Hello
A Bit About Me
God has graciously allowed me to serve in pastoral ministry for more than 12 years, including a decade in student ministry and most recently as a Lead Pastor. Through those years, the Lord has deepened my love for His church, expositional preaching, discipleship, and biblical church leadership. My wife and I look forward with prayerful anticipation to where God may call our family to serve next.
Theological Distinctives
Expositional Preaching
Committed to text-driven preaching that submits to the authority of Scripture, I labor to unfold the meaning of the biblical text in its context and bring its truth to bear on the lives of contemporary hearers, persuaded that what God has said, He has said with purpose.
Elder-Led Congregationalism
Here is a paper that I wrote for my previous church on God’s design for healthy church leadership.
Elder-Led Congregationalism
Theological Alignment
Southern Baptist by conviction, wholeheartedly affirming the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. My personal theological convictions are also substantially reflected in the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689.
My Testimony
My journey with God began at age 7, during a Vacation Bible School, where I first grasped the truth of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for my sins, a moment that altered the course of my life. Growing up, my parents ensured I had exposure to Christianity, though our walk with God often ended when we left the church building.
In my early adolescence, I experienced the instability of youth group leadership and a church split. Even in that chaos, I began to witness God's unwavering presence and growth in my own life, and my heart began to stir with a calling to ministry, though I was uncertain of its form. A move across the state before my freshman year of high school further unsettled things, and we drifted from church to church without the discipleship I needed.
In 2008, I enrolled at Southwest Baptist University to pursue a ministry degree, yet found myself disconnected from the church community. In my pride, I resisted God's call to surrender until He mercifully humbled me and led me to repentance.
Since that moment, I have sought to follow Christ wholeheartedly and serve Him faithfully. Though my journey has had its twists and turns, I am continually reminded of God's faithfulness. He never gave up on me, and He has transformed my life in ways I could never have imagined (Philippians 1:6). I am currently a student at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, pursuing my Master of Theology. Today, I stand as a testimony to His grace, mercy, and power to redeem and restore.
Soli Deo Gloria
Meet The Smith Family
Meet our family: my beloved wife Becca and our three delightful daughters, Ryleigh, Elsie, and Ensley. We have also had the privilege of serving children through foster care, and we are currently pursuing the adoption of our son (not pictured, in keeping with foster care privacy). We are dedicated to offering love, stability, and support to children in need.
God has blessed us beyond measure!
