
Ishmael
(Rev Ian Smale) has been travelling around
internationally in a 'full time' capacity
since 1970 and has been privileged to see
many men, women and children become Christians,
filled with the Holy Spirit and healed,
through the work God has called him to.
Having completed a couple of years training
at a pentecostal theological college, he
went on to spend some years in the Elim
pastoral ministry where he was ordained.
For 16 years as well as travelling he was
also part of a local eldership team, but
now he has been released from local Church
responsibility to pursue his calling and
vision to spend more time with children
and those who have a heart for children
throughout the world.
He has written and recorded nearly 400 songs
(inc. Father God I Wonder) released 36 albums
of his and other writers songs, having produced
15 of these. He has also released 2 music
videos and written many books, some of which
have been translated into German, Dutch,
Danish and Romanian. He has also been on
national television many times, and is one
of the very few people that has ministered
at every Spring Harvest since the beginning.
Although he loves spending time with children
his heart is to see all ages praising God
and having fun together. His travelling
time is divided into adult seminars teaching
about the importance of children, and the
all age musical celebrations that he calls
'Praise Parties'. He also loves to preach
and do Bible teaching / ministry for youth
and adults.
In the past Ishmael has committed most of
his time overseas to the USA and Germany
but he has also visited Finland, Belgium,
Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, France,
Holland, Sweden, Gibraltar, Ireland, Canada,
New Zealand,Czech Republic and last but
by no mean least a couple of trips to South
Africa.
Ishmael and his wife Irene enjoy worshipping
at Chichester Cathedral and have recently
been accepted onto the Cathedral electoral
roll. They have three grown up children
Joseph, Daniel and Suzy. Ishmael believes
that children are a vital part of church
life and he aims to teach people the value
of both kids and youth Church as well as
the importance of the whole family worshipping
together.
Finally he wants to see all ages released
as powerful witnesses of Jesus into all
areas of the lost world around them. Ishmael
has been given a consultancy role with Evangelical
Alliance and Kingsways Children's Ministry.