Bishop Horace E. Smith

Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. is a man gifted with a passion for God’s Word coupled with a love for God’s people. He has a contagious spirit of generosity that overflows in every facet of his life. As pastor of the Apostolic Faith Church and an attending physician specializing in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Memorial Hospital, Dr. Horace E. Smith has treated bodies and souls for three decades.

Bishop Horace E. Smith M.D. was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. He was raised alongside two sisters and three brothers by his parents Shirley and Albert Smith. After the passing of Bishop Smith’s mother, his grandmother, Alberta Pryor, moved into the home and not only helped meet the needs of the children naturally, but also trained them spiritually.

Bishop Smith graduated as an honor student from Lindblom High School and went on to obtain the following academic accomplishments:

Bachelor of Science Degree (with honors) Chicago State University (1971)
M.D., University of Illinois Medical Center (1975)
Completion of Pediatric Residency, University of Illinois Hospital (1978)
Completion of Clinical Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Memorial Hospital/Northwestern University (1980)

On March 28, 1980, following the death of the former pastor, Bishop John S. Holy, Bishop Smith was named pastor of Apostolic Faith Church. Under his leadership the congregation has grown from 200 members to 7,000 people who call Apostolic Faith Church their home.

Each year the ministry provides assistance by way of food and supplies to over 4,000 homeless families around the Chicago area, a scholarship program that grants more than $100,000 each year, visitations to nursing homes, outreach to correctional facilities and a JobSource program which to date has assisted more than one thousand individuals in obtaining employment.

Apostolic Faith Church broadcasts their Faithworks Ministry Telecast locally on WJYS-TV and nationally on the Word Network, providing programming that is enriching and anointed. The annual Faithworks Conference hosts over 10,000 people each October and has featured world-renown guests including Bishop T. D. Jakes, Bishop Noel Jones, Pastor Sheryl Brady, Bishop Paul Morton and many more.

Bishop Smith’s vision is uncompromisingly clear with one central principle—to build and develop the kingdom of God by empowering God’s people.

In August of 2004-2010 Bishop Smith was elevated to the office of Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. The P.A.W. has over 1.5 million members worldwide, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Bishop Smith’s humanitarian endeavors reach beyond the shores of the United States to support missions in all parts of Africa through his partnership with World Vision USA, where he serves as a board member. Along with his wife, Sister Susan D. Smith, Bishop Smith travels extensively to Africa to view first-hand the devastation caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Under the leadership of Bishop and Sister Smith, Apostolic Faith Church provides resources for the drilling of wells bringing fresh water, which is the number one need in some areas. They also bring food, clothing, education, medical assistance and other goods and services. The Smith’s along with Apostolic Faith Church have sponsored over 2,000 children through World Vision.

Bishop Smith’s belief in God and the power of salvation and healing extends to his medical profession as a concerned and committed pediatrician for critically ill children. He served as Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell/Thalassemia Program at Children’s Memorial Hospital for over 20 years, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and is recognized world-wide as an outstanding pediatrician in his field.

Some people believe that God and science don’t mix; that faith and medicine are worlds apart. Accepting no conflict between the two world views, Dr. Smith believes in fact that ministering and doctoring help him to be more effective at both. “They mix perfectly. God’s the source of all knowledge,” says Smith. “Then there are the principles of the Bible of helping, healing, supporting and developing people, of impacting people’s lives in a positive way. I can not see a better way to do it.” Through prayers and faith in God as a healer, Dr. Smith has seen God’s healing power reverse the course of illness in the lives of his patients. It is this culmination of faith and medicine that has brought about the 2010 release of his first book, Blood Works: the insights of a Pastor and Hematologist into the wonder and spiritual power of blood.

Bishop Smith has been honored by numerous organizations including the Children’s Miracle Network, and featured in local and national newspaper, magazine and television media. He currently serves on the boards of the historic Wabash YMCA, the Family Institute at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center-Community Health Advisory Board.

Bishop Smith has been happily married to Susan Davenport Smith since 1976. They met at the University of Illinois where Susan graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy. They have three beautiful daughters: Lauren Elrod, Rachel Horton and Emily Green along with their sons-in-law Brian Elrod, Courtney Horton, Patrick Green, and three Grandchildren.