I’m Philip Smith, and I come from a long line of preachers, deacons, and singers, and have been raised to come to church and serve, not to be served. I started singing with my sister and a friend in a nursing home ministry when I was about 10. I was saved and baptized when I was 12 years old and started preaching at 19. I’ve sang in a few trios and quartets over the years but I’ve always had a special love for the church, so I’ve ended up right here in the church where I was saved and baptized many years ago.
I became the Minister of Music and Choir Director at First Baptist Church of White Plains in 1997 where I have served now for over 25 years – 19 of those years as a volunteer, until I came onboard as a full time staff member in 2016.
I have always been accompanied by my wife Lora and son Adam who are musicians in our praise band. Lora plays piano and Adam plays multiple instruments while being our band and worship leader. Adam also leads worship for our Student Ministry.
I love that our church is Christ minded, Christ honoring, and Christ obeying. We all care about each other and we want to take our community to Heaven with us. My favorite hobbies are hunting, fishing, boating, singing, and doing mission projects. I love eating steak, chicken, seafood, and carbs (all of them!).
My favorite Bible verse is found in the book of Psalms 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”