James B. Smyth

James Bell Smyth, formerly of Glenavy, N. Ireland, died on February 22, 2026, at Chapel Pointe, Carlisle, PA.

Born on March 14, 1935, he was the second child of the late Samuel and Marjorie (Bell) Smith. It was in a layman’s Gospel Hall, the Tanzy, at age 14, that Jim trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. He became an active member of Glenavy Methodist Church. After graduation from high school in 1953, Jim worked on the home farm, studied at Greenmount Agricultural School, and later became works manager for Samuel McCausland, Ltd, Belfast.

In September 1963, Jim had a very clear call to serve the Lord on the mission field, and, a year later, began preparing for this at Emmanuel Bible School. He subsequently labored for five months in Yorkshire as an associate evangelist with the Faith Mission, before serving for eight months as a lay pastor in Shetland- from where he applied to work with One Mission Society (formerly known as the Oriental Missionary Society). He was appointed to Colombia, S. America, and after deputation travels (including orientation at the OMS head offices in Greenwood, IN), and brief language study in Costa Rica, in 1969 joined the OMS church planting ministry in Columbia, working with teams of young men based in Medellin.

It was in Greenwood in 1968 that Jim met his future wife, Grace Schoener. They were married in 1979,and then served together in Colombia for the next 24 years- based latterly in Bogota. He carried various Mission administration responsibilities. However (occasionally accompanied by Grace), his principal mission took him to cities and rural areas across the nation to evangelize (with a particular focus to win young people), and to develop new churches. National insecurity and violence became serious obstacles, but together they served very actively in their assignments until retiring to Carlisle in 2003.

Jim is survived by his wife Grace and nephews Stephen and Andrew Smyth. He is preceded in death by his siblings, Alexander Smyth, Betty McCullough and Richard Smyth.

A Celebration for Life for Jim will be held at Chapel Pointe, 770 South Hanover St. Carlisle, PA 17013, on March 14, 2026, at 11am in their chapel. For those who wish to attend the service virtually, a link will be provided here in the near future.

“There shall be a resurrection”

“The LORD our God is righteous in everything He does”

-Acts 24:15, Daniel 9:14