Sunday, July 25, 1999
Sunday, July 25, 1999 |
The First Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City holds a unique distinction of originally being all things to all people. Originally begun as a Community Chapel in 1966 in a new town only seven years old, a group of interested Presbyterians also held services and the Rev. Cobby Ware conducted both services. The Peachtree City Baptist Church was an outgrowth of the Community Chapel and in 1969 the Presbyterians became initiated into the Atlanta Presbytery. The Rev. Don Smith was called to serve as its first full time pastor. He was born and reared on a farm in Rowan County, N.C., (also the same birthplace as Elizabeth Dole). He and four other siblings worked very hard on the farm and the Rev. Smith said his background taught him responsibility and provided a good environment for the work he does now. The community was originally settled by Germans and the only church in the area was Lutheran; consequently when he first began to feel pulled into the ministry at the age of 14 or so, he assumed he would be a Lutheran minister. In high school he played football as a running back and this helped him get a scholarship to a Lutheran college, Lenoir-Rhyne, where he graduated in 1959 with a BA in English and Sociology. In college football, he played as a defensive back. It was also here that he met his wife, Jane. They dated all through their college days and were married in their senior year in April, 1963. Her family were Presbyterians and when it came time to attend seminary, the Rev. Smith decided to pursue that particular faith. He had an association with the Rev. Billy Graham's family and Graham's brother-in-law, the Rev. Leighton Ford which was also a strong influence. He enrolled at Columbia Presbyterian Seminary in Atlanta, where he graduated in 1966 with a Master of Divinity. His Doctorate of Ministry was earned in 1976 from McCormick Seminary in Chicago. The Smith's are the parents of Johnny Smith, who is a career Air Force officer, married with three children; Katherine Smith Wardlaw, who is married with three children and Susan Smith Altland, a physical therapist, who is married to a career Air Force officer. Sunday worship services are 8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m., Sunday School is at 10 a.m., Family Dinners are Wednesday evenings at 5 p.m. The church is located at 206 Willowbend Road, and can be reached at 770-487-7757.
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