From the way he handled his money and oversaw the church's to the practice of going through the whole Bible with his congregation I learned from him and had reinforced what I had been taught in my growing up years.
Both he and I grew up in the church. I so related to his early struggles in ministry. I listened to his tapes, read his books and heard him speak for a number of years at the East Coast Pastor's Conference.
I often had said that Billy Graham is an example of a evangelist, Bob Pierce, a missionary and Chuck Smith, a pastor.
Only eternity will reveal the influence he has had and will continue to have on the world and the Body of Christ throughout it. From funding the smuggling in of Bibles to China with Brother Andrew in the 1980's to the building of a baptismal site on the Jordan River in Israel to officiating at Corrie Ten Boom's funeral this man quietly went about the work of the Kingdom of God without any fanfare. I was told about all the aforementioned things by others, never hear about them by Chuck.
His wife Kay read a book about Hudson Taylor some years ago and when she finished she said, "Chuck, this is you!" My friend, Bud Smith, who pastored the Evangelical Free church in Burbank, California had Chuck come and speak at his church back in the 1970's when Calvary Chapel was coming into national attention. He was asked the "secret' to his success. He replied, "It is the LORD."
He is in heaven this evening.
Some time ago he said, "Someday you may read in the newspaper that Chuck Smith has died. Don't you believe it! Accurate reporting would say 'Chuck Smith has moved!' Out of a worn out tent into a glorious body like Jesus has. No more groaning, no more pain, no more suffering. Just perfect fellowship with the LORD forever.
The memory of the righteous will be a blessing.
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