Our dear father,

Paymaster Christian J. Smith went home to God on March 2, in Kristiansand. He was 68 and a half years old. Thus an amazing life of faith has come to an end.

Our dear father was truly a God-fearing man who loved his Savior. His faith, that he had been raised up and seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, filled his entire life with an abundance of strength and power. And just as he lived his life, he went home—victorious and happy. He lived in God and God in him, as he often used to say.

His life has been a rich blessing for us, his children, and his prayers, life, and deeds have borne fruit in us. The result is that we now have a longing to bring a portion of that blessing to others. He himself said that he had a fountain of life within. And we will pass on what he, by the grace of God, was able to draw from this fountain, so that the blessing of his life will be of benefit to many others.

The memory of the righteous truly is blessed. And this is his testimony, even after his departure, because he believed in his God.

Blessed be his memory.

The godly fear of parents is a treasure for their children. After the death of our father, two more of his children gave their hearts to their Savior. God be honored.

In the next issue of the paper we will bring out the deep fountains of our father’s rich life of faith.