Smith, J. Alfred (James Alfred)

The Rev. Dr. James Alfred Smith, Sr. pastured to African-American Baptist churches in Missouri and California from 1960-2009. He was born in 1931 in Kansas City, and over a period of twenty years, he earned four college degrees, the last, a Doctor of Ministry (1975). In 1970 Smith became pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church (ATBC), an African-American church with a high percentage of Latino members, located in Oakland, California. He relinquished his position of pastor of the ATBC to his son in 2009.

Smith gained local recognition through his pastoral duties at ATBC and activities in the local community. He administered over twenty-five community and family-oriented programs and services at ATBC, the congregation of which multiplied from less than 1000 members in 1970 to over 4,000 in 1989. Smith served several high administrative positions with the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC), a convention of African-American Baptists emphasizing civil rights and social justice, following a path of political activism through "fellowship, progress and peace." From 1986-1988 Smith was president of PNBC. Additionally, Smith has written approximately twenty books and several articles, and continues an active speaking schedule at churches and other organizations throughout the United States.

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