Pastor and Teacher Calvin E. Smith, is the youngest of six siblings and was born to Willie B. and Mamie Smith in Stoneville, N.C.
Rev. Smith has always had a passion and desire to serve even at a young age. After completing high school, this desire to serve and that passion encouraged him to serve his country for four years in the United States Air Force. Upon returning home, Rev. Smith continued to serve the government by being a mail carrier for 18 years with the United States Postal Service.
During his time as serving as a postal carrier, God called Rev. Smith to serve in a greater capacity. In 1989, he answered the great call to preach the gospel. Rev. Smith preached his initial sermon at Reid Memorial C.M.E. Church in Greensboro, N.C., and within one year as serving as associate minister at Reid Memorial Church, God saw fit to elevate him as Pastor at Erwin Temple C.M.E. Church in Cooleemee, N.C.
During Rev. Smith’s nine years of pastorate at Erwin Temple, and by the grace of God and the support of the congregation, the church was able to construct an awesome edifice. God expanded their borders to increase ministry opportunities and membership to glorify Him in that community.
In 2001, Rev. Smith had the privilege and the opportunity to become one of thirteen associate ministers at First Assembly of God in Winston-Salem, NC. First Assembly was one of the most progressive and dynamic churches in the triad, and it was there that Rev. Smith’s view and understanding of ministry would be forever changed. Rev. Smith had the opportunity in serving over three thousand members, and his main service was in the areas of benevolence, prison ministry, and the singles ministry. He also was called upon as one of the main speakers in the absence of the Senior Pastor.
After his tenure at First Assembly, Rev. Smith assisted Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Mocksville, NC for a short period of time as they went through a transition period. In July 2005, the Lord presented Rev. Smith with an opportunity to assist in the formation of Cornerstone of Faith Ministries in Winston-Salem, NC. As seven men and women sat around a table one afternoon and made the decision to ask Rev. Smith to shepherd them, little did they know that God’s hand was going to be with them, and that they would experience God’s increase of two hundred members within two years. As the glory of God continued to rest upon that ministry, Rev. Smith and his congregants saw great signs and wonders that impacted the lives and culture of the people of God.
In February, 2016, Rev. Smith became the interim pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church, in Thomasville, NC. It is here that God also connected him with his wife, Lady Tanya Smith. In May 2017, Rev. Smith became the Senior Pastor and Teacher of First Missionary Baptist Church. FMBC has been serving the Thomasville community since 1884. It is the church’s mission to establish an environment that will nurture spiritual growth, and to identify and develop the believer’s gifts, talents, purpose, and place in the body of Christ, to “Empower the Believer to Expand God’s Kingdom”. FMBC continues to empower the believer by promoting and teaching about prayer, adopting the theme “Our House Shall Be Called a House of Prayer for All Peoples” (Isaiah 56:7) Rev. Calvin Smith encourages all of us to awaken to the glorious and most gracious calling to serve once again, and to celebrate with him and his congregation as the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit enables all of us to express God’s love and truth to this community.