Hello Pilgrim,

Tom Smith 500px

Just to share a bit about myself and my family. My name is Tom Smith and I was born in a small town in central Arkansas. That’s where I met Margaret, the love of my life for 38+ years before she suddenly passed away with a heart attack in 2012.  Thankfully, the Lord later on led someone else named Debbie, from my hometown, into my life to share in this Journey with me.

The Lord blessed Margaret and me with three sons–-John, Bill and Joshua–-and two daughters-in-law named Lianne and Danielle. We now have ten grandchildren ranging in ages from 17 to 3. I also have one step-daughter and her husband (Carmen and Brent) and one step-granddaughter (Thea, age 9).

I was saved at the age of seven, at Kerr Baptist Church in Kerr, Arkansas, and I surrendered to preach at Eastside Missionary Baptist Church in Lonoke, Arkansas, on August 24, 1968. I attended Ouachita Baptist University, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and received my B.A. degree in
religion in 1975. I attended The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and received my M-Div. in December 1978.

Below is a sketch of my ministry-experience:

I was appointed as missionary by the Foreign Mission Board in May 1989, and served in the
Philippines from October 20, 1989 through December 31, 1999. The last time we were home on
furlough, and after much prayer and meditation, Margaret and I made the decision to come back to the States and make Arkansas our home once again. It was not as hard to leave the ‘place’ we had called home for ten years, as it was to leave the people we had served, worked with, prayed with, worshiped with, and built close friendships with, but I believe the Lord always has a purpose for our lives: and He led me to begin “Back to Bethel Ministries” as a
revival/evangelism ministry to churches, both here in the United States and literally around the
world, assisting pastors in India, Africa and the Philippines.

In conclusion, after having been overseas for 10 years, I came back with a different perspective
on how God is at work all around the world. Thus, I pray that the Lord will use me to stir the
hearts of the churches that they might once again have a passion for Him and the lost that may
have waned in recent years.

My Ministry Experience

  • I served as full-time chaplain at the 123 rd Tactical Reconnaissance (TRW) Wing, Air National Guard, in Louisville, KY, from July, 1980-Dec., ’83. Then, I served as wing chaplain at the 188 th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith, AR, from Dec., ’83-July, ’89 and Feb., 2001-Apr., 2018–and also served as the command chaplain for the Arkansas National Guard on drill weekends from Apr., 2015-Apr., 2018 (retiring at the rank of colonel).
  • Bi-vocational pastor of Vine Prairie Baptist Church, Mulberry, Arkansas (Feb., 2013-May, ’25)
  • Pastor of Open Door Fellowship, Coushatta, LA, (July, ’08-Aug., ’12)
  • Pastor of First Baptist Church in Coushatta, LA, from July 18, ‘04-July 20, ‘08
  • Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Gillett, Arkansas from July, ‘02-July, ‘04
  • Full-time evangelist with “Back to Bethel Ministries” from Feb., 2000-July, ‘02.
  • Appointed as missionary by the Foreign Mission Board in May 1989; served in Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines from October 20, 1989-December 31, 1999 as Southern Baptist missionary
  • Pastor of First Baptist Church, Bentonville, AR., from December, 1983-July, ‘89
  • Pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Shepherdsville, KY., from Aug. 24, 1975-Dec. 5, ’83; ordained by them in Nov., ‘75
  • Evangelist on the Ouachita Baptist Univ. Contact Team, Summer, 1974
  • Intern and Acting Association Editor of the Western Recorder, Middletown, Ky. June- September 1975
  • Interim music director and pastor at Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Shepherdsville, Ky. June-August, 1975
  • Served as Missionary-in-Residence for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention from 1993-94
  • Special training: Trainer for the course, “Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training” (A.S.I.S.T.), “Critical Incident Skills Management” ( CISM ) and Trained Crisis Responder training. Also a graduate of Air Command and Staff College and Air War College for the U.S. Air Force
  • Have written a daily email devotional, entitled “Morning Manna,” since 1998 and
    currently goes out to 700+ in 15 countries
  • Have written a weekly newspaper column for 15+ years, entitled “Pilgrim Reflections,”
    which appears in five papers in Arkansas and two papers in Louisiana
  • Have recorded two Gospel CDs, entitled “Coming Home: A Return to Our First Love”
    and “Transformed By His Presence”