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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Dr. Robert Smith Jr. Delivers OBU Chapel Message Nov. 30

November 30, 2016

Dr. Robert Smith Jr., Charles T. Carter Baptist chair of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, delivered Oklahoma Baptist University’s chapel message Nov. 30, in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium

Smith serves as Charles T. Carter Baptist chair of divinity at Beeson Divinity School where he teaches Christian preaching. Previously, he served as the Carl E. Bates associate professor of Christian preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. A popular teacher and preacher, he received Southern’s 1996 Findley B. Edge award for teaching excellence. He likewise received Beeson’s “Teacher of the Year Award” in 2005.

He earned a Bachelor of Science from Cincinnati Bible College. He then earned both a M.Div. and Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. An ordained Baptist minister, he served as pastor of the New Mission Missionary Baptist Church in Cincinnati for 20 years.

Smith is a contributing editor for a study of Christian ministry in the African American church, “Preparing for Christian Ministry,” and co-editor of “A Mighty Long Journey.” In addition, he has served as an editor of “Our Sufficiency Is of God: Essays on Preaching in Honor of Gardner C. Taylor.” Smith has written the book, “Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life,” which was selected as the winner of the 2008 Preaching Book of the Year Award by “Preaching Magazine” and 2009 Preaching Book of the Year Award by Christianity Today’s preaching.com. In 2010, “Preaching Magazine” named “Doctrine That Dances” one of the 25 most influential books in preaching for the last 25 years.

He has spoken at more than 115 universities, colleges, and seminaries in the United States, Great Britain, Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean. His research interests include the place of passion in preaching, the literary history of African American preaching, Christological preaching and theologies of preaching.

He and his wife, Dr. Wanda Taylor-Smith, Ph.D., are the parents of four adult children (one in heaven).