Fredrick L. Smith, Jr. was born February 19, 1973, to the late Superintendent Fredrick Smith, Sr. and Vivian L. Smith. He is a 1991 graduate of Hillcrest High School, who continued his eduation at State Technical Institute at Memphis - earining an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business Management with a concentration in Banking and Finance. He was blessed to serve diligently under his faithful father, Pastor and mentor, the late Superintendent Fredrick L. Smith, Sr. Under his father; he was licensed as a Deacon in 2005. He also served as Minister of Music and Praise & Worship Leader of the Gilmer Temple Church of God in Christ. In December of 2008, he became the Interim Pastor of the Gilmer Temple Church of God in Christ after his father’s passing. He was officially appointed and installed in June of 2009. He is an employee of Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc., where he serves as Data and Systems Reporting Analyst. He serves as a Jurisdictional Executive Board Member and Finance Chairman under the leadership of Jurisdictional Prelate Bishop Jerry W. Taylor, and as Secretary of the Ordination Board. He has served on that board under the leadership of Superintendent Samuel McNeal, Superintendent Dr. Perry C. Little and now Pastor Robert Peggs. He also serves as Jurisdictional Webmaster and Social Media Administrator and is a member of the Jurisdictional Oversight Committee. He is married to Johnitta R. Smith and is a devoted father to Kennedy and Fredrick, III. and is actively inolved in initiatives to build a better city and community for those whom he has been called to serve.
ELDER CLAYVON GILMER, Pastor of Gilmer Temple C.O.G.I.C. 1958 - 1977 SUPT. HENRY A. SPIGHT, Pastor of Gilmer Temple C.O.G.I.C. 1978 - 1980 SUPT. FREDRICK L. SMITH, Pastor of Gilmer Temple C.O.G.I.C. 1980 - 2008
The Service of Appreciation Honoring Pastor Fredrick L. Smith, Jr. Mistress of Ceremonies Evangelist Mary Madden, Love Temple Ministries Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (Psalm 103:1) Call to Worship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Chaundra Bradley Introduction of Mistress of Ceremonies Praise & Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brother Marcus Hilliard
Entrance of Pastor & Lady Smith (Escorted by Deacon Phalan and Sister Teresa Jackson)
Invocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Missionary Josephine Lloyd Old Testament Scripture (Psalm 24:7-10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sister Diane Brown New Testament Scripture 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Miraca Crawford Welcome & Occasion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Claudia Smith Solo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sister Misha Pirtle EXPRESSIONS Missionary Gloria Hilliard District Missionary, D.D. Chandler Memorial District Elder Darryl Madden Pastor, Love Temple Ministries Minister Christopher and Sister Joyce Haywood Mt. Olive Pentecostal Sister Autumn Terry, Gilmer Temple C.O.G.I.C. Instrumental Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brother Tommie Currie, Saxophonist MINISTRY OF GIVING Pastoral Appreciation Committee
Instrumental Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brother Tommie Currie, Saxophonist EXPRESSIONS Missionary Georgia Grandberry, Missionary Board Deacon Phalan Jackson, Deacon Board Ministry of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pastor Josh Bracy & Power Anointed Introduction of Speaker Sermonic Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastor Josh Bracy & Power Anointed Spoken Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elder Jesse E. Lipford Pastor, Lakeview Community Temple C.O.G.I.C. Call to Discipleship Presentations & Vote of Thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pastoral Appreciation Committee Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pastor Fredrick Smith, Jr. Prayer and Benediction
& Sister Johnitta Smith
Church History The Gilmer Temple Church of God in Christ began in 1958 at 749 Porter Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Elder and Mother Clavon Gilmer began in 1958 being led by the Lord to go and have prayer with Sister Cora Clark who was ill at that time. She became their first member. They moved to a storefront on Heiskell Street in 1961. This area was somewhat of a wilderness as far as Holiness was concerned. The people had not heard of the Holy Ghost but through their prayers and fasting the Lord blessed and many souls were saved. Gilmer Temple moved to 90 East Olive Street in 1968. Elder Gilmer faithfully pastored the church until the Lord called him home on March 6, 1977. Elder Henry A. Spight was appointed pastor of Gilmer Temple in January 1978. Gilmer Temple moved to a new location of 1287 Adelaide Street in July 1978. This building took on a new look. Elder Spight also faithfully pastored the church and many souls were saved and added to the church. Elder Spight had a vision for the church. He worked hard and as fast as he could to see much of that vision come to pass before his home going in October 1980. Elder Fredrick Smith, Sr. served as First Assistant to Elder Spight. He was Interim Pastor from October 1980 to December 6, 1981, at which time he was installed as Pastor of the Gilmer Temple Church. Pastor Smith, Sr. had extensive remodeling done to the old sanctuary located at 1287 Adelaide. Under his leadership, God has blessed Gilmer Temple both naturally and spiritually. God blessed this young man to continue the works and teachings that were instilled in him through close work and fellowship with Elder Spight and other co-laborers in the Gospel at that time. Elder Smith ,Sr. was a bi-vocational pastor in that he worked for MLG&W until his retirement in 1998. During this time, the Lord led Pastor Smith, Sr. to build a new sanctuary. With the vision from God the property was cleared and a new sanctuary began in June 1999. Through many trials and obstacles, Pastor Smith, Sr. and the members of the Gilmer Temple Church persevered and a new sanctuary was erected. The official opening day of the new sanctuary was March 5, 2000 at the current location 1297 Adelaide. As witnessed by many worshipers, both members and visitors, God most certainly set his approval. Under Pastor Smith, Sr.’s leadership, many souls were saved and many lives have been forever changed. The former sanctuary at 1287 Adelaide was demolished in 2003. God certainly blessed us during the time of our tenure in the old building. We had no idea that during many years of offering God praise that our building was in such disarray. When the bulldozer hit the building during the demolishing of the old sanctuary in 2003, Pastor and Sister Smith, Sr. noticed that there was absolutely no mortar between most of the brick. This was a true testament of God’s mercy and protection upon us. During this time of change and ministerial transition, he endeavored to receive
his college education. He enrolled in Crichton College and received a Certificate in Biblical Studies. After that, he continued and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies in 2006 from Crichton College with a minor in Education. A core group of believers remained including his immediate family. As the years grew, God raised up 3 sons in the ministry. Fredrick, Jr., Curtis and Larry. God used them to serve as musicians in the church. At the beginning of 2008, Elder Smith, Sr. took ill. For many years he’d labored in God’s vineyard, preaching to the lost, sustaining the weary, and praying for the recovery of the sick and many different ailments. Now, he was faced with a challenge of his own. He met that challenge head on as God gave him strength. During all these years as Pastor, his family worked closely and faithfully with him. This test of the family bond was proven even more in 2008 after he fell ill. After, working faithfully in ministry with his father, in 2008, Fred, Jr. was licensed as a minister. As he continued with the challenges of his health, Fred, Jr. came highly recommended by the Jurisdictional Bishop due to his dedication to God, local, district and jurisdictional ministries to be ordained as an elder in order to further assist his father. The year of 2008 was a very busy year for, Pastor Smith, Sr. and the Gilmer Temple church family. He saw fit to put forth endeavors to pay off the new edifice. In the Summer of 2008, the congregation worked together with Pastor Smith, Sr. and paid off the new sanctuary. In August 2008 a mortgage burning banquet was held at Airport Radisson. Bishop Charles Rodgers was the guest speaker. The banquet hall was filled to capacity with many well-wishers. Shortly thereafter, Pastor Smith’s health continued to decline but his faith in God never wavered. In October 2008, Minister Smith was ordained as an Elder of the church under the leadership of Bishop Samuel L. Lowe. He continued to carry on and serve faithfully in his father’s absence. On December 20, 2008, Pastor Smith, Sr. won his battle and went home to be with the Lord to receive the reward of his labor. The very next day would challenge Elder Smith, Jr. to make a decision that would forever change his life and spark his process of growth as a leader. On December 21, 2008, Elder Smith, Jr. contacted the church to get a feel of the emotional state of the congregation. He was told that the congregation met for a few moments already and was about to dismiss and go home. Elder Smith, Jr. then gave instructions to not dismiss the service because the congregation needed to hear from and see the family. In June of 2009, Elder Smith, Jr. was officially appointed and installed as Pastor of the Gilmer Temple COGIC. With God’s wisdom and the tutelage of the Late Fredrick L. Smith, Sr., Pastor Smith serves faithfully at the Gilmer Temple Church. Under Pastor Smith, Jr’s leadership, he continued to beautify the church and property with new awnings, wrought iron fence and landscaping. He has committed his life to the furtherance of every member of the church and his heart’s desire is that lives are forever changed through the love of Christ.
From the Pastor’s Desk As a young lad, my parents were told that I’d be a preacher. The blessing of this reality is that my parents afforded my brothers and me an opportunity to live lives of normalcy. We were taught how to be men and live with the simplicities of life. Losing our father eleven (11) years ago was devastating for us. However, today, celebrates a milestone that won’t be seen again. This is the 10th year of pastoring God’s people. With God’s grace, I’ve endured many challenges: But God!
This life is a consistent testament of Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Through personal and ministerial challenges, God has truly been good and has shown grace in ways that has blown my mind.
I’ve grown to see God in the way that I believe He desires to be seen and that is as One who can do ANYTHING! Continue to pray for me as I continue to do God’s will. The certainty of the future is in God’s hand. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit it is God’s will to prosper us. Continue to pray for visionary leadership and that I will always be open to the desires of God. Blessings,
Pastor Fredrick L. Smith, Jr. Pastor Fredrick L. Smith, Jr.