George Smith served for almost 30 years as senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Leitchfield. Twenty-four years after his retirement, Smith learned how much he was still loved.
Smith, who served from 1971-2000, was honored Sunday morning by being named pastor emeritus at FBC Leitchfield. It was a celebration of lifelong ministry, and few have done it longer than Smith, who pastored churches for 65 years.
More than 300 gathered on the cold January morning to warm the hearts of Smith and his wife, Carolyn, who served the longest tenure of any pastor in church history. The couple was showered with gifts and well-wishers who either could not wait to renew acquaintances or meet them for the first time.
The congregation gave them a prolonged standing ovation, said current Leitchfield FBC Pastor Doug King.
“Probably half of the congregation had no idea who he was,” King said. “The other half that did serve under his ministry and remained here were young children when he was here. That was cool to see. The half that did not know who he was could tell yesterday (Sunday) that our congregation held him in high regard. They were saying, ‘I can’t wait to meet this guy.’ It was almost that a legend has come back.”
King was also quick to remind his congregation that the service was “not about a man named George but a man named Jesus.”
Smith, 89, could not have agreed more. “He didn’t want it to be about George, he wanted it to be about worship,” King said. “I told our congregation, it’s an honorary title. He teasingly asked what the pay was. I told him there was no pay but also no responsibilities. We were able to recognize him for exceptional ministry.”
King and associate pastor Dennis Cook decided to honor Smith as part of the church’s 220th anniversary celebration. Smith was the longest-serving pastor and King, who has been at FBC Leitchfield for a dozen years, has the next longest tenure.
Not only did they reach out to Smith and his wife but a few important friends as well.
Mildred Mallisee, 94, served on the “pulpit committee” that brought Smith to FBC Leitchfield in 1971. She is the only living member of that committee. Her daughter brought her to the ceremony. “Such a sweet lady,” King said. “She’s the oldest living member of our church.”
Sherry Childress, who Smith hired to be the church secretary, also was in attendance. She ended up serving as church secretary for more than 40 years, including throughout Smith’s 29 ½ years. “She was a member of another church, but we always considered her one of us,” King said. “It was good to have her here.”
They also read letters from when the church offered the position to Smith and from when he accepted the call to be the pastor. It was a service that both raised goosebumps and tugged at heartstrings.
“The congregation held him in such high regard and admires him so much. He is well-loved. Our church has changed a lot but still lots of folks hold him in high regard,” said King.
No wonder. In 1978, Smith was part of a revival at FBC Leitchfield which resulted in 122 decisions for Christ.
After baptizing 50 one Sunday night during the revival, Smith told the newspaper, “We had water everywhere and scads of people with mops and buckets taking care of it.”
King, who left Beaver Dam to come to FBC Leitchfield, said Smith has been a mentor and pastor to him.
At the end of the service, King asked Smith to close the service in prayer. “I said I’m sure you and Carolyn have prayed for us. Would you do us the honor of praying over us verbally as a church again? He was able to share a few words and so did his wife.”
That wrapped up a service that will be long remembered in Leitchfield. “It was a shot of excitement for the church,” King said.
(Photo back row l-r: FBC Leitchfield pastor Doug King, associate pastor Dennis Cook: front row l-r: George Smith, Carolyn Smith, courtesy of Kentucky Today)
By Mark Maynard, Kentucky Today
