Rev. Jeffery Smith is the third child of Rev. Dr. J. C. and Mrs. Willie Mae Smith.  He was born in Montgomery, Alabama, but considers Chicago home.  Rev. Smith received his Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.  He currently serves as Pastor of Bethlehem Temple Missionary Baptist Church.  He succeeded his father as pastor in November of 2016 after his father, mentor, and pastor was called home.  He was officially installed on December 11, 2016.  

Pastor Jeffery Smith grew up and was groomed at Bethlehem Temple.  He is a charter member and over the first 47 years he served in the Music Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Youth & Young Adult Ministries, Deacon Ministry, and Sunday School.  Pastor preached his first sermon on March 29, 1992, and was ordained by Rev. Dr. J.C. Smith in December of 1993.  He has also done numerous workshops at the local, state, and national level, to inspire the people of GOD to grow and mature in Christian service.  

From 1993 to 1994, Pastor Smith served as Interim Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church of Antioch, California and from 1996-1999, he served as Evangelism Minister at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church of Cincinnati, Ohio under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Cecil Ferrell.  He also served with his wife Heather as the Marriage Enrichment Ministry leaders under the leadership of Pastor Ferrell while at St. Mark.

Prior to his pastoral service, he was the Global Associate Director, Diversity & Inclusion for Procter & Gamble.  During his P&G career, he developed expertise, and was sought to lead, in Diversity, Team Effectiveness, Organization Assessment & Design; Change Management; Talent Development, and Leadership Development.  He has trained and developed P&G employees in Western Europe, Latin America, North America, and Asia.

Rev. Smith also served the community as a board member for the American Brain Tumor Association and a board member of ANEW: Building Beyond Violence & Abuse.  He serves in the Progressive National Baptist convention on the national, regional and state level.  He is on the Curriculum committee for the National Congress department, has served as Executive Assistant to the Regional Vice President and is the 1st Vice President for the Progressive Baptist State Convention of IL.

Rev. Smith resides in the South Suburbs of Chicago with his wife of 34 years, Heather Gayle Smith.  They have four children Austin, Amber, Avery, and Amaris.