It is with heavy hearts we bring this to you.
On the morning of August 24th, our dear brother and pastor, Robert Tre' Smith, passed away. He was asleep in his favorite recliner and resting when April left for an appointment. When she came home, he had gone home.
As many of you know, Tre' was on an extended sabbatical due to health reasons. Of course, we always try to give our elders the occasional sabbatical, but we had extended this one so that he would have even more time to rest and recover from past bouts with cancer. We rejoice that this extended sabbatical allowed for extra time with his family and that moreover, he was excited to resume his ministry as a pastor.
When Paul Brandon had spoken with Tre' last week, Tre' was in good spirits and excited to get back in the pulpit. That was a message that he conveyed to both Paul and Kahlib over the last several weeks. Knowing what we know of Tre', this enthusiasm is unsurprising, and it speaks to his love not only of Christ but also his love for you, his dear church family. The elders and deacons of Boonsboro Presbyterian Church, along with his family, recall to God's glory Tre's faithfulness in the pulpit, and his perseverance through all the struggles he faced with physical health and many years of faithful ministry.
Tre' joined the church in 2007 as an assistant pastor and in 2016 became the head pastor. Through all of his ministry at our church, he was faithful to testify to the sacredness and centrality of the Gospel and our identity in Christ. He was quick to remind us to walk "three miles an hour" as Christ did; in other words, to resist the urge to, through human effort, strive rather than resting in God's abiding grace in all that we do and say. His ministry emphasized adoption in Christ and not the orphanhood that comes so easily; even Christians have to resist the lie that they must earn God's favor through good works. The leadership of Boonsboro Presbyterian Church, as well as his family, testify to this central theme of Tre's life. He was steadfast in his faith and persistent despite setbacks and hardship. He was quick to point people back to God's grace, back to the cross, back to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
He was our brother in arms, a dear friend, someone with whom we could quickly and easily cling to Christ together. We will always be grateful for his leadership, mentorship, and presence in our lives. He was just as quick to laugh wholeheartedly at some joke or other as he was to get serious about God's Word, and about leaning into the wonderful grace afforded us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was quick to reject pretension and impression management, because his awareness of his own sin was so bathed in the wonderful story of God's forgiveness and redemption in Christ. This robust faith and hope he conveyed to his friends, family and those with whom he ministered.
The end result of Tre's life is this: that in learning to be a son of God, one who rests in God's unqualified and unending love through the work of Christ, and one who was quick to reject legalism and any lie of human works added to the Gospel, Tre' was indeed a mighty warrior for Christ and His kingdom. He will be missed as a husband and father, as a pastor, as a friend, and as a true and faithful brother in Christ.
But, as we so recently discussed in church, to die indeed is gain, for now our dear brother is with Christ!
Sunday worship is scheduled for our regular time.
Further information about the funeral will be conveyed shortly Please keep April and the family in your prayers.
Thank you,
The Elders and Deacons of Boonsboro Presbyterian Church, and the Smith Family