- Home
- Speakers
- Gipsey Smith
- The Apostolic Church
Gipsey Smith
Rodney "Gipsy" Smith MBE (31 March 1860 – 4 August 1947) was a British evangelist who conducted evangelistic campaigns in the United States and Great Britain for over 70 years. He was an early member of The Salvation Army and a contemporary of Fanny Crosby and acquaintance of G. Campbell Morgan and H. A. Ironside.Rodney "Gipsey" Smith (March 31, 1860 – August 4, 1947) was a British preacher and evangelist whose ministry spanned over 70 years, leading countless souls to Christ through powerful crusades in Britain and America. Born in a Romani tent in Epping Forest, near London, England, to Cornelius Smith, a hawker and fiddler, and Mary Welch, he was the fourth of six children in a family that roamed, selling baskets and clothes pegs. Uneducated, he taught himself to read and write after his conversion at 16 on November 17, 1876, at a Primitive Methodist Chapel in Cambridge, influenced by his father’s faith, Ira Sankey’s singing, and a visit to John Bunyan’s home. Smith’s preaching career began in 1877 with the Christian Mission (later The Salvation Army) under William Booth, where his eight assignments yielded 23,000 decisions before his 1882 dismissal over accepting gifts—a gold watch and £5 for his wife—breaching Army rules. As an independent evangelist, he drew massive crowds, from 4,000 in Hanley to 10,000 at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1924, preaching extemporaneously with song, notably recorded by Columbia Records. His 50+ U.S. tours and global campaigns—in Sweden, South Africa, Australia—saw hundreds of thousands converted, including 80,000 in a 1926 Australasian tour. Author of Gipsy Smith: His Life and Work (1901), he remained tied to his Romani roots, often visiting encampments. Married twice—first to Annie Pennock in 1879, with three children (Albany, Alfred, and Rhoda), until her death in 1937, then to Mary Alice Shaw in 1938—he passed away at age 87 aboard the Queen Mary en route to America.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
The preacher discusses the concept of 'kindred spirit' or 'isopsuchos' as seen in the relationship between Paul and Timothy, highlighting their like-mindedness, shared feelings, and genuine concern for each other and the church. This unique bond allowed them to easily work together and care for others sincerely, reflecting spiritual maturity. The sermon emphasizes the importance of having a 'like-souled' companion in life, someone who shares your spirit and values, like Timothy was to Paul. It also encourages believers to be encouragers, showing care and support for others in need, as exemplified by Timothy's ministry of encouragement.
The Apostolic Church
"And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together." Acts 4:31 Here you will find an account of the model church - the Church as Jesus would have it be. Note for a moment the characteristics of that Church. "And when they had prayed the place was shaken . . ." These people knew how to pray. That is evident. Their Church was in truth the House of Prayer. There was great unity within that Church. They were "of one heart and one soul." They were concentrated as well as consecrated. They gave of their substance freely. They were generous souls within that Church. There was great grace there also. And surely there was great power. "And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus." Note the five great fundamentals which go to make up the model Church of Jesus Christ: Prayer, Unity, Generosity, Grace, and Power. If you want your Church to come up to the Apostolic standard, it must possess all these characteristics. In the model Church, the people will love to pray. They will love that more than anything else. They would rather go to a prayer meeting than to a place of entertainment. When the Church of God uses the Apostolic standard, it will be a praying church; that will be its chief characteristic. These people prayed! When they prayed, something happened. Some of us would be surprised if anything striking happened as a result of our prayers. But, you see, I am speaking of the Apostolic Church; the sort of Church you say you would like to have in your locality. I am speaking, not of a Church which had grown conventional and cold, but of a conspicuous, outstanding, convincing, converting Church. Do men and women enter Sunday after Sunday and say, "I am in the place of Prayer - there is the quickening atmosphere of Prayer all about me". Do they realize that the spirit of unity exists there? Are they conscious of the generosity, the grace, and the power of those whose names are on the Church Roll, and who worship there Sunday after Sunday? I want to tell you something else you would be doing, if you were like the members of the first Apostolic Church. You would come to Church every Sunday morning a little earlier in order to meet in prayer with your minister, and that would have a mighty effect upon the day's services, upon the preacher and upon the congregation. Another thing you would do is watch carefully the spiritual life of the Church, guard it at every point, stimulate it by prayer and by godly conversation and see to it that nothing is allowed to enter the Church to pollute the spiritual atmosphere or to smother the promptings of the Holy Ghost. There will be no converting power within your Church, no building-up and strengthening of Christian graces of character, if the spiritual atmosphere is violated. You must see to it that all its windows are open to the winds of Heaven, that the breath of God may have full play.
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
Rodney "Gipsy" Smith MBE (31 March 1860 – 4 August 1947) was a British evangelist who conducted evangelistic campaigns in the United States and Great Britain for over 70 years. He was an early member of The Salvation Army and a contemporary of Fanny Crosby and acquaintance of G. Campbell Morgan and H. A. Ironside.Rodney "Gipsey" Smith (March 31, 1860 – August 4, 1947) was a British preacher and evangelist whose ministry spanned over 70 years, leading countless souls to Christ through powerful crusades in Britain and America. Born in a Romani tent in Epping Forest, near London, England, to Cornelius Smith, a hawker and fiddler, and Mary Welch, he was the fourth of six children in a family that roamed, selling baskets and clothes pegs. Uneducated, he taught himself to read and write after his conversion at 16 on November 17, 1876, at a Primitive Methodist Chapel in Cambridge, influenced by his father’s faith, Ira Sankey’s singing, and a visit to John Bunyan’s home. Smith’s preaching career began in 1877 with the Christian Mission (later The Salvation Army) under William Booth, where his eight assignments yielded 23,000 decisions before his 1882 dismissal over accepting gifts—a gold watch and £5 for his wife—breaching Army rules. As an independent evangelist, he drew massive crowds, from 4,000 in Hanley to 10,000 at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1924, preaching extemporaneously with song, notably recorded by Columbia Records. His 50+ U.S. tours and global campaigns—in Sweden, South Africa, Australia—saw hundreds of thousands converted, including 80,000 in a 1926 Australasian tour. Author of Gipsy Smith: His Life and Work (1901), he remained tied to his Romani roots, often visiting encampments. Married twice—first to Annie Pennock in 1879, with three children (Albany, Alfred, and Rhoda), until her death in 1937, then to Mary Alice Shaw in 1938—he passed away at age 87 aboard the Queen Mary en route to America.