About A.J. and Pat
Aaron J. Smith is a second generation Apostolic/Pentecostal who does not look on the term as a rigid mold from which there can be no scripture-based variation. The son of Karl F. and Josephine Smith, Aaron and his siblings were taught early on to deliberately choose their faith, not inherit it. Both parents considered themselves to be, first of all, Christians without regard to a denominational label. His father, a bishop in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., was the pastor of the Church of Christ of Apostolic Faith in Columbus, Ohio; he had the penchant for examining doctrinal thought in the clear light of the Scriptures regardless of tradition. This trait was passed on from father to son. |
Pat (Herring) Smith, daughter of James (Jack) and Nellie Herring, also was reared in a Christian home and embraced the Apostolic/Pentecostal mode of thinking in her adult years. She too is not obsessed with denominational labels, believing that holiness is required of all believers regardless of their nametag. Pat has an Associate Degree of Theology from Indiana Bible College, a Bachelor of Religious Education from Aenon Bible College, and an Arts and Science Degree from Northeastern Christian College. She studied Computer Science and Engineering at Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis, and Administration at Kennesaw State University. |
Aaron and Pat were married in 1981. She has been a tremendous help to him in his career at Aenon Bible College and in his various literary efforts. Aaron contributed articles regularly to the Christian Outlook in the early 60's and in the period between 1982 and 1984. He is the author of several books:
|
|
In 1991, Aaron retired as the director of External Studies of Aenon Bible College in Indianapolis. He had been, during his tenure with the college (1975-1991), coordinator and occasional instructor of the Aenon Mini-Academy seminars held each year at the General Convention of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., and editor of the Aenon Forum newsletter. His wife Pat was also on the Aenon staff as coordinator of the Aenon Bible Institutes and, following his retirement, she replaced him as the director of External Studies until her own retirement in 1993.
Aaron and Pat had moved with Aenon Bible College from Columbus, Ohio to Indianapolis in 1981 shortly after their marriage. In 1994 they moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he requested and received permission from the Georgia State Council of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World to launch the Georgia State Counselor, the official newsletter for the council. He resigned from the post in 1998. Further indulging his love for writing, Aaron has written a wide variety of teaching and evangelistic pamphlets targeted both at Christians and those who do not yet follow Christ.