Regional board Chair
Rev. Dr. John Oswald Smith was born and bred in Guyana, South America. He was educated at Queen’s College and whilst there developed a passion for sports representing the school in volleyball, hockey, rugby and cricket. He was awarded “school colours” for his contribution to volleyball. He was also a school prefect and senior corporal in the Cadet Corps. It was at school that he made the greatest decision of his life. He moved from being religious to a born-again believer. Church was always a part of his upbringing as his father was a lay-preacher, but in 1963 he accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
John became active in Youth for Christ and the Youth Department of Central Assembly of God. At Central Assembly he was active in the choir, sang in the male quartet, acted in plays and preached at open air services. He was conscious of the call of God on his life and, after working with the Government of Guyana for four years; he entered the ministry full time. He served eight years as Assistant Pastor and then as Senior Pastor at Central Assembly of God in Georgetown
since July 1976.
In addition to his pastoral duties, John serves as Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Bible College. He has taught also in the Caribbean School of Theology in Jamaica, Belize, Curacao, Aruba and the Bahamas. He has been a member of the Executive Presbytery since 1974 and General Superintendent since 1997. On the international scene John serves as the Caribbean representative on the International Council of the World Evangelical Alliance, Secretary of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship and Executive and founding trustee of the International Third World Leaders Association. He is the current President of the Guyana Evangelical Fellowship and Chair of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean.