Hello Grace Family,

My name is Sean Smith and I am the new youth director at Grace! This blog is for you to get to know me a little bit better. I am the oldest of three. I have a sister who is twenty-two 22 and a brother who is nineteen19. We were raised by an amazing, single mother who always pointed us to Jesus, which was huge blessing. I love my family! I played college basketball, so that is one of my main hobbies. Count me in for anything that involves sports and being active! God has gifted me with a love for others, so I take full advantage of any chance I get to hang out with people and hear their stories.

In recent events, I graduated this spring from with a Bachelor’s degree inof Bbiblical Sstudies from Trinity International University. And then I got married! My wife Gabby and I are both from the Midwest, so the movemoving to VA Virginia was a huge step of faith. Gabby has an amazing heart for people and even bigger heart for children and youth. She will be a huge partner and supporter of our ministry here at Grace. We are very excited to be here and to see what the Lord is going to do with the youth here at GCC.

As stated above, I was raised by a single mother in the Chicagoland area. I have been involved in church for as long as I can remember. God really blessed me with a mother who loves the Lord and raised her kids to do the same. The Lord saved me at a young age and has been faithful ever since to sanctify me to be more like him. That being said, early in my high school years I found myself putting a lot of things before God. I often treated the Bible like a chore and found myself thinking I could put my faith off until I got older. I was using the gifts the Lord gave me to build my kingdom and not his.

Sophomore year of high school I got very involved in youth group and was surrounded by men of God who really poured into me. These guys were more than just youth pastors to me, they were mentors and father figures. They challenged me to use who I am to glorify God and to be a part of building the kingdom of God instead of using my gifts for selfish reasons. During this time, I really learned what it meant to be all in for Christ.  Jesus became and is my everything. He God is my Ffather and my Pprovider and I have seen his sovereignty all throughout my life. I can’t imagine where I would be without him and I am humbled that He calls me His son! The Lord has called me to be a part of training up the next generation of youth and I am very excited that Grace is where he has called me to do this.

All for His Glory,

Sean Smith