Champion of The Faith
Training and education for the ministry were considered essential by Smith. He himself read and was influenced by many of the great men of the church: Wesley, Luther, Spurgeon, Moody, and especially Finney and Brainerd, the "man of prayer." Others, in turn, were encouraged by him and his single minded focus.
When Smith died on January 25, 1986, the accolades poured in. For example, Billy Graham said:
"I've lost a dear friend, the man who had more impact on my life than any other - a great preacher, a great songwriter, a man who stands equal with Moody and Torrey. As a Missionary Statesman he stands alone. There was no equal."
Also, the Revell Company said:
"There is fire in his bones. Those who have heard him have seen fire in his heart, his eyes, his speech - a fire which has lept out to set them afire."
Read more about this topic: Oswald J. Smith
Famous quotes containing the words champion of, champion and/or faith:
“Let’s not quibble! I’m the foe of moderation, the champion of excess. If I may lift a line from a die-hard whose identity is lost in the shuffle, “I’d rather be strongly wrong than weakly right.””
—Tallulah Bankhead (1903–1968)
“What a terrible thing has happened to us all! To you there, to us here, to all everywhere. Peace who was becoming bright-eyed, now sits in the shadow of death; her handsome champion has been killed as he walked by her very side. Her gallant boy is dead. What a cruel, foul, and most unnatural murder! We mourn here with you, poor, sad American people.”
—Sean O’Casey (1884–1964)
“The Church seems to totter to its fall, almost all life extinct. On this occasion, any complaisance would be criminal which told you, whose hope and commission it is to preach the faith of Christ, that the faith of Christ is preached.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)