Church History
1954
After listening to a radio broadcast decided to visit and integrated the Assemblies of God Church in Arizona, Dr. Smith received the Holy Ghost on February 4, 1954. Immediately he began preaching on the street corners and anywhere he found an audience. He evangelized for four years and received appointment. Dr. Smith was appointed the National Evangelist in the Church of Our Lord, Inc. As National Evangelist, he conducted tent revivals for another 12 years throughout America, Jamaica, Belize, and Honduras.
1965
Dr. Smith went to Selma Alabama to run a revival after Martin Luther King Jr. march. This was later called Blood Sunday week.
1970
On July 26, 1970, through the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Smith & Sis Smith began pastoring in a storefront church on 62nd Street and 14th Avenue in Miami, Florida with eight members.
1971
On May 31, 1971, the church was registered with the State of Florida an independent organization, “Apostolic Evangelistic Association, Inc. God speaks to Dr. Smith saying, “If you support foreign missions, I will bless your work”. Dr. Smith & Sis. Smith began supporting World Missionary Evangelism. They also assumed the responsibility of monthly support for three native missionaries working in Africa, India, and the Philippine Islands. They were each given a bicycle for transportation and their monthly stipend for three years.
1972
Dr. Smith began an aggressive radio ministry, broadcasting on eight stations throughout Florida. The church experienced tremendous growth spiritually, financially and numerically, causing Dr & Sister Smith to realize the need for a larger facility that would accommodate the needs of a growing church.
1973
Dr. and Sister Smith purchased the old Liberty Theater building, the church’s current location, which became the Apostolic Revival Center, better known as the Shack, which has now been named a historical landmark.
1974
Dr. & Sister Smith began supporting a Pastor in Haiti. God blessed them to purchase land in Leogan and build their first mission church. Later a school was added onto the property. The teachers taught typing, sewing and basic reading, writing and math skills.
1978
Through Dr. Smith, the prison ministry to the incarcerated men of Dade and Broward counties started. This is now a full-time prison ministry that covers the state of Florida and the entire east coast with annual campaigns in Attica Prison in New York. Later, the gospel begins to be taken into the women’s prison. Presently, aftercare services are being provided to men scheduled for release from the Dade county jail system.
1981
As Dr. & Sister Smith continued their commitment to foreign missions, the Lord blessed the Apostolic Revival Center in Miami. The church purchased the adjacent properties across the street which covers the entire block of northwest 15th Avenue. The newly acquired property became the home of the Revival Center Child Care Center for children 6 wks to 5yrs old. In 1982 the center was licensed to accept children from seven weeks to five years of age. It offered single mothers a safe place to leave their children while seeking employment or attending classes to obtain better-paying jobs. The Lord caused men to give unto their bosom. The Annex and the Guest House on 68th street & 15th Avenue was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Rudy Laverty.
1982
The church’s current Fellowship Hall was donated also by Mr. & Mrs. Garth Reeves Jr. of the Miami Times.
Dr. & Sister Smith began supporting a Bible Ministry in Israel with Missionary Eva Bendeck. Dr. and Sis Smith, made plans to attended the Pentecostal World Conference which was being held in Nairobi, Kenya. Approximately two weeks before leaving for Kenya, Dr. Smith, had a vision of a young man crying out to God to send help for his ministry. Upon arriving in Kenya, Dr. Smith was eager to find the man that he saw in the vision. After several days passed, Dr. Smith found the young man, Pastor Mrima. After much conversing, Pastor Mrinma told Pastor Smith “the very two weeks he had his vision were the same two weeks I was up in the mountains praying to God for help.” Before leaving Nairobi, Kenya Dr. Smith purchased a van and other electronic equipment for the ministry. Dr. Smith committed to supporting Pastor Mrima monthly and arranged to return to conduct a city-wide revival. Pastor Mrima was later killed in a tragic automobile accident. Under the new leadership, the ministry of Kenya grew rapidly and the congregation moved from open-air campaigns to the Shans Cinema building outside Nairobi. Dr. Smith travels to Kenya several times a year to conduct evangelistic rallies to teach church discipleship and encourage the ministers. Dr. and Sis. Smith regularly supports the street children in Nairobi, Kenya. Today, there are over 150+ Revival Centers in Kenya from the plains to the mountains and to the coast.
Many years later, the call of God came for Dr. Smith to journey to Tanzania to establish a church in Dar Es Saalam. Today, there are seven Revival Centers, a child care center, and an orphanage in Tanzania.
1983
Dr. & Sister Smith opened the Distribution Center to help the needy with clothing and food with the help of the American Red Cross. Today, the Distribution Center is a 501c3 program that supplies thousands of families per month with food and food vouchers.
1986
Dr. Smith realized that television was an untapped resource. He decided to tap this resource for the glory of God. The Apostolic Revival Center taped its first television broadcast. This is reported to be the longest-running African American TV ministry in South Florida.
1987
Dr. & Sister Smith were able to purchase their own television equipment and began broadcasting from directly at the Apostolic Revival Center.
1988
The “Hope For Today” television broadcast was formed and is televised every Sunday and can be viewed on cable networks and satellites. “Hope For Today” can also be seen in Guyana South America.
1991
The ministry that began in 1954, expanded to the Caribbean Islands, Belize, Central American, and Georgetown Guyana. Dr. Smith conducted a revival campaign in the local stadium.
1992
The Apostolic Revival Center purchased and dedicated a church and school in St Anns Jamaica.
1993
Bibles were sent to Russia through mission possible in Dallas.
1998
Dr. & Sister Smith began supporting Pastor Vaughn in Belize. Today, there are eight Revival Center churches in Nicaragua, Sixteen in Guyana, two in Haiti, One in Grenada and two in Trinidad with two schools.
1999
A fire destroyed all of the television equipment and wiped out everything.
2000
Dr. & Sister Smith purchased all new television equipment.
2001
Dr. & Sister Smith established the Inner Strength Biblical Training Center. The biblical training center is a bible school that equips men and women with the basic fundamental teachings of the Word of God. The biblical training center is designed to build one's walk closer with God so that individuals can apply the Word of God to their daily life.
2004
Dr. & Sister Smith established the Apostolic Enrichment Center, Inc. This center assists students with FCAT and other tutoring needs. The Enrichment Center is currently in the process of expanding to activate other activities and benefits that we are licensed and certified to do to bring excellence to our community.
2009
On October 27th, 2009, City and County Commissioners honors Dr. Gilbert S. Smith with a street naming ceremony to co-designate a portion of Northwest 15th Avenue from 62nd street to 79th street, as “Rev. Dr. Gilbert S. Smith Ave”. Dr. Gilbert S. Smith has been a pillar of the Miami “Liberty City” Community for more than 50 years. His efforts have included helping to improve conditions on the Northwest 15th Avenue corridor, establishing a mentor and free tutoring program for children, feeding the poor and homeless twice a week.
2010
On the third week of March 2010, the Apostolic Revival Center members celebrated their 40th year anniversary of being in ministry.
 |  |  |
|---|