Retired Vinesville pastor ‘God-driven’

John L. Smith — a common name, an extraordinary man — was honored for his 55 years of ministry upon his retirement as pastor from Vinesville Baptist Church earlier this year with the Birmingham Baptist Association’s (BBA) Touch-A-Life Award.
   
The award, implemented in 1997, is the highest achievement award presented by BBA to individuals for lifetime achievement and second-mile efforts. Ricky Creech, BBA director of missions, noted Smith’s high-caliber accomplishments as the fifth recipient of the award.
   
Creech cited several attributes of Smith’s life and ministry that set him apart from others, including his more than 50 years service as pastor and his ability to aid hurting churches.
   
“John pastored several churches twice, which shows in leaving a congregation he was so respected and liked, they called him again,” Creech said. “John’s willingness to move from large to small congregations made it evident that his career wasn’t ego driven, but God driven.”
  
 Upon his retirement at the age of 81, Smith had served in 15 pastorates at 13 different churches across Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The Alabama churches included South Park Baptist in Birmingham, Dolomite Baptist Church, Elim Baptist Church in Brewton, First Baptist Church in Fairfax, West End Baptist Church in Birmingham, Dalraida Baptist Church in Montgomery, First Baptist Church in Demopolis, Big Springs Baptist Church in Ashland, Benton Baptist Church and Vinesville Baptist Church in Birmingham.
   
When talking to Smith, two ministry philosophies emerge — meeting the needs of others and going wherever the Lord leads.
   
“One role of the pastor is to minister to all the people no matter what the need, in sorrow, in trouble, in death,” he said.
   
Smith had been married for five years to his wife, Vivian, when he was called to preach in 1947. He left  a successful grocery business in Montgomery  to attend Birmingham’s Howard College. That was the beginning of numerous moves for his family.
   
“I didn’t stay long at many of my first churches. The Lord led me to some troubled churches. Many had divided or split. I’d go in and rebuild and organize the church. Then the Lord would send me somewhere else. If the Lord sent me somewhere where there was trouble, He would help me straighten it out. We have always been rewarded for our willingness to accept whatever pastorate the Lord directed,” Smith said.
   
Through diverse accommodations, church circumstances, family additions and numerous moves, Smith remained committed to the ministry. Once he surrendered, he never doubted. In addition to the Lord, Smith received support and strength from his wife and three daughters — Vicky, Joan and Jennifer. Smith echoes his wife’s sentiment, “When God calls, He calls the whole family.”
   
Smith’s final call to a pastorate was to Vinesville Baptist Church at the age of 74. His retirement earlier this year was due to his health. “I’ve never tired of the pulpit. When I turned 65, we were just getting started,” Smith said. Unsure about what to do now, he is waiting on the Lord.
   
Aside from Smith’s humble accounts of his ministry and numerous testaments to his impact on thousands of lives, there is one who knows him better than any, and this is her account of his life:
  
“He always did his best to stay close to the Lord. He always sought the Lord’s will, and you can’t go wrong with that,” Vivian Smith said.
   
Smith is a native of Fairfax (now Valley). He accepted Christ at age 11. After completing navigation training in 1942, he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He left in 1943 to serve 27 months overseas.
   
Smith has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He and his wife are members of Vinesville Baptist Church.