An Introductory Letter

Bill Smith was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee and attended college at Middle Tennessee State University. In 1979 he graduated with a degree in business management and joined the JCPenney Company management team. Later he was transferred from Nashville to a JCPenney store in Paducah, KY where he met and married Rhonda James. Rhonda was from Paducah and had been raised in Southland Baptist Temple, under the Pastorship of Rev. Harold Council. She was saved at the age of 10 and had committed her life to become a missionary at the age of 15 at youth camp.

In 1986 another transfer took Bill and Rhonda to Somerset, Kentucky where they became involved in the Oak Hill Baptist Church under the Pastorship of Dr. Harold Brown. Through the years they took several mission trips around the world and caught a vision of the need for the Gospel. In addition, God gave them three wonderful blessings, Stephen, Amy, and Abby.

Although successful in JCPenney management for 20 years, Bill's heart longed for something which his career could not fulfill. God was calling him and his family to become missionaries. In 1999 he resigned his position with JCPenney, packed up their belongings, and headed 600 miles away to Springfield, Missouri. After three years of school and a fourth blessing named Micah, Bill graduated in May, 2001 with a graduate degree in Missions. The Smith family then headed back to their home church in Somerset to begin serving their internship.

God has burdened the Smiths hearts for the country of Belize in Central America. Their desire is to take the Gospel to the people of Belize and build thriving churches which will remain until Christ's return. They are sent out from the Oak Hill Baptist Church under the Baptist Bible Fellowship International.

Bill Smith
Oak Hill Baptist Church,
Somerset, KY 42503
 

Verse of the day:   Matthew 19:30

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.