One of Britain’s most well-known Jewish disciples of Jesus, Martin Goldsmith, has died peacefully, aged 91, after an extraordinary life of service to Christ.
After ten colourful years as a missionary in South East Asia with the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF), he served for over 50 years as a gifted teacher at All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire.
He was popular with students, scores of whom came to the college because of the challenge to engage in mission that he had delivered at their university or church.
Friend Bob Hunt, in a tribute, said: “He made great play of his Jewish background and constantly challenged students to measure their Christian thinking against Jewish concepts and understanding.”
Author of 30 books including Matthew & Mission: The Gospel Through Jewish Eyes, Martin was born into a liberal Jewish family but was challenged by Christianity at boarding school. This was followed by two years of national service in the Royal Navy where he was trained to be a Russian interpreter.
He then studied at Worcester College, Oxford, where he became a committed Christian. And after studying theology in Bristol, he served with the OMF in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Thailand where he experienced times of revival.
It was in Singapore that he married fellow missionary Elizabeth Hoyte, and together they had three children – Andrew, Margaret & Ruth.
Part of the team that launched the new, combined, three colleges that made up All Nations some 50 years ago, he was a great innovator and shaped the lives of thousands through his long teaching ministry.
He also served as Vice-President of The Church’s Ministry among Jewish People (CMJ) in the UK and was a founding board member of Jews for Jesus UK.
-With thanks to All Nations.
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