Oswald J Smith – born

ON THIS DATE

Oswald J Smith was born 11/8/1889, Odessa, Ontario, Canada (at his parents’ home over a train station; his father was a telegraph operator for the Canadian Pacific Railway).  He was converted at a Torrey-Alexander evangelistic campaign in Toronto, 1/28/1906. He felt called to preach and in ‘34 formed the People’s Church (which funneled millions of dollars into missionary work and sent hundreds of young people to mission fields.  Millions of his 35 books were printed, his preaching took him to sixty-six countries.  He wrote 1200+ Gospel songs, hymns and choruses, including “Then Jesus Came,” “God Understands” “The Song of the Soul Set Free,” “Deeper and Deeper,” “Joy in Serving Jesus,” and “God Understands.”  Smith died 1/25/1986. 

Personal note – got to see and hear him at Bible Town, Boca Raton, FL.

Then Jesus Came

One sat alone beside the highway begging

His eyes were blind, the Light he could not see

He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows

Then Jesus came and bid the darkness flee

Chorus

When Jesus comes the tempter’s power is broken

When Jesus comes, all tears are wiped away

He takes the gloom and fills my heart with glory

For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

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