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OUR FOUNDER |
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The Reverend D. Loy Smith came to the West Kentucky area in the late 60's along with his late wife Sis. Frances Smith and their 4 children. Coming out of the "Holiness" movement, Bro. Smith soon relocated to the Paducah area where he became part of the Paducah Gospel Assembly under the late Bro. Garland in the early 70's. In 1976, with the blessing of Bro. Garland, He moved to mayfield with his family which then included 6 kids, and started the Mayfield Church--a non-denominational church. The new building for the Mayfield Church was inaggurated in 1979.
As the church grew, Bro. Smith and his wife along with his oldest daughter Sherrie, became well-known for their powerful singing. They blessed churches nationwide with their fellowship of praise, and eventually recorded two cassette tapes with other members of the family involved. In 1990, Bro. and Sis. Smith along with their daughter Sonja, felt a burden of uniting and uplifting the Body of Christ and made it their purpose and mission to visit churches nationwide that were part or once part of the movement started by the late Bro. William Sowders and the Shepherdsville Campground in Shepherdsville, KY. They felt God had put it in their hearts to be a blessing anyway they could and to uplift each individual church all for the promotion of the Body of Christ and to uplift the name of Jesus. This oddessey lasted for 3 years until the death of our most beloved Sis. Frances Smith.
Bro. Smith continued on with his work in the ministry, teaching and preaching across the United States as well as at home. In the late 90's he met Rev. David Coleman, who pastored his own church in Hayti, |
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Missouri. The two became fast friends with an instant bond of brotherhood. It was because of this complete trust and faith in Bro. Coleman's many God-given gifts that eventually led to Bro. Smith setting Bro. Coleman as pastor over the Mayfield Gospel Tabernacle. This also made Bro. Smith freer to travel to other churches, that being a long held desire of his heart, which led to Bro. Smith being introduced to the continent of Africa. |
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Bro. Smith was first introduced to Africa and the work there by Rev. Charles Mayes, a personal friend and former co-pastor at the Mayfield Gospel Tabernacle Church. Reverend Mayes had been making frequent travels to Africa for some time and Bro. Smith accompanied him to Kenya in 2000. Bro. Smith instantly fell in love with the people of Africa and felt a heavy burden to bring the Gospel of the Truth to the people who were so hungry for the word of God. While upon one of his visits to Africa, he was introduced to Florence who was a preacher in her own right! This lovely lady has laboured for many years preaching the good news and working in the Body of Christ. Sis. Florence has acted as an interpreter for Bro. Mayes and continues to be an interpreter for Bro. Smith, since she is able to speak 5 languages. Eventually the two married in a traditional African ceremony. Sis. Florence is a dynamic speaker and a true student of the bible. And she is an absolute blessing to the Gospel Tabernacles when they are stateside. She is an invaluable help-meet to Bro. Smith, and one of her many talents is her superb cooking. She has blessed us many times with authentic African cuisine!
Sis. Florence is a strong Christian Warrior in the Body of Christ and a truly wonderful addition to the Gospel Tabernacle Family. |
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�2002-2003 Gospel Tabernacle Church
Designed and maintained by SeminoleSisters |
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