Our Pastor

Rev.Quinten Lewis Smith Sr.

 

 

 

Rev. Quinten Lewis Smith, Senior, is the pastor of Greater Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, located in the North Memphis District of the Thirteenth Episcopal District. Rev. Smith's goal in ministry is to win lost Souls for Christ. His contagious and courageous teaching has inspired and taught us the more excellent way. Like David, Rev. Smith is a man after God's own heart.  During his tenure at Greater Payne, he has beautified the building by placing a steeple on the edifice and with his ingenious insight, had stained glass windows donated and installed voluntarily. Rev. Smith is a skillful preacher and teacher of God’s Word. Since his leadership at Greater Payne, the membership has increased greatly. Membership has increased because of Rev. Smith’s visibility in the community. Rev. Smith continuously reaches out to the Klondike Community through Vacation Bible School, Annual Health Fairs, Back to School socials giving out school supplies and food to the needy, participating as an adopter at Klondike Elementary School where the status has gone from failing to thriving in the past few years, and initiating a feeding ministry after a dynamic hour of power Bible Study each Wednesday night.  Rev. Smith has secured property near the church for additional parking, two duplexes in the neighborhood for low-income housing rental and the church recently purchased a house behind the church and demolished it to take blight and crime out of the neighborhood. Rev. smith initiated a six month youth Rights of Passage program to build self-esteem and encourage youth in the community. Rev. Smith is a very strong supporter of all auxiliaries at Greater Payne, and actively attends monthly bingo at Spring Hill Nursing Home with the Missionary Society. He was instrumental in organizing the thriving Lay Organization. He willingly and openly allows various auxiliaries to host local, conference branch, and district meetings at the church.  In March 2008, Rev. Smith had a vision to pay off the church mortgage in order to further God’s ministry. In December 2008, under his dynamic leadership, Greater Payne became debt free! In 2009, Rev. Smith was named Pastor of the Year by the Thirteenth Episcopal District Lay Organization.

Rev. Smith has been employed by the State Government for over 31 years as a Certified Physical Therapist Assistant. Rev. Smith is a full time pastor, and a full time employee. In December of 2010, Rev. Smith received his Master’s of Divinity Degree, Cum Laude from Memphis Theological Seminary.  Rev. Smith is the proud husband of Sandra Smith, the proud father of two sons, Quinten Smith, Jr. and Cameron Smith, the proud father-in-law of two daughters, Cherie Jeffries-Smith and Josalyn Harris-Smith, and loving grandfather to two grandchildren, DeKerrion and Cayla.