1962-2012

Honoring Founder, Pastor Supt. K. Smith

For 50 Years of Service and

90th Birthday Celebration

Saturday, May 26-27, 2012

God will not forget or fail to reward the endeavors of His people

who promote His glory and do good works. Hebrews 10:6

1654 E. San Antonio Street

San Jose, CA 95116

Saturday, May 26, 2012 7:00 P.M. Celebration

Master of Ceremony, Dr. Kenneth Hammonds

Call to Worship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sacred Music

Prayer and Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastor Leo Smith, Grace Temple

Worship and Praise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Marcia Gaulden, Glad Tidings

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Cindy Johnson, New Sweet Home

Pastor and Wife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Escorted by the Smith Family

Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grace Temple

Friendship History Observations . . . . . . . . . . . Mother Ida Nash, Church Mother Friendship

Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prayer Garden

Pastors’ Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visiting Pastors

Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friendship Reunion Choir

Time of Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supt. Paul Bates, Prayer Garden

Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Musical Guests

Special Presentations

Sermonic Solo

Introduction of Speaker

Spoken Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop J. W. Macklin, Glad Tidings

2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop COGIC, Prelate NorCal Jurisdiction Call to Discipleship

Guest of Honor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supt. K. Smith

Dismissal

In honor and dedication to Sister Vila M. Smith, the family has compiled a collection of photos from her personal photo albums into a Pictorial Memory Ebook. To download this ebook go to the website: KenHammonds.com/Friendship50.html.

Sunday, May 27, 2012 3:00 P.M. Celebration

Master of Ceremony, Pastor Frederick Roberts Mistress of Ceremony, Missionary, Darnice Irving

Call to Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Yvette Glasglow, Maranatha

Prayer and Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minister Jordan Caldwell, Pilgrim

Worship and Praise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Annette Hammonds, Destiny Christian

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Sylvia Herring, Solid Rock

Procession of Honoree Supt. K. Smith and Family

Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Karen Hartwell, Friendship

We Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Missionary Ressie Cameron, Genesis Mother Irene Moody, Prayer Garden Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mother Ruby Haley, Pilgrim We Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Additional Speakers

Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friendship Reunion Choir

Time of Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pulpit

Commendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Naomi Hammonds, West Angeles City Council Representative

Words from the Family

Introduction of Speaker

Sermonic Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Mildred Wilson, Southside Christian

Spoken Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastor Mac Winbush, Shreveport, La.

Call to Discipleship

Guest of Honor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supt. K. Smith

Dismissal

In honor and dedication to Sister Vila M. Smith, the family has compiled a collection of photos from her personal photo albums into a Pictorial Memory Ebook. To download this ebook go to the website: KenHammonds.com/Friendship50.html.

Biography

Kelly Smith was born May 10, 1922 to the union of Charles and Ola Smith in El Dorado, Arkansas. Kelly is the third of eight siblings. As a young boy, he would go to the chicken coop in his back yard and preach to the chickens. Unknown to him at this time, preaching would become the reason for his existence.

When Kelly was 25 years old, he and his brother Curtis moved to the Bay Area where jobs were plentiful in canneries and meat packing. Both settled in San Jose where Kelly was employed as a butcher for the San Jose Meat Packing Company.

In 1948 he visited a little store-front Pentecostal church - Prayer Garden, pastored by Elder M. Mathis. Elder G. G. Hannah was conducting a revival. Kelly went to the altar where he was saved and received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. It was at Prayer Garden that he met a young lady, Vila Mae Alexander and married that same year.

Brother Smith, as he was called, was faithful to God and his church. He joined the church choir and formed a Gospel quartet known as the Starlight Singers. They were the first African-American group to sing on a local radio broadcast at the De Anza Hotel. As the group’s manager, Brother Smith would set up engagements that would send them travelling throughout California. Their deep rhythmic quartet sound was loved by all. The Lord called Brother Smith to the ministry in 1956. After his ordination, Elder Smith had a powerful evangelistic ministry. Pastor Mathis was so impressed with this young man that he appointed him as Junior Church Pastor. Elder Smith would conduct numerous revivals at Prayer Garden. Souls were saved and healed through his ministry. At the leading of the Lord, Elder Smith became an evangelist traveling throughout South and Midwest preaching, healing, and winning many souls for Christ.

In 1962, Elder Smith founded the Friendship Church of God in Christ and the membership grew. Pastor Smith wanted to be a full-time pastor and build a new church. He would often say, “the Lord” showed him how to design and construct this edifice. He retired from the meat packing company and began a noon day prayer service that continues today. During the building of the new church, Pastor Smith would take a break from construction to conduct noon day prayer services. Supt. Smith has received numerous awards and commendations for his untiringly efforts to promote Christian values and live the life that God is calling for in these last and evil days.

His accomplishments include: District Superintendent of the San Jose District 2nd Administrative Assistant of Northern California First Jurisdiction 1st Administrative Assistant of Greater Northern California II Jurisdiction Member of Local and State Committees and Boards Instrumental in establishing a community Food Bank and Computer Center He is widely known and highly favored among fellow clergy. He is a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and spiritual father.

Friendship C.O.G.I.C. History (As Told By Pastor Smith)

In 1961, the Lord laid it on my heart to start pastoring. At that time I was member of Prayer Garden C.O.G.I.C., Bishop M. Mathis, Pastor.

After consulting my pastor, he advised me to look for a church in the San Jose area. After work I would drive about looking for a building suitable for a church.

Elder G. G. Hannah was pastoring a church on San Antonio Street. One day I passed by his church. The Lord said to me, "This is the place." I thought, "Elder Hannah is here." I drove on looking for other places. Later I came back by that same church. The Lord spoke to me again, "This is the place." A few days later Elder Hannah called me to put in a water heater for him. He asked me to come and work with him. I told him my pastor has consented to my leaving to work with

another pastor or to start a church. He stated he wanted to do some evangelistic work.

It was May 1962, Sunday morning, Elder Hannah said to his few members, "This will be the Pastor. He and his family will be members." The Lord has put his approval on my ministry and started blessing me to have many saints come and join the church. Later that year, as I was on my way to work, the Lord gave me a name for the church, FRIENDSHIP CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.

In those early years, the church was coming along nicely, but I didn't have anyone to play any music. Every Sunday night I would pray that my sons would play music. The Lord answered my prayers. My oldest son, Kelly was blessed to play the guitar, my middle son, Paul was blessed to play the piano and later he was blessed to play the organ at 9 years old. Timothy, my youngest son was blessed to play the trumpet. A few weeks later, four young ladies formed a group called the Friendliettes: Gwen Hannah, Reba Hannah, Mildred Wilson, and Naomi Smith. The Lord blessed them to sing under the anointing of the Holy Ghost.

In 1964, the Lord blessed us to purchase property where this church is now located. There was a small dwelling on the property at that time, which we used for worship services better known to the young people as “the shack.”

In 1970, we started building our current church. We worked hard and by God's grace we completed it and moved into our new edifice on November 28, 1971.

We the family of Friendship Church has really been blessed. We have had some outstanding members and auxiliaries here at Friendship. The Lord has also favored us with an outstanding musical department throughout the years, beginning with our past directors Gwen Hannah Murray, James Wells, Naomi Smith Hammonds, David Wells, NayRuth Smith, and Karen Mardis.

I thank God for my wife, Missionary Helen Smith of 23 years as first lady of Friendship Church, the Friendship Congregation, and my children for their untiring efforts for the furtherance of the Lord’s work. We pray that our future will be even greater than our past. And we praise God for what He has done for us and what He will do through us if we stay in His will.

In Loving Memory

Sister Hilda Alexander Brother Stafford Alexander Sr. Stafford Alexander Jr. Elder and Sister Avery Joyce Avery Sister Carolyn Ford Bailey Deacon Burns Elder and Sister Bryant Jermaine Bletson Brother and Sister Berring Mother Z. Carr Elder Willie Champion Sister Helen Cooper Mother C. Edwards Mother Ester Sister Christy Ford Sister Jestene Griffin Brother Griffin Mother Gentry Sister Gilbert Sister Gaylord Sister K. Gray Demetrius Hartwell Elder and Sister Hannah LaEqulana Hanzy Sister Ina Hawley Deacon and Sister Henry Sister Herring Elder and Sister Isley Deacon and Missionary Irving Dale Irving Sylvester Irving Jr. Elder and Sister James Mother E. Johnson Sister Elise Johnson Dwight Jones Missionary E. Jones Mother Lawrence

Vila Mae Alexander Smith 1924-1988

Pastor’s Wife 1962-1988

Additional Member: Mother Mary Daniels Earlene Manning

Minister Law Deacon E. McDowell Elder and Sister McMillan Elder and Mother Mark Mother Martin Sister M. Metcalf Benji McNary Mother McNary Charles Edward Jones Charles Moore Ed Moore Gene Moore Mother Lula Moore Elder Nobles Mother Nunn Sister Lawanna Odom Kim O’Dell Deacon and Sister Orr Sister Rankins Sister Ramona Sister Sally Ray Deacon Ridley Deacon and Mother Scott Elder and Sister Shoals Denise Shoals Sister Jo Simmons Mother M. Smith Deacon and Mother Spicer Norfleet Starling Mother F. Strain Sister Reba Turner Sister Veronica Ford Wade Cynthia (Peaches) Scott Ward Sister Washington Brother and Sister Wells Elder V. Williams Missionary Winbush Kevin Wright

** If we have omitted any individuals in

this In Loving Memory Directory, we

deeply apologize. We respectfully ask

for your forgiveness and we will gladly

include any omitted individuals names

in on Pictorial Souvenir Ebook Edition

update at:

KenHammonds.com/Friendship50.html

. _________________.

Acknowledgements

We wish to give Special Thanks to those who worked untiringly donating their time, finances, resources, and support to make this celebration possible.

Bishop C.E. Blake, Presiding Bishop COGIC Bishop J. W. Macklin- 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop COGIC, Prelate NorCal Jurisdiction

Elder Mac Winbush, Pastor Jerry Brown, California Governor Chuck Reed, Mayor of San Jose

Xavier Campos, Council member of the 5th District Karina Dominguez, Community Relation Coordinator

Local Businesses, Donors Bishop Robert Richard Carr, Prelate Greater Northern California 2

Mother Emma Person- State Supervisor Greater Northern California 2 Diane and Robert White Family, Beautification Project

Silvia Herring, Transportation Nancy Barker, Floral Designer

Rebecca Baines Matthews, Photographer Myra Smith and Family, Food Services Pastor Julio Valdez, Iglesia Pentecostal

Clarice Hill, Facility Administrator Mother I. Nash, Friendship Church Mother

Mitchell’s ProPainting Co.

The Smith Family Naomi Hammonds, Event Coordinator

Ruth Smith, Event Coordinator Kelly L. Smith, Chairman of Finance Committee

Paul Smith, Musician Timothy Smith, Personal Aide to the Pastor

Dr. Kenneth Hammonds, Technical Media Assistant Ruth’s Housekeeping Services

Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, Grandchildren and Great Grand Children Thanks to Friendship congregation and the participants who made this occasion very special.

Without you, the celebration would not have been possible.