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J.C. Smart

From the Biographical History of Primitive or Old School Baptist Ministers by David Montgomery and Mark Green:

ELDER J. C. SMART SKETCH WRITTEN BY ELDER SMART IN 1972: I was born to the late W. A. and Mozan Smart in a log cabin in Erath County, Texas, seven miles northeast of Stephenville. I was the youngest of eight children, not an unusually large family during those days. When I was nine years of age, my precious mother passed away. That was a great blow for father and us children; but with the help of the girls caring for the home, under the watchful care of our Heavenly Father, we struggled on without breaking up the home until I was sixteen. Some of my sisters had married, one went to live with my brother to attend college; my father went to live with my oldest brother at Cleburne, Texas, and I went to live with one of my sisters at Energy, 12 miles east of Comanche. I lived in her home until 1926 when I was 21. Again about 1922, salvation became of some concern to me. I always appreciated being alone. Often I would weep for long periods, not knowing just why. I felt lonely and dejected, thought no one cared for me. Several times I knelt to pray; but as I understand it now the devil would whisper "You are too sinful; God will not hear you." I would get up and go without praying. I think that I know something about being without hope and without God in this sinful world; but after several months when I could not bear my burdens alone, it was then I prayed. All that I remember saying in my first attempt was "God have mercy on me and save my soul from hell." For a long period of time I was I that if I were to die, I would go to hell. I finally reached the place in my feelings that if I went to hell, it would be justice on God’s part. In the early part of 1927 again I began longing to attend church, I learned that Elder Len Dalton was preaching at the Hebron Church, but I did not have transportation, was working for small wages, living on a farm near Comanche, but I did not give up. I would start out about daylight on foot to Church, a distance of 12 miles. I was always the first one there; this went on several months before Hebron Church moved to a community, called Shiloh. In 1928, the Old Harmony Association was held there, and on Sunday morning Elder Spencer Moore preached. Again, I heard Jesus Christ preached and what He suffered for me. I presented myself to the Church that second Sunday in July 1928, and was baptized the same day by Elder Len Dalton. It was not until 1934 that I began exercising in the pulpit. Poor weak and stammering were my efforts, but I would feel a relief after I had tried to speak. In the summer of 1935 when the Pottsville Church, near Hamilton, Texas, needed a pastor, they asked not only me, but also the Shiloh Church of which I was a member if she objected to my coming once a month a preaching for them. This I did. During the second Sunday of July 1936, the Old Harmony Association was held at Shiloh Church again where I was ordained to the work of the ministry. I was still serving Pottsville Church as Pastor, also Brownwood and the Church near Breckenridge until 1940, when I left for Colorado. We arrived at our destiny in Colorado, May 8, 1940, with a $10 bill. I was satisfied in heart and felt at peace with God. NOTE: Brother Jimmy became ill two weeks before his passing away, but was well enough to be at church on April 28, where many of his family, church members and friends had gathered to worship with him. In the afternoon, many more friends and family came for an open house to celebrate his 80th birthday. He enjoyed this day very much with his kindness, sense of humor and concern for others very evident. We feel certain that Brother Jimmy's last day on this earth was spent as he had chosen. Elder Smart has left the influence of his life stamped in the minds and hearts of those around him.


larry heldman  

Elder James Compton (1905 - 2007)
Elder James Compton was the original founder of the 'Gospel of Grace Tape Supply.' His collection of tapes began as he traveled to Church meetings and Associations recording sermons on Reel to Reel. He has maintained this library of sermons faithfully over the years and are now the foundation of PB Sermons. org. This web site is dedicated to Elder James Compton (1905 - 2007)