Award-Winning Gospel Artists and Singers to Honor Bishop Horace E. Smith
Apostolic Faith Church will celebrate the 70th birthday of its pastor, Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D., with a gala musical tribute on Saturday, December 7, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, 2121 S. Prairie Avenue. A stellar lineup of gospel artists and singers will help celebrate Bishop Smith’s birthday.
“It’s a well-known fact that Bishop Smith loves music,” said Susan D. Smith, First Lady of Apostolic Faith Church and his wife of 43 years. “As a young boy, he developed an appreciation for music — especially gospel –that has grown through the years. It’s only fitting that we commemorate this milestone birthday through music.”
The evening’s performers will sing Bishop Smith’s favorite songs representative of his journey through each decade of his life. Confirmed artists who will perform are: Audrey Dubois-Harris, award-winning classical gospel soprano; Sheri Addison, finalist on BET’s Sunday’s Best; international gospel recording artist, Reverend Calvin Bridges; renowned singer, songwriter Terisa Griffin; legendary gospel songstress Dr. Vernon Oliver-Price; and gospel artist and radio personality Pastor DeAndre Patterson. In addition to the musical tribute, the evening’s program will feature special videos that celebrate Bishop Smith’s inspirational life as a husband, father, grandfather, mentor, physician, friend and man of God who has touched the lives of thousands. ABC 7 Chicago anchor, Cheryl Burton, will serve as the program host for the evening, themed, “Celebrating Bishop Horace E. Smith: A Birthday Salute.”
Apostolic Faith Church has been located in and has served the Bronzeville community since its inception in 1915, and is one of Chicago’s longstanding congregations. Bishop Smith was elected pastor in 1980. A man gifted with a passion for God’s Word coupled with a love for God’s people, his contagious spirit of generosity overflows in every facet of his life. He served as Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell/Thalassemia Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital) for over 20 years, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and is recognized world-wide as an outstanding pediatrician in his field. Bishop Smith has been honored by numerous organizations, including the Children’s Miracle Network, and featured in local and national newspapers, magazines and television media. He currently serves on the boards of the Renaissance Collaborative, the Family Institute at Northwestern University, the Chicago Board of Health, the Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund, and Together Chicago.
For more information on Bishop Smith’s 70th birthday celebration, call 773-373-8500 or visit www.afcchicago.org to purchase tickets.
