Dr. John Smith

Rev., Dr. John Smith served the Lord as the pastor of New Life Community Church (RCA) on Long Island, New York for twenty-three years (June 24, 1979 — June 24, 2002). John served as the Associate Pastor for the first eight years.  After the Senior Pastor accepted a call to another church, the search committee for the new Senior Pastor conducted a comprehensive nationwide search. The search resulted in the decision to call John to serve as the new Senior Pastor. John served faithfully in that role for the next fifteen years.

One of the many highlights of John’s ministry in New York was serving on the 1990 Long Island Billy Graham Crusade Executive Committee. John also served as the Chairman of the Ministers Committee. The Long Island Billy Graham Crusade was held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum September 16-23, 1990. John humbly received the honor of offering the closing prayer on the last night of the Crusade.

Another highlight was being one of the first churches on the east coast to start a Celebrate Recovery ministry in January, 1998. It was amazing to see people from all walks and experiences in life, coming to Christ, being set free from their hurts, habits, heartaches, and addictions. Pastor John celebrated person after person, experiencing true and lasting transformation in Jesus Christ, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Pastor John shared with the congregation his own personal journey in recovering from the Christian church acceptable addictions of people-pleasing, co-dependency, perfectionism, and workaholism.

In 2002 God called Pastor John to leave New Life Community Church and become a pastor to pastors and their families. Pastor John and his family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in August 2002.

For over two decades, John has served as a confidential coach and mentor to pastors, chaplains, missionaries, non-profit leaders, and business owners. Upon request, you can experience the double blessing of being coached and mentored by Pastor John and Sue Smith.

Pastor John is delighted to have Sue at his side as his Chief Discernment Officer in their personal life and in their ministry life.

On March 13, 2023, at age 70, Pastor John and Sue became church planters for the first time in their ministry. God called John to reactivated the dormant 501(c)(3) of Central Bible Ministries, founded in 1980 by Biship John Williams. Pastor John and Sue invited a small group of new friends to join them in planting Central Bible Ministries as a church in Wyoming, MI. Their mission is embracing people needing a second chance as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

Actively serving as the pastor of a local church again, and as a church planter for the first time, has been an incredibly helpful experience for Pastor John’s confidential coaching and mentoring role with PastorCare West Michigan. Being back on the front lines of church ministry has been invigorating, challenging, and exciting.

Pastor John knows no geographical barriers. He is connected through relationships nationwide and internationally. John utilizes technology to provide confidential coaching and mentoring to pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders in several states and a few other countries.