Elder Michael Smith is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. He was born the ninth child of ten children to the late Mr. William Hammett Smith and Mrs. Helen (Peterkin) Smith on June 19, 1958. Elder Michael was reared in the foster homes of Mr. Renzy and Mrs. Bernice Sapp and Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Mattie Middleton. He is the loving father of two wonderful children: Maggie Melanie Smith-Glover (Darnell) and William Michael Smith.
Elder Michael attended the Boston Public Schools where he graduated from Boston English High School in June of 1977. As a child, he began his spiritual journey at the Rehoboth Bethel Church (Apostolic) under the pastorate of the late Bishop R. O. Murray; and later at the New Hope Baptist Church under the Reverend Dr. Madison Bryson, Jr., where he was a faithful member and served at New Hope in various auxiliaries just to name a few: Sunday School Teacher, Vice-President of the Bible Class, President of the Male Chorus and President of the Young Adult Choir.
In 1978 being led and directed by the Lord by way of a dream, he united with Solid Rock Holiness Church of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. under the leadership of Elder David L. Dupree, Jr. (now Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle). It was there, in 1979, he was baptized in Jesus’ Name and received the gift of the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:38. In 1980, while serving under Bishop Dupree, Michael accepted God’s call to become a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and also served as the President of the Men's Department and Vice-President of the Building Fund Department.
In 1983, after faithful service with Solid Rock Holiness Church of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. God instructed Minister Michael to unite with Zion Assembly Apostolic Church, Inc. and there he became an Associate Minister and in 1998 was ordained a Elder where he served under the late Pastor, Bishop William H. Martin(1938-2000) (where the church was an affiliate of Pentecostal Followers of Jesus Christ, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland) until March, 2001. At Zion Assembly Apostolic Church, Inc. Elder Michael served as Vice-President of the Pastor's Aid Department and was the Pastor's Armor Bearer, traveling with Bishop Martin & 1st Lady Evangelist Maggie Martin to many Convocations, Conventions and Councils.
In Birmingham, Alabama, Elder Michael Smith married “his good thing and his ministry” on March 24, 2001, the anointed and beautiful Elder Jeannie Jackson-Smith and went back to Boston, MA for another two years and served under watch-care at New Fellowship Christian Minitries under Pastor John A Bridges. There at New Fellowship Elder Michael served as the Church's 1st Sunday School Superintendent and Elder Michael and his wife served as the 1st Pastor's Aid Chairman and Co-Chairwoman. In February 2003 God in His divine providence directed Elder Smith to relocate back to Alabama and unite with his wife’s former place of worship, the Leeds Apostolic Overcoming Holy (A.O.H.) Church of God, under the leadership of Overseer Grover Smith. It was here that he was appointed as the Assistant Pastor for one year and also served as Assn't Superintendent of the Sunday School.
From June 10, 2008 until August 31, 2009, God in His divine wisdom chose Elder Smith to be appointed by the A.O.H. National / International Presiding Prelate, Bishop George W. Ayers, to become the Pastor of the “O” Street Apostolic Overcoming Holy (A.O.H.) Church of God, located in Alexander City, Alabama.
In January of 2011 Elder Michael Smith become the Founder and Pastor of the City of Refuge Church of the Apostolic Faith, Incorporated (Birmingham, Alabama). He is currently serving under the leadership of Bishop Dwight Dove, Senior Presider of the Morning Star Fellowship Assemblies (Brooklyn, New York).
Pastor Michael Smith is a blessed and humble servant of God who believes and live the scripture which states, “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day witnessing both to small and great saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come.” (Acts 26:22 KJV).
Elder Michael attended the Boston Public Schools where he graduated from Boston English High School in June of 1977. As a child, he began his spiritual journey at the Rehoboth Bethel Church (Apostolic) under the pastorate of the late Bishop R. O. Murray; and later at the New Hope Baptist Church under the Reverend Dr. Madison Bryson, Jr., where he was a faithful member and served at New Hope in various auxiliaries just to name a few: Sunday School Teacher, Vice-President of the Bible Class, President of the Male Chorus and President of the Young Adult Choir.
In 1978 being led and directed by the Lord by way of a dream, he united with Solid Rock Holiness Church of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. under the leadership of Elder David L. Dupree, Jr. (now Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle). It was there, in 1979, he was baptized in Jesus’ Name and received the gift of the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:38. In 1980, while serving under Bishop Dupree, Michael accepted God’s call to become a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and also served as the President of the Men's Department and Vice-President of the Building Fund Department.
In 1983, after faithful service with Solid Rock Holiness Church of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. God instructed Minister Michael to unite with Zion Assembly Apostolic Church, Inc. and there he became an Associate Minister and in 1998 was ordained a Elder where he served under the late Pastor, Bishop William H. Martin(1938-2000) (where the church was an affiliate of Pentecostal Followers of Jesus Christ, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland) until March, 2001. At Zion Assembly Apostolic Church, Inc. Elder Michael served as Vice-President of the Pastor's Aid Department and was the Pastor's Armor Bearer, traveling with Bishop Martin & 1st Lady Evangelist Maggie Martin to many Convocations, Conventions and Councils.
In Birmingham, Alabama, Elder Michael Smith married “his good thing and his ministry” on March 24, 2001, the anointed and beautiful Elder Jeannie Jackson-Smith and went back to Boston, MA for another two years and served under watch-care at New Fellowship Christian Minitries under Pastor John A Bridges. There at New Fellowship Elder Michael served as the Church's 1st Sunday School Superintendent and Elder Michael and his wife served as the 1st Pastor's Aid Chairman and Co-Chairwoman. In February 2003 God in His divine providence directed Elder Smith to relocate back to Alabama and unite with his wife’s former place of worship, the Leeds Apostolic Overcoming Holy (A.O.H.) Church of God, under the leadership of Overseer Grover Smith. It was here that he was appointed as the Assistant Pastor for one year and also served as Assn't Superintendent of the Sunday School.
From June 10, 2008 until August 31, 2009, God in His divine wisdom chose Elder Smith to be appointed by the A.O.H. National / International Presiding Prelate, Bishop George W. Ayers, to become the Pastor of the “O” Street Apostolic Overcoming Holy (A.O.H.) Church of God, located in Alexander City, Alabama.
In January of 2011 Elder Michael Smith become the Founder and Pastor of the City of Refuge Church of the Apostolic Faith, Incorporated (Birmingham, Alabama). He is currently serving under the leadership of Bishop Dwight Dove, Senior Presider of the Morning Star Fellowship Assemblies (Brooklyn, New York).
Pastor Michael Smith is a blessed and humble servant of God who believes and live the scripture which states, “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day witnessing both to small and great saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come.” (Acts 26:22 KJV).
