The award winning sermon "Watch Them Dogs' preacher, Rev. BW Smith, served as the Senior Pastor of St. John Baptist Church, Buffalo, New York for 32 years. He's a former president of The Progressive National Baptist Convention.
Rev. Bennett Walker Smith was a native of Florence, Alabama. Born on April 7, 1933, Smith grew up on West Mobile Street with his mother and grandmother. He joined the Air Force after graduating from Burrell High School in 1950. He studied at Tennessee State University and went to Chicago public schools to pursue a teaching career.
In 1960, Smith entered Bethel M.B. Church and enrolled in the Moody Bible Institute for ministerial training. He became pastor of St. John Baptist Church in Buffalo, NY in 1972 where he earned the reputation as a spiritual leader. He used his church for developing housing, schools and programs not only in Buffalo but around the world.
His last local sermon was in 2000 at the Burrell Reunion. Smith died Aug. 7, 2001, in Cheektowaga, N.Y.
Find out 5 ways to get better at preaching and teaching at The Resurgence and check out 3 Tips to Deepen Your Faith, shared by Guideposts.