Smithville First Baptist Church has a new pastor in the pulpit. Chad Ramsey began preaching at Smithville F-B-C Sunday (Dec. 3) at the 10 o’clock service. The church had been looking for a pastor over a year while Bill Robertson, former pastor at Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church, served in the interim. 

“I felt God calling us to come here,” Ramsey said. “My wife, Kathy, and I want to be a part of a multi-generational church that is focused on loving God and loving others.” 

Ramsey comes from Central Baptist Church in Alcoa, where he was the pastor for almost the last three years. Ramsey and his wife grew up in Powell, a suburb of Knoxville. He’s a graduate of Carson-Newman College with a double major in religion and mathematics. 

After he received his diploma, the couple were married and moved to Waco, Texas, where Chad attended seminary at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. He has worked in a variety of ministerial positions including stints as a Student Minister, Youth Director, Students and Education Pastor, Students and Outreach Pastor, and Associate Pastor. Ramsey then noted he felt a distinct call to become a Senior Pastor.  Ramsey’s wife is an elementary school teacher, and the couple have two children, Cameron, 10, and Abby, 6. 

“My passion in ministry is to help people grow their own personal faith relationship with God,” explained Ramsey. 

“There is so much to learn and experience as we come to Smithville,” Ramsey said. “I believe God has called each one of us to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbors. The first thing I think God has called us to do at FBC is for us to show God all of our love. Kathy and I could feel the love for God and the love for each other the very first time we stepped into FBC. It is a loving church and it is a place for everyone. One of my goals is to make sure the community understands how much God loves them, how much we love them, and how FBC is a place for the whole family."