Shannon Smith
Born: April 30, 1967 in New Albany, IN
Wife: Kathryn – Married January 9, 1987
Children: Nicholas (Nic) born January 20, 1991; Victoria (Tori) born January 20, 1993
“God is good and He loves me!” Over the past couple of years the Lord has branded that into Shannon’s thinking. “I pray that my life and ministry will be “a point of contact” for others to see Father God’s goodness and love for them and that He has a good plan for their lives!”
In September 2000, Shannon and Kathryn Smith, with oversight given by a ministry accountability team made up of elders from their home church, stepped out into full-time ministry. He traveled as a solo artist for 2 years and then joined The Imperials as their lead singer in September 2002. (The Imperials is a musical group with a rich history in Christian music. Over the years they have won 4 Grammy Awards and 13 Dove Awards. In 1998 the group was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and in 2008 was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.)
From his very first days as a “preemie” baby when the doctors gave him basically no chance to live, Shannon has been immersed in the power of prayer and the truth of the Word. While he was clinging to life in those earliest days, the Lord whispered to his mother that he would live and minister to people around the world. So when the doctor said, “Don’t plan take this baby home – if he makes it, it will be a Higher Power than me.”, she began to pray and confess the truth of the Word. “He will live and not die and declare the works of the Lord!” (Psalm 118:17)
Shannon was raised in a pastor’s home and because of his parent’s active demonstration of their faith in a real and living God, he came to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age. Shannon says, “It was at the age of eleven, during revival services at my church, that I confirmed my faith in Jesus and over the next few years I surrendered myself to Him fully and determined to live for Him for the rest of my days.” Through active involvement in his church youth group and Christian school as well as opportunities for volunteer service, he began to sense God’s leadership into ministry. He sought to prepare himself through Biblical and musical education and practical development of his musical talent. He then began to pursue ministry opportunities whether volunteer or vocational in nature. “The only thing I’ve ever really wanted to do is to share the life and love of Jesus with others. Presenting the beauty of Jesus through the beauty of music and the beauty of the Word of God is the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done,” says Shannon. “I was born to sing His praises – when I sing, I feel as though He is singing too!”
After 6 years with The Imperials, Shannon left in June 2008 to get off the road and spend some quality time with his family. Not only was singing with The Imperials the fulfillment of a dream for Shannon, it provided several years of “on the road” training and gave him opportunity to more clearly define what God’s calling for him was and was not. He moved to North Miami Beach, FL to serve as a worship leader at Words of Life Fellowship Church. He served there for 18 months and then the Lord said it was time to move on to a new assignment. “When I left the road 2 years ago, I really needed some time to get away and just focus on the Lord, His Word and my family,” says Shannon. “Our time in the Miami area accomplished just that – it was almost like a sabbatical. Elliott first called me about joining Three bridges in January and we just agreed to pray over this decision until we had the peace of the Lord about it. I am filled with excitement and expectation and I look forward to helping Three Bridges continue to share the goodness and love of Jesus in every way possible.”
Shannon’s Favorites:
Restaurant: Cheesecake Factory
Food: Mexican, Italian or a great steak
Interests: Bible study, hanging with my wife and kids, Yankees baseball (or any baseball really), American history, biographies, reading, singing, movies, fishing, working in the yard
Television: MLB Network, ESPN, any Law & Order, Andy Griffith show
Singer: Pavarotti, Larnelle Harris, Russ Taff
Scripture: Psalm 23; Psalm 37:23; Psalm 91; Psalm 119; Proverbs 4:20-23; Matthew 6:33; Romans 5:17
Sports team: New York Yankees “GO YANKS”, Syracuse Orange (College Basketball), Chicago Bears, Boston Celtics, South Carolina Gamecocks (College Football)
Life Thought: God is GOOD and He LOVES you!
Shannon has recorded four solo albums. You can get them at:
www.ShannonSmith.info
