|
Pastor of the Month July 2010
|
Pastor Gaston E. Smith
Friendship Missionay Baptist Church
Miami, FL
He accepted Christ and was baptized at the age of six by the Reverend James Kennedy, at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Houston, Texas. He started his Christian Journey as an Usher, and later served in many lay positions of leadership. In 1990, Rev. Smith accepted his calling to the Gospel Ministry. He proclaimed his first message on December 2, 1990, at his home church, Pleasant Hill of Houston. The title was “A Demonic Man with a Divine God.” Reverend Smith was then licensed and later ordained by his Pastor and Father in the Ministry, the Reverend Harvey Clemons, Jr.
Pastor Smith has served in many ministerial capacities, i.e. Director of Home Ministries @ Pleasant Hill MBC of Houston, Interim Pastor @ New Beginning MBC of Houston, Pastor of Evangelism & Discipleship @ Frazier Berean MBC of Dallas, Assistant Pastor @ Frazier Berean MBC of Dallas, and currently serves as Bible Expositor for The Seaboard Baptist Association of Florida, and Second Vice President for The Baptist Minister’s Council of Greater Miami & Vicinity.
He also serves as Director of Economic Development for Caretakers For Christ, Inc. and was recently appointed Vice President for the Miami Chapter of the National Collective Banking Group, Inc. Pastor Smith is also currently serving as President of Friends of MLK, an Advocacy Group designed to enhance, revitalize, empower the community by addressing its urban ills. He was recently appointed to the Executive Board of Faith Partnerships, Inc., an organization with an International Research and Philanthropic Focus.
Reverend Smith also has nearly 20 years experience as an Executive Professional in the hospitality industry. He has served faithfully in Ministry and Corporate America for over a decade. He has served as Chairman of the Board for The Frazier Berean Community Development Corporation of Dallas, Vice President of Inner-City Solutions, Inc. of Dallas, and is currently President/CEO of Progressive Vision Community Development Corporation and the Friendship Community Redevelopment Corporation. Pastor Smith was also appointed to serve on the City of Miami Equal Opportunity Advisory Board. Reverend Smith is also currently serving as a Chaplain for the City of Miami Police Department.
Pastor Smith has been honored with Commendations, Proclamations & Certificates of Appreciation from various civic organizations, such as: Congress of the United States, City of Miami, Miami-Dade County, Congressional Black Caucus and Bethune Cookman College. Pastor Smith has appeared on national and international television broadcasts, such as CNN Headline News and MSNBC and has appeared in national publications, such as the New York Times, the Miami Herald and the Washington Post. Pastor Smith has had a weekly television and radio broadcast that reached Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties in Florida, as well as the Bahamas Islands.
Pastor Smith’s motto for life is taken from the song “My Tribute”, To God Be The Glory, For The Things He Has Done!
|
