One of Britain’s best-known Jewish disciples of Jesus, Martin Goldsmith, has died peacefully, aged 91.
By Charles Gardner
Martin was a gifted teacher and author who shaped the lives of thousands through his long teaching ministry. As part of the team that launched the new, combined, three colleges that made up All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire some 50 years ago, Martin was also a great innovator.
After ten colourful years as a missionary in South East Asia with the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF), he joined All Nations and taught there for over 50 years. Martin was popular with students, scores of whom came to the college after hearing him speak at their university or church, when he would encourage them to engage in mission.
His friend Bob Hunt 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 and 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 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.
In Singapore he married fellow missionary Elizabeth Hoyte, and together they had three children – Andrew, Margaret and Ruth. He also served as vice-president of the Church’s Ministry among the Jewish people (CMJ) in the UK and was founding board member of Jews for Jesus UK.