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Rev.
Nathaniel Smith, Sr. was called to preach and licensed to preach at the age of seventeen. After graduating from high school
he enrolled at the Selma University. Selma University is a small Baptist liberal arts school located in Selma, Alabama. In
the past it had trained many of our Baptist leaders. Rev. Smith remained at Selma University for approximately two and a half
years. He later matriculated at Alabama State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in History Education
with a minor in Sociology.
Following graduation from Alabama State University, Rev. Smith,
feeling the need to better equip himself for the pastorate ministry, enrolled in seminary at Colgate Divinity School in Rochester,
New York. After completing the requirements for the Master of Divinity degree he graduated. He has done doctorate work at
Hartford Seminary where he received a certificate of Advanced Studies in Congregational Studies. It is important to mention
that throughout Rev. Smith's educational trek, he was always involved and a part of a local church ministry. Further he
also became very involved with campus ministry as well. He was always under the guidance of a local pastor. Having a spiritual
mentor was always a must for him and remains a requirement even to this day.
Prior
to graduating from seminary, Rev. Nathaniel Smith, Sr. was ordained by the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist church under
the leadership of the Rev. Dr. G. Murray Branch. He then accepted a position offered to him in Brooklyn, New York. He served
as Assistant to Pastor Jacob N. Underwood at the Grace Baptist Church of Christ and also as Dean of Religious Studies at Grace
Christian Educational Center for two years. It was while at Grace Baptist Church, Rev. Smith met his wife, Mrs. Rosa Fugate
Smith. They have two sons, Nathaniel Smith, Jr. and Jonathan David Smith.
Once
married Rev. Smith began working full time for the New York Board of Education as a teacher and also became a member of the
Bethany Baptist Church of Brooklyn, where the Rev. Dr. William A. Jones served as pastor. While at Bethany, Rev. Smith received
the call from the Third Baptist Church to become the pastor. He accepted and has been at Third Baptist Church as pastor since
1991.
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