Elder Juanita Smith is the 1st post graduate of the Smith family. Elder Smith graduate from Hunter Collage, N.Y.C. with a B.S., Ed., Mary Mt. Manhattan, M.S. Ed. and the New York Theological Seminary, M.D. Moreover, Elder Smith road with Rosa Park, serve as President of Ministers at Bethel Holy Church, Inc., N.Y.C., National Art Director, Mount Sinai Holy Church of America, Inc. (where Grammy and Stellar Award winning Gospel Artist Pastor Donnie McClurkin was Baptist and became Elder Smith God Son), serving Mount Sinai for 64-years and retired N.Y.C. Elementary School Teacher after 28-years of service.
The founder of Mount Sinai Holy Church of America Church of America, Inc., one of the first Pentecostal Holiness church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was Bishop Ida Robinson. She was born in Hazel Hurst, Georgia August 3, 1891. At the age of seventeen, she testified to being converted and and became an active church worker in her home state of Pensacola, Florida. Soon after conversion she married Oliver Roberson. In 1917 she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Soon after her arrival in the city she was consecrated to ministry through ordination. At the beginning of the year 1924, while fasting for ten days, she received a revelation through God's Word. As she related, "The Holy Ghost spoke and said 'Come out on Mount Sinai." After receiving this message through the Word of God, she was fully convinced that she understood what God meant for her to do. She proceeded to seek legal advice and assistance in establishing her own organization. She proceeded to gain incorporation for a church. Within three months, on May 20, 1924 the Sate of Pennsylvania granted the charter under the name, "Sinai Holy Church of America Incorporated." On the first Sunday in June, 1924 Bishop Roberson called together many of the ministers who belong to the Church. She sent out Evangelists to communities outside Philadelphia. Her organizational abilities were manifested in the success of these workers in establishing churches.Mount Sinai began to grow rapidly. Bishop Robinson was gifted with the kind of charisma that attracted young and old. The first annual Convocation of Mt. Sinai was held at the mother church, Mt Olive Holy Church, 2124 W Oxford Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in September, 1925. Bishop Roberson, by the year 140 was a well known woman church leader. Mount Olive was characterized by masterful preaching. Mount Olive was crowded for both Sunday morning and Sunday night Services. Her preaching was often characterized by singing songs during her sermons One of the greatest acquisitions by any minister, male or female, black or white was obtained in 1945, when Bishop Roberson was able to purchase the Oxford Street Presbyterian Church located at Broad and Oxford street in North Philadelphia. Working tirelessly for years, Bishop Robinson saw Mt Sinai grow into one of the largest Pentecostal organizations ever started by a woman. After twenty-one years as a successful leader, she began to feel the physical strain. Her health began to fail. She sensed her time was not long, however, she had a desired to visit some of the churches that were a part of the organization. She especially wanted to make a tour of the South believing the saints there would be strengthened.
ReplyDeleteOn April 6, 1946, she, along with several others departed on tour. It was her aim to visit all of her churches in Florida. She went to Jacksonville first. From there she journeyed to Winter Haven where, on April 20. 1946, she went home to be with the Lord. After a large funeral she was laid to rest in Eden Cemetery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania. She has gone but her work lives on.