Recently an NSA member was contacted about a speaking engagement in London by a man by the name of Pastor Mark Graham Smith, claiming to be from the London Youth Conference. The scam revolves around the insistence of Pastor Mark Graham Smith, who required her to get a work permit before he would send her a deposit and airline tickets.
After discussing the proposal with a speaker from London and other NSA members she learned it was a scam. To help other NSA members avoid such scams the email messages to the NSA member from Pastor Mark Graham Smith are below in their original form. No grammar or spelling has been changed other than the name of the NSA member to protect her privacy.
If you have experienced a scam you’d like to inform other NSA members about please write a message about it in the comments section.
————————————————————————————-
From: london conference [mailto:londonyouthconf@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 9:50 AM
To: email Subject: YOUTH BUSINESS FORUM
Dear Last Name First Name,
My Name is Pastor Mark Graham from the London Youth Community Here in London UK. We want you to be our guest speaker at this Year LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE which will take place here in UK. We are writing to invite and confirm your booking to be our Speaker at these year LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE. The Venue as follows: Friends House Hall(London) Hospitality Friends House 173 Euston Road London NW1 2BJ Expected audience: 2500 people Duration of speech per speaker: 1 Hour Name of Church/Organization: LONDON YOUTH COMMUNITY Tel Phone: + 44 7077-087-949 Topic: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Date:19th of August 2009-23rd of August 2009 We came across your profile we say it’s up to standard and we will be very glad to have such an outstanding personality in our mist for these overwhelming gathering. With your multi talented speech more lives will come close to GOD, Sorry about our late invitation it is due to the fact that our Speaker had back out because of her sudden illness. Arrangements to welcome you here will be discussed as soon as you honor our invitation. If you have any more publicity material, please do not hesitate to contact me. A formal Letter of invitation would be sent to you as soon as you honor our invitation. We are taking care of your traveling and Hotel Accommodation expenses including your Speaker fees. Stay Blessed Mark Graham LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE
————————————————————————————-
From: london conference [mailto:londonyouthconf@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 7:15 AM To: email
Subject: CONTRACT AGREEMENT AND LETTER OF INVITATION
Dear First Name,
Thanks for indicating your interest to be our Guest Speaker at this year LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE. We are very excited and happy to have such a wonderful personality in our mist. Sorry for contacting you late . We the event organizing committee had a meeting earlier today to deliberate on getting you available here within a short period of time. We believe we serve the lord of possibilities. Arrangements are stated below. We have agreed to buy you flight ticket and to pay your Hotel accommodation expenses . Also your Speaking fee is to deposit is to be paid as soon as you procure all relevant travel documents so as to avoid any dissapointment.You are informed to get accross your Work Permit to us so your deposit can be approved according to our mandated rules and regulation. You are advised by the Event Organizing committee to immediately contact the BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION to procure your UK Work Permit as soon as possible This will enable us to proceed with all arrangements to welcome you here in London. Contact the British High Commission officer information below. BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION Name…Dr Darren David Email…Britshhighc@britpost.com or darrendavid@britpost.com Please confirm to us the closest Airport to your location so we can start making arrangements to buy your flight tickets .Understand that you need to expedite action because of the short notice. Feel free to ask any question We have attached a formal Letter of Invitation and contract agreement.Please reconfirm to us your office Address for our perusal and further action.Note you are meant to arrive a day before the commencement of the event. Please return a signed copy of the contract agreeement for proper documentation.You can also reach me on my mobile number for more update Tel:+4470-240-698-26 We await your earliest response Pastor Mark Graham Smith LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE
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Dear First Name,
Thanks for your mail, you can contact me immediately on these number +447024069826. You can speak on EMPOWERMENT AND CHANGE i think that will suit you. Your husband can accompany you, we wil be paying for all his flight expenses and hotle accomodations, you stated in your previous mail that he is inevitable and must come with you so all that will be taken care of. Hope you have contacted the BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION for your work permit because it is very mandatory.
Stay Blessed
Pastor Mark
Filed under: Uncategorized

I got the same invitation with slightly different information. Both I and the bureau I work with determined it was a scam. I was sure it was bogus when I contacted the venue where the conference was to be held and was told there was no such conference booked for those dates.
Yup, got exactly the same, except the name supposed was a certain Dr/Rev Fred Collins. Not very nice as they prey using a religious angle. One telling sign is that their email claimed their supposed website is “down”.
Yep, same kind of thing here in AZ now. Pastor Williams Smith and the Rev Helen Smith invited me to speak in the UK at the London Barclays Christian Women’s Conference
They put me in touch with a Dr. Darren David, who requested a wire transfer of $321 USD for work permit documents.
Just as a note, they said they found me on Charlie Jane’s Speaker site, which I do have a profile on.
We received this this e-mail today. It was from a Rev. Fred Collins representing the London Youth Conference.
The e-mail said their speaker cancelled and requested that we speak in her place this September.
The e-mail also said they found us on the NSA website.
Georganne & Rich
I just received a very similiar email. It is as follows:
Dear Jane Boucher,
My Name is Rev.Fred Collins from the London Youth Community Here in London UK. We want you to be our guest Speak at this Year LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE which will take place here in UK.We are writing to invite and confirm your booking to be our guest speaker at these year.We want all LONDON YOUTH to come close to GOD and realize the future is in their hands. That is why we intend to use these conference to turn them away from the illicit behavior.
LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE.
The Venue as follows:
VENUE: Holy Apostles Church Hall,
47 Cumberland Street,
Pimlico London, SW1V 4LY
Website.www.londonyouthconference.com (CURRENTLY UPDATING)
Expected audience: 3500 people
Duration of speech per speaker: 1 Hour
Name of Church/Organization: LONDON YOUTH CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY,
Topic: HONESTY AND TRUE/RELATIONSHIP
Date:19th of September 2009-23rd of September 2009.
We came across your profile on https://events.mynsa.org and we say it’s up to
standard and we will be very glad to have such an outstanding personality in our mist for these overwhelming gathering. With your multi talented speech more lives will come close to GOD, Sorry about our late invitation it is due to the fact that our Speaker had back out because of her sudden illness.
Arrangements to welcome you here will be discussed as soon as you honor our invitation. If you have any more publicity material, please do not hesitate to contact me. A formal Letter of invitation and contract agreement would be sent to you as soon as you honor our invitation. We are taking care of your traveling and Hotel Accommodation expenses including your Speaking fee.
Stay Blessed
Rev.Fred Collins
http://www.londonyouthconference.com
LONDON YOUTH CONFERENCE
I have received the exact same scam with the name now changed to Rev. Walcott Smith and Pastor Helen Smith. This was for the London Christian Women’s Conference. They are apparently searching speaker bureaus and other speaker websites as the one cited did have my profile listed.
From: w.smith@londonyc.org [mailto:w.smith@londonyc.org]
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 7:23 AM
Subject: Life Circle International Miracles Center
Dear David K. Aaker,
We are Rev. Walcott Smith and Pastor Helen Smith
of the Life Circle International Miracles Center located in London.
We are writing to invite you to be our guest speaker at these year Life
Circle Women’s Conference.After reading through your profile
onhttp://keynoteresource.com
.we say it’s up to standard and we will be very glad
to have such an outstanding personality in our mist for these
overwhelming gathering.
Venue.
Barclay Hall Christian Fellowship
Effie Road Fulham London
SW6 1TB
website.www.lifecirclewomenconference.org
Expected audience: 2500
Email…w.smith@londonyc.org
Date …4th of November 2009
Name…Rev. Walcott Smith and Pastor Helen Smith
Tel Phone: + 44 7024069826
Topic…Leadership
A formal Letter of invitation and Contract Agreement would be sent to you
as soon as you honor our invitation. We are taking care of your traveling
and Hotel Accommodations expenses including your Speaking fee.Our website
is currently under construction .feel free to email or call for more
update.
Be Blessed
Revd. Walcott Smith and Pastor Helen Smith
Life Circle International Miracles Center
Tel Phone: + 44 7024069826
Same kind of request also received – see details, sent separately.
I recieved the London Youth Conference invitation to speak in July. I did not respond to the email. Last week I recieved the information to speak at the GAP Women’s Conferene, held in London.
After looking at there website I responded to their request with questions. And Yes, they asked me to contact Darrin Williams for a work permit. Fortunately, I did not make any further contact.
I also received a similar email last night…another religious angle, different name and a different place. I called the church where the event is taking place and found that it is a legitimate event on the church books, but they were unaware of the logistics. I contacted the church secretary again to alert them of the scam on this end. Perhaps they are going as far now as to create a ‘real’ website and ‘really’ book a site for this event.
I pray you lead with discernment
In His Service,
Trish Zenczak
Here’s the email I received:
Dear Trish Zenczak,
MAY THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH YOU.
I am Sister Val Kensington from the GAP(God answers prayer)Ministries
.We want you to be our guest speaker in this year GAP WOMEN’S
CONFERENCE 2009,which will take place here in UNITED KINGDOM.We went
through your remarkable profile on womenspeakers.com and we must say
its up to standard and we will be very ecstatic to have such
connessiur charisma and outstanding personality in our mist for these
wonderful gathering.We want to officially inform you that the date of
the event date is SATURDAY 10th of October 2009 . You can visit our
website for more and current information.
ADDRESS:
South Street Baptist Church
66-68 Greenwich South Street
Greenwich
London
SE10 8UN
TOPIC: BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIP
DURATION OF SPEECH: 12 – 5.30pm(4Hrs:30Mins)
AUDIENCE:2500
AGE LIMIT:UNLIMITED
WEBSITE: (gapministries.org.uk)
We want you to confirm your booking,so we can commence on sending you
a formal letter of invitation and contract agreement,We will be
responsible for your hotel accommodation,flight ticket and feeding
including speaking fee.Feel free to call or email me or write us
directly (GAP Ministries, PO Box 28, South Street Baptist Church
66-68 Greenwich South Street Greenwich) for more update.
We strongly believe we serve the lord of possibilities and we hope
with your multi talented speech more life will come close to our LORD.
Sister Val Kensington
GAP WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2009
I searched for a man (woman) among them who would build up the wall
and stand in the gap before me …. Ezekiel 22:30
I was also approached and had my guard down since it was for a Women of Faith conference called GAP (God Answers Prayers) Women’s Conference.
My invitation to speak came with a $9,000 speaking fee to be divided into two payments. A false High Commission was to be contacted to secure a permit (all a scam). My hotel (Hilton) and business class airfare were also fake.
Something was odd about this from the beginning.
My contacts were Sister Maria Raferty Smith and then a Dr. Wayne WIlshire.
There is a fake website and there is no Oct 10th 2009 event.
Hope no one else has their time wasted, especially if asked to speak about Grace. Made my stomach turn. Feel free to email me: bethjannery@gmail.com
In early September, I received an email and a contract from a Reverend Smith from London in the UK. His reverence claimed he found me on the web and God Bless You Ed you are invited to be the keynote speaker for a black Christian women’s conference in November with 2500 attendees in the West End of London. They knew my full fee (although it does not appear on my website) and agreed to pay it along with a business class air ticket and four nights at a London hotel plus meals. Does it sound too good to be true: I have always found that if it does, it is. Seeing that I am neither black, nor a woman, nor Christian, my participation in this event sounds like the first episode of a new TV reality show. So I called them up and, lo and behold, good old Reverend Smith himself answered the phone. The old boy was really excited about having me as his keynote speaker, he said. But I was suspicious that a conference less than two months out had no web presence. He said not to worry, that the website was under construction. Can you give me any references of US speakers you have hired, I asked. Oh yes God Bless You he replied, I will email them. I am still waiting for that email. I then spoke to Stacy Tetschner at NSA who told me that another speaker had written to Stacy complaining that she had almost been scammed by the same Rev. Smith and company. I guess they attempt to get your bank account number and instead of wiring your fee they go in and empty out your account. And so, sadly, my projected visit to the UK will not occur unless I decide to go over there on my own dime and give his reverence a well-deserved punch in the nose God Bless You.
I got approached a few weeks ago (twice), by someone purporting to an intern working for Oprah Winfrey, inviting me to go on her show to talk about my book “How to get your ideas adopted (and change the world)”
It would have been very nice if it were true, but I didn’t find it believable that Oprah Winfrey would need to use a yahoo email address and would use staff with such a poor grasp of written English.
Ah well.
I received the same invitation with the exact same language, but saw so many red flags I started to investigate myself. First the numbers didn’t work to reach Pastor Smith and the documents they sent me looked bogus. I also didn’t have a number for Dr. Darren. Also, you normally don’ t have to have a work permit to go to a conference, even if you’re speaking. Wow! I would like to see justice served.
We received this scam offer too but it was for a Man to Man and Women to Women conference.
From: Pastor Glen Smith [mailto:mantomanwomentowomenconference@gmail.com]
I will not post the the scam here but my response:
Hello Scammer!
Please do not contact us again about your bogus conference. We investigated this and you are busted!
Your e-mail is an Email Scam Targeting Professional Speakers. We will tell all of our friends, and we know a lot of people. The police Authorities in your location will find this out and pursue you.
Lord God Almighty, please put a stop to this scammer and his associates in whatever way you deem for they are hurting the church in Jesus name Amen!… Believe this! Our God answers Prayers!!!!!
Pastor Roscoe
THANK YOU!!! WE HAD CONTACTED ALL OF OUR LOVING CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, SO EXCITED WE COULD HARDLY BREATHE, THEN FOUND OUT THEY WERE DEMANDING MONEY TODAY!!! KNEW THEN THAT SOMETHING WAS FISHY. HAD TO MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS AGAIN, AND DISSAPOINT A LOT OF PEOPLE. WE ARE JUST FINE, THOUGH. GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!JERRY JONES MINISTRIES
THANK GOD for this info. It didn’t take me long to figure out this was a scam – thanks to your info. I googled DR. WISHIRE BRITISH HIGH COMMISION and found these confirmations of the scam. Thank you so much.
This person posed as pastors from Faith Dimensions ministry in London. I’ve contacted those pastors through their website to let them know of the scam.
Hello! Im writing because I let my guard down. I sent them $860 of my money. I had the same contract and invitation. But because I have passion for my music, I felt for the scam. I feel so foolish. I hope no one else falls for The Rev Smith , Helen and Darren David scams in London. Im heart broken.
We received essentially an identical invitation from “Pastor Glen & First Lady Lu Ferguson Smith” inviting me to speak at a “Man to Man Women to Women Conference” in Buckinghamshire, London. The invitation was a “last minute” invitation because their original speaker got sick, so they needed another speaker. (SAME STORY). The wording, including the grossly misspelled words, are the same, showing very low skill level. Other event and agreement details were the following:
Audience Size/Demographics: 2500
Title of Presentation: Building Strong Relationship
Time Table / Duration: 1 hr
Dates: Nov. 11 – 13 at various times
Honorarium: $9000 ($5000 deposit upon securing work permit) and $4000 balance due at the “conclusion of the contract”.
They required a UK work permit to be secured from Dr. Wayne Wilshire who used a fake gmail e-mail account. The spelling and grammar in the contract was extremely poor and “Dr. Wilshire” was available over the weekend regarding the work permits. He also claimed that his office phone was “down” and could not call us regarding the permits. He was requesting $310 for the speaker work permit and $240 for my assistant.
We smelled a rat, and my assistant did a Google search and immediately found this WONDERFUL site with great information to verify our HIGH SUSPICION of their “HIGH COMMISSION”.
We communicated to “Pastor Smith” that his scam is uncovered, their mindless operation caught in the act and that we all reap what we sow. He was speechless… We will ensure to inform others to be aware of this very evil and mean-spirited attempt to extort money from people who serve in true ministry. God sees it all and will repay.
To all of you endeavoring to do the right thing, I bid you God’s speed and encouragement.
Best regards and many blessings!
Same letter received in Houston, Texas on October 9, 2009. Invitation from “Pastor Glen & First Lady Lu Ferguson Smith” inviting me to speak at a “Man to Man Women to Women Conference” in Buckinghamshire, London. The invitation was a “last minute” invitation because their original speaker got sick, so they needed another speaker. (SAME STORY). Other event and agreement details were the following:
Audience Size/Demographics: 2500
Title of Presentation: Building Strong Relationship
Time Table / Duration: 1 hr
Dates: Nov. 11 – 13 at various times
Honorarium: $9000 ($5000 deposit upon securing work permit) and $4000 balance due at the “conclusion of the contract”.
We sent an email to Dr. Wilshire asking why was a Work Visa required for a three day visit when we should be covered under the Visa Waiver Program up to 90 days. Especially wy Travel Counselor kept saying I did not need a Work Permit. He responded with the attached email.
ATTENTION CLIENT,
I Acknowledged your mail. I understood all the content.Sorry for contacting you late, i was out of office for three days for an important assignment. Without any waste of time and due to short time you have left to proceed with the issuance of these important documents.I will therefore embark upon you obtaining a second tier UK WORK PERMIT.
These class of work permit is for employee who falls under the category of entertainment and intends to impact knowledge and technical know-how to the citizens of Great Britain. Partaining to the urgency and speedy alacrity of these project at hand,i will proceed to the UK BORDER AGENCY today to get you all
necessary documents
You are advised to immediately Provide me with the listed requirements.
1. Letter of Invitation
2. Signed contract Agreement
3. One passport photograph
4. UK Work Permit fees 160pounds ($310)
5. Issued Date and Expiry date of International Passport.
6. Date of Birth (D.O.B)
I await the listed information to proceed to get you the documents as soon as possible. Note without you providing these requirements I cannot proceed to get you these documents. If i receive all information today i will proceed to the UK Border Agency to get you
your documents . Note you can send all documents through email attachment.
You can send Permit fees through Money Gram or Western Union to my name DR Wayne Wilshire, LONDON UNITED KINGDOM POSTCODE W1P 9RE Make sure you attach the payment slip for record purpose.
In your service
DR Wayne Wilshire
British High Commission official
I felt for this scam because I have a passion for my music. I thought this was a great opportunity. They invited me to The London Gospel Awards. I gave them $860 of my money that I really needed. Please be aware of Rev Smith and Darren David in London.
This is the email I recieved…these people ought to be stopped…I am a Gospel Singer and I take singing for the lord seriously, why would they do something like this. The DEVIL is truly busy.
MAY THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH YOU.
We are Rev Wenger Smith and Pastor Helen Smith of the London
Christian Center located in London. We are writing to invite
you to be our performing artist at these year London Gospel Music Awards
.After reading through your profile on http://www.unsigned.com/.
we say it’s up to standard and we will be very glad to have such an
outstanding personality in our mist for these overwhelming gathering.
Venue.
752 High Road Leyton, London,
E10 6AA, United Kingdom
website.www.LondonGospelMusicAwards.org
Expected audience: 2500
Email:w.smith@londonyc.org
Date 4th of December to 6th December 2009
Host..Rev Wenger Smith and Pastor Helen Smith
Tel Phone: + 44 7024069826
Topic: SHOUT OF A KING
A formal Letter of invitation and Contract Agreement would be sent to you
as soon as you honor our invitation. We are taking care of your traveling
and Hotel Accommodations expenses including your fee.Our website
is currently under construction .feel free to email or call for more
update.
Be Blessed
Rev Wenger Smith and Pastor Helen Smith
Event Organizing Committees
London Gospel Music Awards
Tel Phone: + 44 7024069826
I got the same letter, Im very heart broken by these people. They took $860 of my hard earned money. Please do your research before you send any money. Rev Smith , Helen Smith and Darren David have to be stopped.
I received this very email this morning, 31 October 09. Asked some friends to verify it through Christian church channels and they almost immediately verified it as a SCAM. On this Hallowed Eve, these characters are most certainly NOT Saints. Beware!
We filed a report with the London Police and recieved the following response:
Dear Debra,
Thank you for reporting this fraud. As a matter of urgency I suggest you inform all contacts whose details were stored in your email account warning them of the position. I also suggest you change email account. With this type of Fraud, as you have not personally lost money, the crime recording rules used by UK Police Forces do not recognise you as a Specific intended victim. These incidents are however classified as fraud related and I have recorded this matter accordingly. The reference number is FDL 2430-09. (Please quote this number on all future correspondence). Fraud related incident’s incidents do not require the UK police to conduct an investigation however we will note the intelligence.
Whilst it appears that ‘the fraudsters’ are in London/UK they rarely are. They use the veneer of London/UK to add kudos to their Scams. The fraudsters use technology to hide their true whereabouts and identity. All information they have provided about themselves will likely be false. Payment systems such as Moneygram/Western Union are used because there is no fixed location for the individual, and the money can/will be collected anywhere in the world using false identification. Even if the money is collected in the UK, it will be sent out again within minutes. The large number of Western Union / Money Gram outlets causes a problem. There are over a thousand in London alone.
The recipients of the Fraudulent emails will be considered specific intended victims if they have sent money. If this is the case in light of the foregoing when a victim of fraud transfers money via Western Union/Moneygram transfers the crime recording rule is that the location of the Western Union/Moneygram agency where the money was collected determines the offence location and therefore the UK Police Force that should record and investigate the crime. In order to determine that location an enquiry is made with Western Union/Moneygram to obtain the address of the agent. Western Union/Moneygram will only disclose their agents location to Law enforcement. In light of the foregoing background information it is not certain that this will be in the UK. It is the policy of this Force when such enquiries are received from persons outside the UK to refer them to the police in their own country in order for them to make the enquiry with Western Union/Moneygram. If a victim of this scam has completed this process and it transpires the address of the agent is in the UK then please re-contact us, quoting the above FDL reference and we will be happy to process your report. If the money was collected in another country then it is not our responsibility to transfer the report.
Kind Regards,
Andreea Cucu
Fraud Desk
City of London Police
Website: http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/
—–Original Message—–
From: Ralph “Bud” Peppers [mailto:chilibud@pepperseed.org]
Sent: 10 September 2009 16:32
To: Frauddesk
Subject: Scam
American motivational speakers are being contacted and presented with the opportunity to speak at a Christian conference being held in London. The person uses various names but usually Rev. Smith and Pastor Helen Smith. He represented as rev. walcott Smith to us. After several intriguing e-mails, they are asked to send money ($300+)to obtain a UK Work Permit. Investigations have shown that no conference exists at the venue provided. Dozens of speakers are known to have been contacted and probably hundreds more that have not come forward. Here is a link to details:
http://nsamembernews.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/email-scam-tageting-professional-speakers/
Thank you,
Dr. Debra Peppers
Pepperseed,Inc.
I have got the same thing, doing some follow through and checking things out. I still have them communicating with me am going to email them the link to this site to see their response.
My latest response from them:
Dear Mike Furches,
Thanks for indicating your interest to be our Guest Speaker at
this year LONDON CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE 2010. We are very
excited and happy to have such a wonderful personality in our mist. The
event organizing committee had a meeting earlier today to deliberate on
getting you available here. We believe we serve the lord of
Possibilities.Arrangements are stated below.
We have agreed to buy your flight ticket and to pay
your Hotel accommodation expenses . Also your Speaking fee is amounted
to 9,000Dollars.$5,000 (FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS) deposit is to be paid as
soon as you procure all relevant travel documents so as to avoid any
disappointment.You are informed to get across your Work Permit to us
so your deposit can be approved according to our mandated rules and
regulation.
You are advised by the Event Organizing committee to immediately
contact the BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION to procure your UK Work Permit as
soon as possible
This will enable us to proceed with all arrangements to welcome you
here in London. Contact the British High Commission officer
information below.
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
Name: Dr Darren David
Email:darrend@britishhighc.info
Please confirm to us the closest Airport to your location so we can
start making arrangements to buy your flight tickets .Understand that
you need to expedite action because of the short notice. Feel free to
ask any question
We have attached a formal Letter of Invitation and contract
agreement. Please reconfirm to us your office Address for our perusal
and further action. Note you are meant to arrive a day before the
commencement of the event.
Please return a signed copy of the contract agreement for proper
documentation.
We await your earliest response
Be Blessed
Rev. Wenger Smith and Pastor Helen Smith
London International Christian Center
Tel Phone: + 44 7024069826O