Aksel J. Smith, 70 Years Old

Aksel J. Smith, 70 Years Old

For this occasion we had a feast meeting during the New Year’s Conference at Brunstad.

Bro. Smith’s activity reaches into many countries all over the world. It was therefore suitable to have such a meeting during the conference where so many people from various countries were gathered together.

Aksel J. Smith is the son of Johan O. Smith. He was born on January 27, 1910. He was born again in his early youth, and he has been a great blessing throughout all these years. For this reason people have much confidence in him, and through the confidence he has gained by his conduct and his ministry, he has become a help for so many people. As is only reasonable, we heard much about this during the conference.

On Saturday, January 26, about 600 people gathered at Brunstad for the feast. There we heard many people praise God for Bro. Aksel J. Smith. Bro. Smith has the special attribute of knowing how to hide his own person in his ministry among people and in the church; nevertheless, much about his life was revealed at the feast. The thing that was repeated most often when people praised God for him was that he was merciful and firm in his entire ministry. He was able to comfort and give hope and exhort with great seriousness and firmness. The other attribute that was often mentioned was that it was so easy to receive when it came from him.

Besides this, people thanked him for having a heart for the few who live in out-of-the-way places. He visited them to their great edification, as well as caring for those who were timid and withdrawn. He never came as the “preacher,” but always as a servant and a brother. He never made a point of being the son of Johan O. Smith or the editor of Skjulte Skatter, which in fact he is. His father had approached him several times about taking over the responsibility for the paper, but he was reluctant to do so, until January 1, 1943. Then his father told him to take over the responsibility, and on May 1st of the same year his father died. In other words, it was high time that our dear brother took over the responsibility which he has since discharged with such faithfulness in the same spirit, so that unless you look for it, it would be impossible to notice that a change in editors had taken place. Just as the paper from its inception in 1912 has served for edification and spiritual growth through the Word of God, so it has continued. All of it could be republished, and it would be just as living and pertinent. This is also being done, to the great joy of the different ones who have come along since then. Through this work as editor Bro. Smith performs a great and faithful ministry. Skjulte Skatter is an immense help to all the churches that arise around about in the world. It gives them help with all their questions and grounds them in God’s Word. It is also published in several other languages.

At the feast we heard his children and sons- and daughters-in-law praise God for the home they have had. We also heard how the parents reacted with goodness in the various situations, and how they labored in their prayers. When the feast was finished, we were left with the impression that just as an iceberg is mostly hidden in the water, with only a small part being visible, so it is also with Bro. Smith’s life and ministry. Nevertheless, we know that before God all things are revealed and that He rewards richly. That is why there is no strife in the brotherhood. Satan has lost his power there. Oh, how good it is to experience the fulfillment of Paul’s words: “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

In 1937 Johan O. Smith wrote in a book that he gave to his son Aksel: “Aksel Johan Smith. Born to protect, to be and become a shepherd and teacher on the path of righteousness. Your father, J. O. Smith.”

Our common prayer is that God may strengthen our dear brother in this ministry for many years to come and bless his entire family in the days ahead.