Our Team

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Pastor Kurt Smith serves as the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church in Herington, Kansas. His heart is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, guide believers to know Jesus more deeply, live out their faith with confidence, walk in grace and truth, and stand firm against the darkness of this age.  

Kurt is currently a Doctor of Min

Pastor Kurt Smith serves as the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church in Herington, Kansas. His heart is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, guide believers to know Jesus more deeply, live out their faith with confidence, walk in grace and truth, and stand firm against the darkness of this age.  

Kurt is currently a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) candidate in Christian Apologetics, where he focuses on equipping believers to think deeply and defend their faith and doctrines with conviction and compassion. His academic background also includes graduate studies in theology and Christian hermeneutics, along with a Master’s Degree in Business, a Bachelor’s in Marketing, and an Associate’s in Liberal Arts. 

At his core, Pastor Kurt’s goal is not perfection, but authenticity. He desires for people to see that following Jesus is real, practical, and deeply joyful.

 Whether someone has walked with Christ for years or is just beginning to seek Him, Pastor Kurt invites all to join the family at First Baptist Church Herington as they pursue Jesus together.

Kurt met his wife as a teenager after a cross-country meet—she was working at the McDonald’s counter, and he was bold enough to hand her his phone number (and even more surprised when she actually called!). More than two decades later, they’ve built a life together filled with love, laughter, and faith. They have five wonderful children—

Kurt met his wife as a teenager after a cross-country meet—she was working at the McDonald’s counter, and he was bold enough to hand her his phone number (and even more surprised when she actually called!). More than two decades later, they’ve built a life together filled with love, laughter, and faith. They have five wonderful children—one daughter and four sons—who fill their home with energy, joy, and plenty of chaos. The Smiths have lived in Tennessee, Maine, and now Kansas, and are deeply thankful for how God has guided their family step by step.
Their story is one of grace. In 2017, Kurt’s wife gave her life to Christ, and several months later, Kurt surrendered his own life to the Lord. Since that time, God has transformed their marriage, their family, and their calling. That same life-changing grace fuels Kurt’s passion for pastoral ministry—helping others experience the transforming hope of the gospel. 

Outside the pulpit, Pastor Kurt enjoys spending time with his family and sharing good meals—especially pizza, fried haddock, and Kansas City sirloins. He loves playing pickup basketball, slow-pitch softball, lifting weights, and running. He also enjoys hunting, cooking and smoking meats, and bringing people together in fellowship.