First Baptist Church
of Hamilton, New York

Joyce and Wes Smith

Wesley A. Smith came to First Baptist Church as pastor on April 11, 2010.

Wes graduated from Barrington College, now Gordon College, in 1973, and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1976. He has completed several hours of Doctor of Ministry studies at Trinity
Theological Seminary. A native New Yorker, Rev. Smith has served in churches in Averill Park and Saratoga Springs, New York, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and in Westerly and Cranston Rhode Island. He has served thirteen of his nineteen years in Rhode Island on the governing board (Board of Ministries) of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island and served on the Executive Minister's support team. Wes has attended all but two biennials of the ABC, USA over thirty-three years of pastoral ministry.

Wes has led mission trips to the Dominican Republic and to New Orleans. He has also been a regular summer pulpit guest at Wilson Chapel, Ocean Point, Maine and the Lakeside Chapel, Lake George, New York.

He served most recently as senior pastor of Phillips Memorial Baptist Church in Cranston, Rhode Island and is a past president of the Board of Directors of South Providence Neighborhood Ministries, a Neighborhood Action Program of ABC, USA.

Wes and his wife, Joyce, are parents of two married daughters, Lauren Davidson and Jaclyn Alexander, and five grandchildren, all of whom reside in Colorado Springs.

Joyce graduated from Skidmore College and holds an MFA from Syracuse University.

Joyce's mother, Gerry Halliday, redsides with Joyce and Wes. The Smiths own two retrievers, Toga, a seven-year-old Golden, and Cedars, a three-year-old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Thoughts
On a Relationship with God

Many people today are looking for a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, however they aren't quite sure how or where to begin. Holy Scripture teaches us to first examine our hearts before God, confessing those issues or concerns which make us feel unworthy.

Secondly, we are liberated when we recognize that Jesus did indeed die upon the cross to remove our sins and to enable us to be one with God. He thus, became the bridge between fallen humanity and Almighty God.

Third, don't be afraid to claim Jesus as your personal Savior from sin and the Lord of your daily living. When you believe in Jesus (put your faith in Him) you can experience his loving presence in your life on earth as well as the promise of eternal life in heaven.

Why don't you reach out to Jesus today. He is always reaching out to YOU !