Dr. James C. Smith

Dr. James Clapsaddle Smith, 91, long-time Christian Church preacher, mission administrator, and faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2019.

Jim was born to Kathleen May Clapsaddle Smith and Dewey Bryan Smith on April 7, 1928, in Centerville, Kansas. He was the fourth of eight children. After his dad was killed in an accident in 1934, Jim and his siblings grew up in a single-parent home.

He graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1946, having developed a life-long love of reading and poetry which he would quote from memory all his life. His high school guidance (or maybe “mis-guidance”) counselor's response to his choosing to become a minister was: “Oh Jimmy, don’t do that, you’ll be lost to the world.” Rather, that choice took him across the globe to places few have experienced.

After receiving a scholarship based on winning a speech contest, Jim attended Northwest Christian College (now Northwest Christian University) in Eugene, OR. During these significant college years, Jim’s faith in Jesus Christ became the driving force of his life. He met Joyce Couch of Seattle, WA, who was the love of his life and the partner in all his pursuits. They were married on July 1, 1949, then continued to complete their college education at NCC. Jim served as Student Body President his senior year and graduated with his B.Th. in 1951. Jim pursued and received two graduate degrees (in theology and in communications) from Butler University, Indianapolis, IN and eventually the Doctor of Missiology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA in 1976.

Churches Jim and Joyce Smith served include: Yoncalla Church of Christ in Yoncalla, OR; Figueroa Boulevard Christian Church in Los Angeles, CA; Oaklandon Christian Church in Oaklandon, IN, (now Outlook Christian Church); First Christian Church, Roseburg, OR, and interim at Mountain Christian Church, Bel Air, MD. After retirement Jim served interim ministerial roles at Bell Christian Church, Bell, CA; La Mirada Christian Church, La Mirada, CA; and Santa Ana Christian Church, Santa Ana, CA. Jim was also a part time professor at Pacific Christian College (now Hope International University).

Jim accepted the position of General Director of the Christian Missionary Fellowship, (now CMFI) in 1967. During his 20 years with CMF, Jim encouraged consensus thinking and decision making, as well as long range planning, all the while modeling servant leadership and visionary thinking. Jim traveled the states and the world, visiting churches, encouraging local churches and their leaders to expand their world mission vision and participation to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 28. Jim’s life-long passion was that the Gospel of Jesus Christ be preached to all nations.

Jim enjoyed the family vacations primarily on the Oregon coast and took advantage of retirement living in California with golf and tennis. His love of poetry and a good joke brought smiles to his face and his laughter will always be remembered and treasured.

Jim passed peacefully in his sleep with Joyce by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings, and is survived by his wife of 70 years, Joyce; son and daughter- in-law Jay and Kelly Smith and their children Heather, Bethany (Lazo) and A.J.; daughter and son-in-law Jeri and John McFadden and their children Emily (Thompson) and Brian; daughter Julie (Tunby) and her children Joel and Carly (Neushafer); and daughter and son-in-law Dr. Jamie and Marty Osborn and their children Jenae and Brennan. Two great-grandsons, Benson and Max Lazo, also continue his family line. Because he grew up in a fatherless home, Jim turned to his heavenly Father as his role model, a decision that benefited his family in ways that are difficult to express, but eternally significant.

At his request, no services are planned. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the CMFI (http://www.cmfi.org/give/) or to NCU (https://give.nwcu.edu/).