ON Thursday November 7, I preached at Winsford in Cheshire where Barry Smith held his last evangelistic crusade.

One of the church elders told me that he was privileged to drive Barry after his last service to Worcester, where, as most of our readers will know, he was admitted to hospital and passed into the presence of the Lord.

Barry is already being missed in both hemispheres. He was one of the best evangelists of our time and a good friend.

I intended to write a much longer tribute but in view of the delay in publishing this issue of CETF the passage of time since his home-call on (27 June 2002) renders that inappropriate.

Suffice it to say that we have all lost a good friend and the church has been bereft of a sincere servant of the Lord whose life and ministry were marked by an incredible ability to persuade men and women and boys and girls to follow Christ.
The many testimonies from pastors to the effect that converts at a Barry Smith crusade were likely to continue as members of their churches and as disciples of the Lord Jesus is evidence of his calling and faithfulness.

The Lord Himself bore witness by adding many souls to the Church.

In saluting a good and faithful servant of Christ, let us remember his widow and their family in our prayers. We understand that Andrew, Barry's son plans to continue the ministry in some capacity. May his genuine gift and gentle disposition shine in his new responsibility and help many in the Christian way.

God willing, Kathleen and I will see the Smith family during the last part of our trip when we plan to be in Blenheim from December 5 to 14, 2002.


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Appeared in Issue CETF 8.1 December 2002
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3