Solomon Smith

I accepted Jesus Christ in February of 1975 while attending (by force) a service at Faith Baptist Church in Rincon Georgia with my grandparents.  During the invitation Jesus spoke to me (in my mind) and asked if I really meant what I said years ago when I promised that I would accept Him one day.  I said yes, and then I heard Him say that if I didn’t accept Him right then I would never hear from Him again.  I was shaken to my core and knew that He is real and that He is LORD.  As the Pastor was praying, I went to the altar and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and lead me into the life He had for me. 

I started attending church with some friends at Powers Baptist Church in Eden, Georgia.  One of those friends was Linda Mattox, who is now my wife of almost fifty years (February, 6 2026 will be fifty years).  We have two beautiful daughters Missy and Amanda, whose families love the LORD.  Their husbands Stephen and Justin are an answer to our prayers.  We have four awesome grandchildren; Avery, Peyton, Brennan and Brooklyn.  They are such a joy and bring us so much pleasure watching them grow.  We also have an “adopted” granddaughter Charlotte who has become such a wonderful part of our lives. 

A couple of years after we married we started attending Bloomingdale Alliance Church in Bloomingdale Georgia.  There I began studying and learning about the Bible.  I took many classes and engaged in other activities to learn more about Jesus.  I also listened to Christian radio and listened to teachers on TV broadcasts.  My intent was to keep Jesus on my mind as much as possible.  I know I have listened to over 20,000 sermons in my life through radio, television and attending services.  I became an Elder at the Alliance Church in 1980 and served there until early 2022.  During my service there I served as Youth Group Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Prayer Group Leader, Choir Assistant Director, Choir Director, sang in a quartet for over thirty years, sang in the choir, directed several Easter Musicals and other musical events, I also served for years as Church Treasurer, and served on the Church Governing Board (for business matters).  I held frequent discussions with my Pastor and other leaders to discuss important church matters and planning sessions.  I was also a Licensed Pastor for a period of time.  There were many wonderful and exciting times while we were there.

When it was time to leave the Alliance Church in 2022, Linda and I began attending Pembroke First Baptist Church.  We met many new friends and fellow believers. We joined a small Home Group led by Bennett and Kimberly Meeks and quickly realized this was the reason God had led us to Pembroke.  One year later I was asked to serve as a Deacon and became an Ordained Deacon in 2024.  Through a series of unfortunate events which are not part of my story, I became aware that this was not where the LORD wanted me to be, so I resigned at the end of that year. 

In December of 2024, I was sure that leaving FBC was what the LORD wanted me to do.  During this time I was awakened three nights in a row, for two separate weeks, with the thought on my mind that our Home Group was to start a “New” church.  I insisted that I was not called to be a “Preacher” and I wasn’t starting a church.  However, a week later, while driving a three hour trip to go camping, Bennett called me to discuss some issues.  During our hour long conversation, I told him about my experience in the previous weeks. He immediately said, “That is what I really called you about”.  It seems that a similar experience had been happening to him during that period, and he had been arguing with the LORD saying “No I’m not going to start a church”.  This began a period of serious prayer and discussions with our Home Group.  The big issue was, who would we ask to be our Pastor?  It seems God had already been setting this up without our knowledge. Tom Rodriguez and his family attended Pembroke FBC on Sunday December 29, 2024 and sat behind me (this was my last Sunday at FBC).  I turned in my resignation later that week.  Tom and I had become friends at the Alliance church. He was there for a few years before becoming interim Pastor at First Christian Church in Savannah.  Tom had just resigned as interim and was looking for a place to fellowship.  His family joined our Home Group that night and the rest is history.  We are now Branches of Faith Community Church, located in the heart of Pembroke, Georgia with Tom Rodriguez as our “Start up Pastor”.  I currently am serving my first of a three year term as Senior Elder for the church. 

Throughout my life, I have constantly sought His will for me and my family.  God has blessed me in so many ways that I cannot count them all.  God has blessed us with faithful Christian friends and continually amazes me at what He is doing through us.  I personally feel that I am not capable of doing things “good enough” for God. He keeps reminding me that: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13 I know that He will be with me and guide me no matter what may come my way.  Whether good or bad Jesus Christ is with me and will keep me as long as I am in the center of His will.  I do not consider myself to be a leader, but strive to be such a follower of Christ that others may consider following Him as well.  1 Corinthians 11:1

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.