Derrick Smothers

Derrick Smothers hails from Santa Rosa, California, where he was born and raised.  His parents are believers and attend Santa Rosa Bible Church.  Derrick accepted the Lord at age 4.  His youth pastor was Nelson Miles, brother of Pastor Bruce Miles.  Upon graduation from Frontier School of the Bible in LaGrange, Wyoming (where he met his wife, June), Derrick felt called to church planting in the state of Utah.  As Tentmakers Bible Mission missionaries, the Smothers decided to begin in the city of Springville (population 30,000), which had no evangelical church presence.  After a brief advertising campaign, Grace Bible Church held its first service in November 4, 1997, with an attendance of 18 (including a lady who had prayed for five years for an evangelical church to come to her community).  Grace Bible Church graduated from TBM as an independent church in February of 2009.  God began to stir the Smothers' hearts for ministry at another location, and that summer Derrick joined the RMBC Uganda ministry team at the invitation of Pastor Bruce.  The following year, June joined Derrick on the Uganda team.  Three days after their return, the Smothers candidated at RMBC for the Associate Pastor position.  The Lord confirmed their ministry transition and the family moved in Frisco in August of 2010.  The Smothers have five children:  Mark, Koby, Landon, Rylea and Gloria.