Wesley Edward Smith, 77, died peacefully of natural causes May 31, 2015, in his residence in Winona Lake. His Bible was open to the first chapter of John and his glasses were on. Chances are that he died doing what he loved the most, studying the Word of God. He was born in 1938 in Chicago, Ill., to Fred and Mabel Notter and later adopted by Edward and Frances Smith. In 1965, he married Primrose Clerie, who preceded him in death. Together they led dozens of teams of people overseas on short-term mission trips and raised five daughters. Wesley attended Wheaton Academy in Wheaton, Ill., and earned his BA from Greenville College in Greenville, Ill., in 1960. He taught English literature in the Michigan public school system before his own study of the Bible as literature convinced him that teaching that particular book should take precedence over any others. He left his job to preach the gospel on the streets of Flint, Mich., ministering to gang members in particular. His radical commitment to Christ and "Make 'em mad or make 'em glad" style of preaching soon landed him in churches, conferences and assemblies across the USA. Eventually, he was invited to speak in open-air crusades in countries such as the Philippines, Haiti, Kenya and India. He founded Full Life Crusade, a non-profit organization which helped to plant hundreds of churches across the world, and financed relief efforts and humanitarian services. He also published and arranged for the transportation of over 2 million Bibles to China, and trained and equipped other people to do the same through “leadership training seminars,” which he regularly taught during his years in Boynton Beach, Fla. He also authored four books, including “Mission Impossible” and “Gateway to Power.” After recovering from a serious illness contracted in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after the 2010 earthquake, he stayed closer to home, preaching out-of-state only occasionally. He loved to lead Bible studies with his friends, and enjoyed teaching Sunday school at Winona Lake Free Methodist Church, where he regularly attended. He also liked to read, study, write and take walks with his dog, Bear. He will be remembered as being devoted to Jesus Christ and to his family. Surviving are five daughters: Lisa Bartow, Konda Koorey, Martha Berg Jones, Heidi Roberts and April Bourdeau and their husbands; 20 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Winona Lake Free Methodist Church, followed by a light meal. Side-dishes are welcome. All are invited to join in celebrating the extraordinary life of Wesley Smith. ***** Memorials to Full Life Crusade, P.O. Box 398, Winona Lake, IN 46590, or online at FLC7.com for the relief efforts of Pastor Pradhan and his churches in Nepal, India, in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes. Condolences via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
