Their voices were clarion calls to salvation, discipleship, and challenges to live our lives with a dignity that glorified God. To this day we recall their names with a fond wistfulness and a near envy. CBT Smith was one of those preachers.

For more than five years now, I’ve gotten a chance to know Pastor Smith, not nearly as well as I’d like to, but better than I'd ever imagined. I have marveled at his wisdom, his devotion, his love of the Christ, the Bible and His Church. I had the wonderful privilege of being able to be a speaker with him at a discipleship conference in Kansas City, Kansas, a few years ago. In his late 80’s then, he exhibited a clarity of thought, a boundless energy – he took care of himself, no care takers, no handlers – and a friendliness, transparency, humility, charm and accessibility that only made you want to spend more time with him.

What has been most amazing in recent years was to be with him when he preached. In his old age, his voice was clear, strong, his spirit infectious and his messages edifying, comforting and, yes, convicting.

Those of us who had been hearing him through the years always knew him to be a great preacher. But it seemed as if he got better with age, as is testified to by the fact that up until this final hospitalization, he had been traveling across the state and country, fulfilling preaching engagements. I think it is because we were seeing someone who was daily more aware of his walk with God.

Last year, not long after I got out of the hospital, I was talking to a friend of mine who was in regular contact with him, and we were talking about how he was doing after the death of his beloved wife, Rosie. My friend said, that he was doing well, and said that as they conversed, Dr. Smith said, ‘You know, I was just working on this sermon…” and he went on to tell him about it. We were both amazed! After nearly 70 years of preaching, with sermons most of us have never heard, he was still working on new sermons when he was almost 90 years old!

As a colleague, as a church member, as a Christian, I’ll miss Dr. Smith. He was a truly lovable man, a tremendous role model. A great preacher and a beloved man of God.