Name

Elvera Smith

What was your life style like when you decided to follow Jesus?

I left work to go home and help my mother with a new baby. There were 9 children in our family. I left school at 14, I was in grade 6. I was the eldest girl.

What year were you baptised? What age were you?

1924, I was 16 years of age, in the associated church of christ for remission of sins.

Where did you begin to worship and what was your first impression of the church?

I began at West hobart Associated church of Christ, in 1923. I was impressed by the Bible school, singing and friendliness. many older people there. I went to sunday school, there were 100 students. I used to sing solos in church. i taught Bible school from age 17. The church always stressed baptism and had invitation songs.

What difficulties / challenges did you have in striving to be like Jesus?

Leaving West Hobart Associated church of Christ after my marriage to Colin Smith in 1937. We moved to Bream Creek, 30 miles from Hobart. We had no music there in the morning service, but had music at nights. I started to really study the Bible after we were married, when Colin was preaching.

What challenges did you have in feeling part of the Lord’s body?

I felt accepted from the beginning.

What principles of the Restoration movement (restoring Christianity to be as it is in the New Testament) are important to you?

1. Baptism for the remission of sins. 2. I met John Allen Hudson in West Hobart and he stressed the Biblical reasons for no instrumental music.

What did you think about having no musical instruments in worship?

It did not worry me, I stopped singing solos in worship.

What spiritual interest did you have before becoming a Christian?

I wanted to be a missionary in India.

What is important to you, in how you walk in Jesus today?

1. Helping people.

Where do you worship today? Approximately how many brethren?

Gosford church of Christ, there are 130 people.

What roles do you carry out in the church?

I don’t do a lot now. I encourage people. I used to teach Bible class and teenage girls class.