Chemistry at Hillcrest school.  In 1973 the Lord led the Harlings to return to the United States.  After a year away from SIM they joyfully returned to serve in the SIM USA office.  Don initially served as tax officer and then moved into general accounting.  Don and Ginny retired from SIM in May of 1997 after 39 years of missionary service.  In retirement, Don continued to faithfully serve the Lord through his local church and volunteering at SIM USA.  Don will be remembered for the way he earnestly cared for those around him, whether the students in his classroom or his fellow SIM missionaries.