Bishop Wallace Smith

Bishop Wallace E. Smith, loving referred to as Bishop Bub and a 30 year resident of Mountaintop ,was born June 16, 1947, and entered into his heavenly rest on Saturday, October 31, 2020.  He was born to Bishop Wallace W. Smith and Evangelist Bette E. Smith. Bishop Smith's early footsteps with God began when he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at the age of 17.  In his formative years he was immersed in a Christian community that would be his lifelong support as a member of The Greater Emmanuel Assembly Church where he was blessed to have a strong Christian heritage and family. His father, Bishop Wallace W. Smith, who had great influence on his life, served as his teacher, mentor, guide, confidant and best friend, along with the tutelage of Bishop Quander Wilson.

 Young Rev. Smith began to feel the call to evangelism in 1961 and was ordained in the Greater Emmanuel Assembly Church.

Bishop Smith 's undergraduate studies began at White's Theological Seminary, and continued  to Eastern Baptist Seminary, Philadelphia College of the Bible, Christian Worldwide Ministries and Main Bible Institute and in 2006, he attained his Doctorate of Divinity.

As a young dynamic and charismatic speaker, whose grasp of the scriptures far exceeded his years, Bishop Smith became the campus Pastor at Ohio State University for several years and he later would embark on an evangelistic career that would span nearly 2 decades. He preached  across the  entire nation, in 48 of the continental United States, proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel, and witnessed thousands of souls surrender their lives to Christ through his ministry.

In 1988, he married Theresa Tyler-Smith and accepted the Pastorate at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. There he would oversee the rebuilding of the physical edifice and witness the Lord multiply souls beyond any expectation.

In 1999, under the direction of the Lord, Bishop Smith became the founder and pastor of New Covenant Christian Fellowship Church, a non-denominational, multicultural Church, located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

As Pastor and member of the community, he became active in a variety of civic and cultural organizations including the Commission on Economic Opportunity, the Luzerne County Diversity Commission, and The Luzerne County Drug Task Force. He become friends with Mayors, judges, attorneys , police chiefs and officers, the disenfranchised and hopeless, in an effort to bridge gaps that he felt existed in the community.  He loved people and believed that he had the responsibility and ability to extend a life line to those in need, regardless of demographics and would, with every fiber of his being, present himself as a friend to the Luzerne County Community.

In June, 2011, Rev. Smith would travel to Washington D.C to be consecrated to the Office of Bishop under the leadership of Bishop Sherman Watkins and Bishop Thomas D. Jakes, of Higher Ground AAA, Inc.

 He was preceded in death by his mother, Bette Smith and father Bishop Wallace W. Smith. Left to celebrate his memory are his wife, Theresa Tyler-Smith, Mountaintop, daughter, Toya (Smith) Adams, California, daughter, April (Smith) Quillen, Texas, son Wallace Smith, California, Sister Gilda Brooks, NC, brother Nathaniel Smith, NC, Brother Michael Smith, Philadelphia, brother Paul Smith, Arizona, 5 grandchildren, a Nephew who would also be as a son, Nathaniel Smith, Philadelphia, other nieces and nephews, and a host of Spiritual sons and daughters. Also left to cherish his memory are his four-legged “ kids” Cher and Isis.

Celebration of Life services will include a wake on Friday, November 6, 2020, at New Covenant Christian Fellowship Church, 780 S. Main Street., Wilkes-Barre. Calling hours will be

Friday November 6th, from  5:00 PM to 8:00 PM  and Saturday, November 7th, between 10:00am and noon. Services will begin at 12 noon, with Bishop Albert Jameson, Brooklyn, NY, officiating. The Repast will be at the convenience of the family.  

Appropriate face coverings are required, temperatures will be taken and social distancing will be observed. 

Online condolences can be left at KniffenFuneralHome.com.  Kniffen O’Malley Leffler Funeral & Cremation Services, Wilkes-Barre, has been entrusted with arrangements.

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