A Tribute to Bishop Goodwin Smith
Innovative, inspiring, a true leader and administrator; a highly respected visionary, a family man, a dynamic and forthright preacher and teacher; a man of integrity, and a champion of hope and dignity are all adjectives that describe Rev. Dr. Goodwin C. Smith – a visionary man of God. He was a modern day E.F. Hutton – when he spoke everybody listened. He stood for what was right, and fought for the good of all. He mentored many of Bermuda’s leaders as he prepared to pass on God’s spiritual baton.
Goodwin Campbell Smith was born on June 28, 1936, the third child, and first born son of the late Wilfred and Ursula Smith of Hamilton Parish. He was blessed with a rich inheritance of faith, family, character, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. During his youth he attended Sunday School and church at Evangel Tabernacle in Flatts, where under the spiritual guidance of the late Pastor Marjorie Trott, he was taught strict Christian principles at a young age.
On June 26, 1958, after five years of courtship, Goodwin married his sweetheart Ruby Trott and together they have enjoyed 49 years of marital bliss. From their union, Goodwin and Ruby were blessed with one daughter, Gayna Cathy. Gayna subsequently enriched their lives tremendously by giving birth to four grandchildren: Olivia, Tiffani, Micah, and Michael Jr. Goodwin loved his family unconditionally.
Prior to his conversion in 1963, Goodwin was employed as the manager of Gosling Brothers Bonded Warehouse. Once he gave his heart to the Lord, he worked diligently for the Kingdom, right up until his death. He enjoyed teaching Sunday School. During the sixties, he served as the Dean of the New Testament Church of God Bible School, an assignment which he relished, as he considered all 25 of his students his “church.”
Goodwin received his first ministerial license before leaving Bermuda in 1967 to study at LaSalle University and completed a course in architecture. He was also a recipient of a Dale Carnegie Certificate in self-improvement, and in 1969 he graduated from the Manhattan Bible Institute in New York.
Dr. Smith successfully achieved his Doctor of Divinity certificate from the Universal Bible Institute in 1974. He went on to study towards his Masters Degree in Bible Knowledge. He was appointed as a Justice of the Peace. In 1989 Dr. Smith received an M.B.E. (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Believing that education is an on-going process, he recently earned his Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.) from the European Theological Seminary.
In 1974, his mentor, the late Rev. Dr. Charles Foster Fubler; accepted a pastorate in America. Dr. Smith was pastoring in Harlem, New York. Then the call came to return home to Bermuda to fill the vacancy left by the Fubler family. Dr. Smith, Ruby and Gayna returned to Bermuda in August 1974 to accept the challenge and to follow in the footsteps of his mentor. Upon his return, one of the first things on his agenda was to ensure that the spiritual mothers and fathers of the Church were made to feel their legacy was appreciated.
Dr. Smith sought out those elder members of the church who were not able to attend service on a regular basis to pray with them, serve them communion in their homes and made them feel their contributions to the church had not been forgotten.
Dr. Smith, having been converted and groomed for leadership under Pastor Fubler’s ministry, was already a dynamic and forthright preacher in his own right. However, he soon discovered there were many challenges and hurdles facing him that he must overcome. Because he possessed the qualities of a great leader, Dr. Smith was able to stand firm and lead the church through every obstacle and opposition. He implemented strategies and programs that benefited the flock spiritually as well as materially. There was tremendous spiritual and numerical growth. He, like his predecessor, became well-known and was respected as a man of God who was not afraid to step outside the walls of the church and become involved in the wider community.
In October 2003 Dr. Smith felt the call to move away from pastoral duties and concentrate on the position of Administrative Bishop. As a ‘Man of Vision’ and integrity, Dr. Smith had superior administrative skills, which were evident in many areas including spiritual growth, financial planning, budgeting and financial investments.
Often regarded as a pioneer and trailblazer, Dr. Smith was the first Bermudian, and the first person of color, to serve in several prestigious capacities in the Church of God worldwide. In 1982 he was elected as a member of the World Missions Board and in 1986 he was elected to serve on the Executive Council. Dr. Smith was also a member of the International Advisory Council and a member of the Caribbean Council.
As a renowned international preacher, teacher, lecturer, and author, he made history for both the Church of God worldwide and in Bermuda with his emphatic and anointed message of the Kingdom of God.
