“I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize that he is able to carry out his will for me. It does not matter where he places me or how. That is for him to consider, not me, for in the easiest positions he will give me grace, and in the most difficult ones, his grace is sufficient.”
Jim Smith shared this quote during May 31 chapel as we celebrated his and Sue’s 38 years with OMS.
Roger Skinner gave the summary of the Smith’s ministry, which began at language school in Costa Rica. Then, in 1985, the Smiths began their missionary journey in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
With his bachelor’s degree in business administration, a master of divinity, and a doctor of ministry, Jim brought an array of skills to the field. Sue’s associate degree in nursing also equipped her to effectively serve and care for those around her.
After 10 months in Guayaquil, they moved to the mountains where Jim taught at Sinai Bible Institute. Both were teachers for missionary children.
They returned to Guayaquil the following year to serve at Christian Bible Church. Jim worked on the leadership team, and Sue worked with women’s ministries and teaching.
The next year, they moved to Wilmore, Kentucky, and worked with students at the OMS Asbury Student Center.
A couple of years later, they moved to the southern mountains in Ecuador to help with medical and church ministry.
“They seem to have lived in more places than most missionaries,” Roger said. “I think one of the reasons was because they were willing to help you whenever and wherever there was a need.”
After serving in Ecuador for almost 20 years, Jim and Sue transitioned to the United States to continue working with OMS. Jim worked in Finance, and both worked with OMS’ Men for Missions (MFM) ministry and in Member Care.
“Jim and Sue both have a pastor’s heart,” Kent Eller, executive director of MFM said. “I still remember one of our missionaries saying: ‘We returned from the field, broken and hurting when the Smiths were in Member Care. We are still here because of Sue Smith.’”
When an earthquake hit Manta, Ecuador, they worked with relief by translating and leading teams.
On an evangelism trip to Colombia, Kent witnessed Jim’s heart and passion for people.
Sharon Heinrich read Psalm 66:19 (NASB): “But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer,” followed by an email from Jim asking to work in the Finance Department at OMS USA.
With her right-hand person leaving that year, Sharon knew she would be lost. “Jim, you were an answer to my prayers,” Sharon said, noting three marks of a servant she saw in Jim: humility, the willingness to serve where needed, and obedience to serve.
“I’m going to miss your work,” Sharon said, “but more than that, I’m going to miss your wisdom.”
Several national coworkers whom the Smiths worked and served with in Ecuador sent a video of love and thanks.
Jorge Mogrovejo and seminary students thanked the Smiths for their years of dedication and lasting impact on their lives.
Lynn Mogrovejo shared a story about Sue volunteering to teach her three children as Lynn taught a class and worked as academic dean. Her kids loved having the “very patient Aunt Sue” teach them.
Heidi Mogrovejo remembered Sue teaching her how to read. Because of Sue’s teaching, Heidi now works as a teacher, doing the same thing “Aunt Sue” did for her.
Sergio and Thalia Angamarca expressed their love and thanks for what God did through the Smiths. Patricio Orellana sent congratulations and blessings.
Jim shared about his and Sue’s time with OMS. He related himself to the “super utility player” in baseball. This player doesn’t start the game, but he can play every position on the field.
Jim and Sue came from the secular world where Jim worked in home improvement sales and Sue as a nurse. The transition from the secular world to missions was intense.
When they started in ministry, they received complete funding to serve in Haiti. As they were preparing to attend French language school in Quebec, trouble broke out in Haiti, and new missionaries were allowed in Haiti. Soon, a vocational Bible school in Ecuador asked Jim to teach.
They realized God didn’t want what they could do, he wanted who they could be, and this realization guided them through the remainder of their ministry career, serving the Lord wherever he wanted them and doing whatever he asked.
By Hannah Kemper, Summer 2023 OMS Communications Intern
