Reverend Michael A. Smith is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He was born to the late Pastor William Smith and the late Minister Elaine Sherrer. His parents along with his community instilled in him to always put God first and treat others with the same compassion and respect you desire to have rendered unto you.

Reverend Smith received his primary and secondary education in the Atlanta Public School System. He earned both his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice (1986) and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration (1996) from Troy State University. Reverend Smith is presentlya doctoral candidate of Immanuel Baptist Theological Seminary in Sharpsburg, Georgia. He is a retired federal law enforcement officer and a Georgia Certified Public Manager. Reverend Smith is a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

Prior to being called to Antioch East Baptist Church, entering the pulpit on December 18, 2016 and being installed as the Pastor on February 12, 2017, Reverend Smith committed his life to Christ at age 15, at which time he began teaching Sunday school. He was ordained as a deacon in 1991 by Pastor Franklin E. Sherrer of The Workhouse of Faith Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a member of Christians for Change Baptist Church in Riverdale, Georgia, under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Michael Wayne Baldwin from 2000 to 2016. Reverend Smith served at Christians for Change as an associate minister, chairman of the deacon’s board and a Sunday school teacher in addition to serving on other ministries.

On August 26, 2012, after more than 24 years of avoiding his true calling, Reverend Smith was licensed to preach the gospel by Pastor Baldwin. His initial sermon was “Roadblocks to Destination Joy,” with Subtopic: ‘Can Anyone Testify?’ On August 31, 2014, he was sealed as an ordained minister. Through life experiences, both foreseeable and unforeseeable, Rev. Smith truly understands God’s timing is always ‘the perfect timing.’

Reverend Smith has been married to the lovely and gracious Patricia Ann Smith for over 30 years. They are blessed with two sons, Zachry and Caleb.

Reverend Smith treasures Exodus 33:13 “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, That I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.”