Reverend Doctor Leonard N. Smith  
 

Dr. Leonard N. Smith proudly serves as the Senior Minister of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Arlington, VA. His unique, uncompromising and bold approach to presenting God’s Word is renowned for reforming lives and advancing God’s Kingdom.

Through the dedicated headship of Dr. Smith, Mount Zion is flourishing delightfully as a “Kingdom Focused” church. Since his arrival 1991, the membership has grown significantly. His eagle like vision has resulted in the establishment of a burgeoning spirit of ministry which consists of five core ministries – Outreach, Family Life, Christian Educational, Creative Arts, Foundational ministries. Birthed from those main ministries are 22 sub-ministries that are comprised of 40 committees.

Via programs which provide tutoring, food assistance and financial support, the spirit of the “Church on the Hill” has extended to local community residents and agencies, as well as people organizations state and nation-wide. Mount Zion’s Radio Outreach Ministry has also supplied a bountiful blessing to the Washington Metropolitan region. Dr. Smith can be heard on WYCB – 1340 AM every Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Monday at 6:00 p.m.; on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. his moving messages are aired on New Inspirational Praise 104.1 FM. Dr. Smith is seen live via the internet, every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. on Baptist Television Network (www.baptisttelevision.com).

In May 2009, Dr. Smith was installed as the President of the Virginia Baptist State Convention –Virginia’s oldest African-American Convention of Baptist Churches. He serves as a Chaplain for both the Arlington County Fire and Police Departments and is the CEO of Leonard N. Smith Ministries.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland and partly raised in the District of Columbia, Dr. Smith’s walk with God was fueled by the loving tutelage of his grandmother. It’s become familiar practice to honor his grandmother’s discipleship by infusing stories of her Christian teachings into his powerful sermons. Lessons learned inside the boundaries of grandma’s house have matured into a ministry preached on four Continents. His 25 years of pastoral excellence began in 1985 when Union Baptist Church (Gordonsville, Virginia) inaugurated him as their pastor. Four years later he was chosen to shepherd Rivermont Baptist Church (Lynchburg, Virginia). Mount Zion tabbed the budding author in 1992 to become Dr. Oswald G. Smith’s (the two pastors are not related) successor.

Equipped with a Master of Divinity, a Doctorate of Ministry, and eight honorary degrees, Dr. Smith is continually pursuing opportunities to further his education. He is the immediate past president of Richmond Virginia Seminary, Richmond, VA, and currently a doctoral mentor at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio; a lecturer in the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, and Co-Chairs the Minister’s Division of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Among Dr. Smith’s many professional achievements, nothing renders him prouder than his personal achievement of being the loving father of his children, Tiffany and Phillip.