Actscelerate.com

We are losing too many Pastor Truman's

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1050 **1/21/17 11:20 am**

When we moved to NW Ohio, Bro. Truman was the closest COG church to us. I called and asked if we could meet and he told me, "Come on over and bring the wife, I'll be at the church." We get to his church and he operated a food pantry from the back of it. It was around 30 degrees outside and felt like 10 inside. He was sitting in a chair with a small electric heater pointing toward him (the only heat source in the room) and told us to come on in. I introduced myself and my wife and he tells us to pull up a couple of food crates to sit on. He called Gloria to come down and we had the privilege of meeting this precious lady. Another couple walked in looking for food and Truman didn't move from his chair (he told them it was too cold to get up) He asked them what they needed and told them what he had and they left with a couple of sacks of groceries.

We spent a couple of hours with Bro. and Sis. Smith. Several times Gloria asked him to go upstairs because it was too cold to stay in that room and he told her that someone might come by that needed food and he might miss them. As we were telling them bye, Truman asked me if we needed food and I told him we were fine, but... He gets his wallet out and pulled out a card and told me to take it the food bank in Ft Wayne. He said, "They know me there" I told him again that we were fine and we didn't need any food. He stood up and looked me in the eye and said, "It might not be for you, but if you don't go get it, someone else will go without eating tonight."

We found the food bank, handed them the card, they saw Truman's name on it and told us we could get $100 worth of food. As we were checking out, they told us Bro. Truman sends someone to them every week. We had been at our church for a week and didn't really know any of our people yet. We took the food to a lady in our church that afternoon. We didn't know it, but her daughter and son-in-law had just moved in with her the day before. She told me she had been praying that morning that she didn't know how she was going to feed everyone and here we show up with what she needed.

I called Truman the next day and told him what had happened. He told me he was glad to help someone and told me to stop turning things down that God was trying to give me, "Because it's always about others."

Truman was rough on the edges, but he had a heart of gold and a tender spirit. I will miss him greatly.

Acts-dicted Posts: 7604 **1/21/17 11:48 am**

What a great story, thanks for sharing.

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 **1/21/17 1:38 pm**

Now that is the heart of a pastor.
Smile

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01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **1/21/17 8:50 pm**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **1/21/17 9:01 pm**

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **1/21/17 11:27 pm**

Great testimony! Thanks for sharing !!!

Obituary (L)

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 **1/22/17 3:07 am**

http://www.covingtonmemorial.com/book-of-memories/2825665/Smith-Pastor-Truman/obituary.php

Pastor Truman Smith, 79, went to his Heavenly home, Friday January 20, 2017. Pastor Smith was pastor for 58 years of unbroken ministry beginning in Layfayett & Orme Valley Church of God then 8 years at Smyrna, TN Church of God, 4 years, Middle Creek Church of God Cosby, TN, 8 years, Shelbyville, TN Church of God and then 34 years at Third Street Church of God, Ft. Wayne, IN where he retired December 31, 2015 and retained the title of Pastor Emeritus.

Surviving is his wife of 60 years Gloria Smith, daughter, Rhonda (Wendell) Golden, grandson Spencer (Brie) Golden, siblings, Duane (Shirley) Smith, Faye Colston, Kaye (John) Corley, 5 nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews.

Pastor Smith’s Going Home Party will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday January 25, 2017 at Covington Memorial Funeral Home with viewing from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. There is also viewing Tuesday January 24, at the funeral home from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Preferred memorials are to The Third Street Church of God Food Bank. www.covingtonmemorial.com
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Acts Mod Posts: 3346 **1/22/17 6:17 pm**

Great story Ernie. It is men and women like this who are in the trenches that makes the difference.

It frustrates me for people to send their financial support to someone they have never seen.

I love some of the big name ministers like Jentezen and David Jeremiah. But these guys cannot visit you in the hospital, bury your dead and marry your family members. Nor can they operate a food bank but Pastor Truman did.
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Acts-dicted Posts: 7604 **1/22/17 6:22 pm**

Thanks Carolyn.