Pastor Bobby L. Smith, Sr.

Pastor Smith answered God's call into the gospel ministry in August, 1967. He began his ministerial work at Union Grove Baptist Church of Warner Robins, Georgia by becoming associate pastor in 1975 and later installed as Pastor on April 23, 1977. He served as Pastor of Union Grove until he became Pastor of Zion Canaan in June, 1991. God truly smiled upon us when he blessed us with Pastor Smith and his family.

Pastor Smith's vision is to "serve the present age, his calling to fulfill" by establishing an environment where the family will feel safe and where their spiritual and physical needs can be met. This vision has come to life with the recent establishment of the Center for Community and Family Transitions, an incorporated and soon to be 501 (3) (c) organization. He also believes God is calling out a new breed of believers who will walk in holiness, and so position themselves with God to receive the favor of God, the anointing of God and signs, wonders, and miracles will manifest in peoples' lives. Under his divinely inspired leadership, we have experienced so many great and wonderful blessings: we have grown numerically and spiritually in our walk with the Lord and our church has become a purpose-driven church, where God is glorified and Jesus Christ is exalted in worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship and ministry.

Pastor Smith is a retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force of 20 years. He is a Cum Laude Graduate of Fort Valley State University, with a B.S. Degree in Music. Pastor Smith has also studied at Moody Bible College; East Carolina, El Paso Community College, and Macon Junior College. He received a Master of Divinity Degree from the Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia in 1986.

He received certification in Clinical Pastoral Education from the Milledgeville Hospital, Milledgeville, Ga. and holds the distinction of being the first Black Chaplain of the Warner Robins Police Department. Pastor Smith is presently an active member of The SC Baptist E & M Convention, a teacher in the SC Baptist Congress of Christian Education and a member of the Executive Board of the Gethsemane Baptist Association.

Pastor Smith was born in Wheeler County, Georgia, but grew up in East Orange, New Jersey. He is the son of Mrs. Dobie Smith and the late Mr. Willie Smith. Pastor Smith is married to the former Mrs. Carolyn Jean Hill and is the father of six beautiful children, sixteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. They reside in Hopkins, South Carolina.

Pastor Smith is recognized as a "Wonderful Master Work of God." His ministry is intrinsically linked to the #7 which denotes "perfection, completeness, and wholeness." Pastor Smith is truly loved and appreciated; for he is indeed a man with a heart for God and His people.