A celebration of the life of Martin Goldsmith

Martin Goldsmith went to be with the Lord at the beginning of February 2026. Martin had longstanding links with Global Connections and was well known in the network having worked with OMF and All Nations Christian College.

Celebration of Life service

There will be a celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Goldsmith at Revelation Church in Chichester on Sunday March 22^nd from 3pm to 6pm. Please register on Eventbrite if you would like to attend so the family can get an idea of numbers. Martin is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth, his three children Andrew, Margaret and Ruth, seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Martin's family at this difficult time.

Martin's reach and global legacy

Martin’s reach and global legacy is vast. In his lifetime he visited more than 60 countries, served as a teacher, preacher, mission strategist, author and encourager. He was a frequent speaker at many conferences of different organisations, always stimulating and challenging. His influence extended through conference participation, consultation, and personal relationships. Martin was on the councils and boards of SAMS, OMF, CMJ and Jews for Jesus to name a few.

Martin Goldsmith leaves behind an impressive legacy as can be seen from this list of organisational involvement and global ministry. Our thanks go to Richard Harvey for helping to compile the list below, a testament to a life of service.

1. Mission Agencies – Leadership, Council and Advisory Roles

Martin Goldsmith served on councils, boards, or in formal advisory capacities with a number of mission agencies, alongside extensive informal consultation and conference speaking. He was widely respected as a strategic thinker, theological teacher, and encourager within these agencies:

• SAMS – South American Mission Society – Board Member

• OMF – Overseas Missionary Fellowship (formerly China Inland Mission) – Board Member

• CMJ (UK) – Church’s Ministry Among Jewish People – Vice-President

• Jews for Jesus (UK) – Founding Board Member

• ECM – European Christian Mission

2. Student, Evangelical, and Theological Networks

Martin was closely involved with student movements and wider evangelical networks in the UK and internationally. He was a frequent conference speaker, theological contributor, and mentor within these networks:

• UCCF – Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship

• IFES – International Fellowship of Evangelical Students

• LICC – London Institute for Contemporary Christianity

• A Rocha – International Christian environmental organisation

• EFET – European Fellowship of Evangelical Theologians

• Evangelical–Roman Catholic dialogue on mission (formal title to be confirmed)

• Keswick Convention (Northern Ireland)

4. Operation Mobilisation (OM)

Martin spoke regularly at major European OM youth conferences. In the early 1980s he was asked by OM to visit their centres across the Middle East (including Sudan, Egypt, and Jordan) to advise on mission strategy and encourage field teams.

OM enabled Martin’s first visit to Kazakhstan before the collapse of the Soviet Union, which led to extensive later ministry in:

• Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, The North Caucasus and Russia.

5. Central Asia, China, and Afghanistan

Building on early OM connections, Martin undertook sustained ministry in politically and culturally sensitive contexts:

• Multiple visits to Kazakhstan

• Later ministry in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

• Engagement in the North Caucasus and Russia

• Three key visits to Afghanistan

• Several visits to China

6. East Asia – South Korea

From the late 1980s through the 1990s, Martin taught annually in South Korea at:

• Worship and Praise Summer School, linked with Onnuri Church, Seoul

• Onnuri Church, one of South Korea’s largest congregations

• Global Mission Training Institute

Many of Martin’s books were translated into Korean. A Korean pastor reported that these became standard textbooks for missionary candidates, influencing a generation of Korean missionaries.

7. Scandinavia

Each autumn, prior to the UK academic year, Martin taught regularly at:

• Örebro Mission School, Sweden

• Norwegian Santal Mission (now part of Normisjon)

• Fjellhaug International University College (formerly Fjellhaug Theological Seminary), Oslo

8. German-Speaking Europe

In earlier years, Martin led groups of German-speaking students on study tours in Switzerland and spoke at key mission schools and churches, developing strong links within German-speaking evangelical circles.

9. Africa and North Africa

Martin ministered widely across Africa, including:

• SCM South Africa – Student Christian Movement of South Africa

• Theological colleges in Kenya

• Ministry among Berber (Amazigh) Christian communities in Algeria

• ACT Tunisia (Christian mission organisation; full title to be confirmed)

• Horizons Morocco

• WEC International – Worldwide Evangelisation for Christ (Mali and The Gambia)

• SIL International – Summer Institute of Linguistics (Ethiopia and Senegal)

10. Eastern and Southern Europe

• Invited by SU – Scripture Union to minister in Hungary

• Ministry in Albania (inviting organisation to be confirmed)

11. Messianic Jewish and Jewish Missions

• Invited by SU – Scripture Union to minister in Hungary

• Visited Israel - CMJ

• Jews for Jesus - Global ministry input from 1989

• British Messianic Jewish Alliance - speaker, friend, mentor

• European Messianic Jewish Theological Consultation - Keynote speaker

• Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism - Pattaya 1980 onwards.