David Smelser wasn’t surprised that some of his fellow summer missionaries referred to him as “Mr. David” and “Sir” at the weekend orientation. They also looked puzzled when they realized he wasn’t one of the program presenters. He was expecting it.
That’s because Smelser doesn’t look like your typical collegiate summer missionary.
He is a 47-year-old graduate student attending the University of West Alabama who has decided at midlife to make a career change.
A former career chaplain who holds a master of divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Smelser decided he wanted to switch gears and acquire a master of arts degree with a history major so he could teach at a community college and still pursue his ministerial goals. “This way I can also be a bivocational pastor and I wouldn’t be leaving the ministry but just broadening it,” he said.
Smelser said he wanted to do something different this summer and started considering summer missions. He discussed the possibility with the campus minister at the University of West Alabama, Bruce Gentry, and asked him to inquire on any age restrictions. Gentry came back with the good news that anyone could apply as long as they were attending school. “I was encouraged to apply,” he said.
An active member of First Baptist Church, Livingston, Smelser said he had been assigned to work with the International Seafarers Ministry in Charleston, S.C. He will have a myriad of duties including transporting seamen into town for supplies and shopping trips. The Mobile native said he worked near the docks during his youth growing up in the port city and that he’s comfortable around seamen.
“This was a good fit for me. I’m looking forward to the experience and I hope to make an impact during my three months as a summer missionary,” he said.
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