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Respected former BBC&S professor dies in N.C.

Dr. Colin Smith, a former Baptist Bible College & Seminary professor and alumnus, died June 22 at his home in North Carolina. He was 53.

Colin was highly respected by his colleagues and treasured by his students. His love for the Bible, the ancient languages, and critical thinking are key parts of his legacy. A passion for God, his family, the church, and innovative scholarship are also remembered by his many friends and students.

His ministry included church planting, writing, preaching, translation work, mentoring, and teaching.

He is survived by his wife, Anita, five children, and eight grandchildren.

"Dr. Colin Smith was one of our outstanding graduates from BBC," said BBC&S President Jim Jeffery. "His ministry as a pastor, conference speaker, teacher, scholar, and Bible translator gave him an influence for Christ that continued to increase through his life. As a faculty member at BBC, he had the ability to share his love for the Word of God with students and equip them to look deeply into the text to discover its meaning and application for life and ministry. We are grateful to God for the gifts he gave to our students through Colin and are praying for Anita and the family as we share their loss.

"Dr. Smith was one of the finest teachers I have met in my life," said BBC&S Provost Dr. Jim Lytle. "Students would catch his passion for God's Word and for diligent scholarship from the very first class session. He could transform average students into motivated, self-reliant learners. Colin modeled a pastor's heart and dedication to the local church. We are going to miss his excellent contributions on every level."

Colin served on the faculty at BBC&S from 2000 to 2007. He joined the staff at Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School in Winston-Salem, NC, full-time in 2007. Among his first work at Piedmont was teaching Hebrew in system that combined traditional lectures, audio, video, and online course support. His impact was immediate, with the senior class choosing him to give the 2009 commencement address at Piedmont.

From fall 2004 through spring 2007, Smith preached 15 chapel messages to the students, faculty, and staff at BBC&S. You can listen to and download messages here.

He earned his bachelor's degree in 1977 from BBC, a M.A. (1988) from Captial Bible Seminary in Lanham, MD, and a M.A. (1997) and Ph.D. (2003) from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

A memorial celebration service was held with Grace Baptist Church in Clarks Summit, PA, on Saturday, June 28.

Contributions may be sent in Colin's memory to the following:
Bibles International
609 36th St. SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49548

Please note on the check the contribution is for: Colin Smith, Northeast India Bible Translation Fund.

Many details on Colin's life and work are posted at www.pbc.edu.


Posted on: 6/23/2008 9:29:34 AM