By Evangelist John BJ Hall
I had the high honor of preaching at the Home Going Celebration of a dear friend. When I think of Terry Smith my first thought is that he was a godly man. Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
I have had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside Terry for about 15 years. We both sat under the teaching of Paul Land. Then Terry was for a time my Sunday School Teacher. Then later I was his Sunday School Teacher. Terry was a faithful witness, and a faithful steward of all that God blessed him with.
When I think of him I also think of one of his favorite verses of Scripture, James 5:16 (NASB) “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” Especially appropriate is the last part of that verse. The righteousness of Christ dwelt upon Terry. He was a strong prayer partner, student of God’s Holy Word, and witness of the faithfulness of Christ.
I have had the honor of seeing him work in his shop, building pedal cars, toy cars and trucks that when he completed them they of higher quality and beauty than anything a factory could produce. He built several real cars from scratch with what other people might have thrown away.
Many men I have known could say they were “Jack of all trades, and master of none.” But Terry was a “Jack of all trades, and master of most.” I have never seen him put his hand to something and not bring it to creative completion.
He was an artisan, an engineer, and a mechanic. He ran a successful business, then sold that business and served as a consultant to those he sold it to.
But Terry was much more than all that. He was a loving husband, guiding his family with strength and love. With that love, came a measure of mischievousness. Sondra, his loving wife of fifty years would say, “Sometimes I would like to pinch his head off.”
He was a man who loved the Lord and loved his church. A couple of weeks ago I visited him in the hospital and he was more concerned about the welfare of the church than his own illness.
There were times when Terry was ornery. A couple of months ago, while I was still in my collar from my neck surgery he asked me, “Do you use that collar as a guide when you trim your beard?”
As I wrote earlier Terry was a faithful witness. When you first met Terry, it wouldn’t be long until he would as you if you knew the Lord. And if you didn’t, he would share with you how to receive Christ as personal Savior and Lord. I do not believe there is a higher complement that can be made of a man than that he was a godly man who left a wide swath of the love of God behind him.
It is my prayer that everyone who reads this will make a commitment to be a more godly man or woman until God calls us home.