Meet the Pastors: 

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana and raised in Oakland, California, Pastor John C. Smith felt a call on his life to ministry at the age of 6. He decided he was too young and ran from God and the pull on his heart to serve. He spent many hours in church with his grandmother, who was a missionary, and praying God fearing woman, but still chose to not heed the call. After detouring off the path for 29 years he rededicated his life to God. In 1983 he accepted the call to preach the gospel, under the leadership of pastor Johnny Collins at greater New Hope Baptist Church.

He is a proud pastor of the Mount Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Reno NV where he served as assistant pastor for six years and presently pastor for the now 25 years. He retired from General Motors in 2006 and is a retired chaplain of the Washoe County detention center, from 1989 to 2020.

Pastor Smith is married to the love of his life for 40 years, sister Lorraine Smith, who serves faithfully by his side and a ministry. He is God's man, committed to loving and serving God's people, teaching, preaching and equipping the Saints for the work of the ministry and sharing the love and hope of Jesus with the lost. He stands on God's word and believes God for the plan that he has for his life and the church.

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Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

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