[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 66 (Friday, April 16, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E407-E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. GILBERT SINCLAIR SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 16, 2021

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
life and legacy of Dr. Gilbert Sinclair Smith.
  Gilbert Sinclair Smith was born July 25, 1931, to the late Mr. Albert 
and Mrs. Gertrude Smith. He was raised in Miami, Florida in the 
community of Liberty City.
  After graduating high school, he joined the United States Air Force. 
During his time in the service, he began to have a deep hunger and 
desire to whole-heartedly serve the Lord. It was then that he had a 
dream that led him to the book of Acts 1:7-8. He realized that he 
needed the power of the Holy Ghost and one week later at a revival, he 
received the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking 
tongues. The following Sunday morning, February 8, 1954, he preached 
his first sermon titled, ``You Must Be Born Again.'' Once he left the 
Air Force, he traveled around the United States of America evangelizing 
and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a National Evangelist, he 
conducted tent revivals throughout America, Jamaica, Belize, and 
Honduras. In 1965, Dr. Smith went to Selma, Alabama to run a revival 
after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s march. This march was later called 
Bloody Sunday.
  In 1970 the Lord led Dr. Smith and his wife, Mrs. Geneva O. Smith, to 
begin the Apostolic Revival Center. The ministry started in a 
storefront church on 62nd Street and 14th Avenue in Miami, Florida. The 
ministry began with 7 adult members and a group of kids out of the 
projects of the Liberty City community in Miami, Florida. On May 31, 
1971, the church was registered with the State of Florida an 
independent organization, ``Apostolic Evangelistic Association, Inc. 
Dr. Smith and his beautiful wife began supporting World Missionary 
Evangelism. They also assumed the responsibility of monthly support for 
three native missionaries working in Africa, India, and the Philippine 
Islands. Dr. Smith began an aggressive radio ministry, broadcasting on 
eight stations throughout Florida. The church experienced tremendous 
growth spiritually, financially and numerically, causing Dr. Smith and 
his wife to realize the need for a larger facility that would 
accommodate the needs of a growing church. They purchased the old 
Liberty Theater building, the church's current location, which became 
the Apostolic Revival Center, better known as the Shack, which has now 
been named a historical landmark.
  In 1974, Dr. Smith and his wife began supporting a Pastor in Haiti. 
God blessed them to purchase land in Leogan and build their first 
mission church. Later a school was added onto the property.
  In 1978, through Dr. Smith, the prison ministry to the incarcerated 
men of Miami-Dade and Broward counties was formed. This ministry 
covered the state of Florida and the entire east coast with annual 
campaigns in Attica Prison in New York. The prison ministry expanded to 
the women prisons and aftercare services to men scheduled for release 
from the Miami-Dade County jail system.
  In 1981, as Dr. Smith and his wife continued their commitment to 
foreign missions, the Lord blessed the Apostolic Revival Center in 
Miami. The church purchased the adjacent properties across the street 
which covered the entire block of northwest 15th Avenue. The newly 
acquired property became the home of the Revival Center Child Care 
Center for children 6 weeks to 5 years old.
  Dr. Smith supported a Bible Ministry in Israel which led to his dream 
of a minister in Nairobi, Kenya. Subsequently, he began a ministry in 
Kenya. Today, there are over 150 Revival Centers in Kenya from the 
plains, mountains and coast. Many years later, the call of God came for 
Dr. Smith to journey to Tanzania to establish a church in Dar Es 
Saalam. As a result, there are seven Revival Centers, a childcare 
center, and an orphanage in Tanzania.
  In 1983, Dr. Smith and his wife opened the Distribution Center to 
help the needy with clothing and food with the help of the American Red 
Cross. This 501c3 program supplied thousands of families per month with 
food and food vouchers.
  In 1986, the Apostolic Revival Center taped its first television 
broadcast. This is reported to be the longest-running African American 
TV ministry in South Florida. Dr. Smith and his wife purchased their 
own television equipment and began broadcasting from directly at the 
Apostolic Revival Center. In 1988, the ``Hope For Today'' television 
broadcast was formed and televised every Sunday on cable networks and 
satellites. ``Hope For Today'' broadcast expanded nationally.
  In the early 1990's, the ministry expanded to the Caribbean Islands, 
Belize, Central American, and Georgetown Guyana. The Revival Center 
purchased and dedicated a church and school in St. Anns, Jamaica. 
Bibles were distributed to Russia through mission possible in Dallas. 
In 1998, Dr. Smith and his wife supported the work in Belize. There are 
8 Revival Center churches in Nicaragua, 16 in Guyana, 2 in Haiti, 1 in 
Grenada and 2 in Trinidad with 2 schools.

[[Page E408]]

  In 2001, Dr. Smith established the Inner Strength Biblical Training 
Center. The biblical training center equipped men and women with the 
fundamental teaching of the Word of God. In 2004, Dr. Smith established 
the Apostolic Enrichment Center, Inc. The center assisted students with 
standardized testing and other tutoring needs. On October 27, 2009, 
City and County Commissioners honored Dr. Gilbert S. Smith with a 
street naming ceremony to co-designate a portion of Northwest 15th 
Avenue from 62nd Street to 79th Street, as ``Rev. Dr. Gilbert S. Smith 
Ave''.
  Dr. Gilbert S. Smith is a true visionary and has been a pillar of the 
Miami ``Liberty City'' Community for more than 50 years. His home 
mission efforts have included helping to improve conditions of his 
local community such as, the ARC Street Ministry, Enrichment Center, 
Prison Ministry, and Distribution Center. His foreign mission continues 
to span over several different continents. Over 250 churches in Africa, 
16 churches in Nicaragua, 13 churches in Guyana, 1 church in Grenada, 3 
churches in Trinidad with schools.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues and all Americans to please join 
me in recognizing Dr. Gilbert Smith for his contributions and for his 
commitment to our community, state and country.

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