Oswald Smith

He was born on November 8, 1889 on a humble farm on the outskirts of Odessa, in southern Ontario (Canada). He converted to the Gospel in 1906 through the preaching of R.A. Torrey (v.), who was on an evangelistic tour of Canada.

He studied at the Toronto Bible College and soon after became colporteur for the Bible Society of Upper Canada (1908). When the Methodist Church offered him a pastor's position, he decided to continue his theological studies at the Manitoba College in Winnipeg (1909), but he abandoned it in a matter of a year when he did not find what he expected. After a time of itinerant preaching across the Manitoba prairies, he again entered, this time full-time, at Toronto Bible College (1910-12).

His first pastorate was that of the Belwood Congregational Church (1911-12), combined with his studies. He later went to Chicago (USA) to continue his studies at McCormick Theological Seminary (1912-15), belonging to the Presbyterian Church of America. His second pastorate was in the same city of Chicago in a Presbyterian Church (1913-15).

In 1915 he returned to Canada to help as associate pastor at the Dale Presbyterian Church of Toronto (1915-18). In September 1916 he married Daisy Billings. In November 1918, for a few months, he pastored the Beulah Tabernacle in Toronto, founded by the Plymouth Brethren.
Thereafter he spent a few years as an itinerant preacher, until in 1921 he accepted the pastorate of the Parkdale Tabernacle in Toronto and later that of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, belonging to the Christian Missionary Alliance of A.B. Simpson (v.). It was then that he decided to add variety to the services, in order to attract the greatest number of people possible, giving them what no other church could give them.

In 1924 he carried out an evangelistic campaign in Russia and other Baltic countries. Along with William Fetler, he was the founder and general director of the Russian Missionary Society.

In 1926 he was superintendent of the Christian and Missionary Alliance for Canada. In 1927-28 he was pastor of the Evangelical Tabernacle of Los Angeles (California, USA), of the aforementioned denomination. With less than 200 members at the beginning of his ministry there, he grew to more than 2,000.

He traveled throughout the world preaching the Gospel and supporting missionary work. In 1957 he carried out an evangelization campaign in Latin America, in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama. For the first time in history all Protestant churches came together to support and cooperate in this campaign.
In the 1930s Smith's congregation helped about 40 national workers in Latvia, Belgium, France and Spain. It was in the latter country that he established a Bible College, following a visit he made in 1929. In 1933 he came to pastor what would become world famous The People's Church.

Honorary Doctor of Theology from Asbury Seminary (1936); doctor in literature from Bob Jones University (1940); doctor of law from Houghton College (1946); member of the Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom (1952); and member of the Royal Geographical Society of London, among others.

In 1959 he retired as pastor of the People's Church. His son Paul continued the ministry. More than 500 missionaries and national workers are supported throughout the world. He died on January 29, 1986 at the age of 96; his long-time friend Billy Graham (v.) preached at his funeral.

Evangelist, hymnologist, missionary, writer, his books have been translated into 128 languages. “After traveling and studying in fifty-three countries, I have come to the conclusion that the only way to carry out the Great Commission is through the printed page,” he said shortly before leaving to be in the presence of his God.