Lenten Preaching: The Rev. Rufus Smith

The Rev. Rufus Smith IV is the senior pastor of Hope Church (EPC) in Memphis. He joined Hope’s staff in September 2010 and became senior pastor in 2013. Under Smith’s leadership, Hope has transitioned from a predominantly Caucasian church to a multi-ethnic, multi-generational congregation. In 2016, he founded the Memphis Christian Pastor’s Network (MCPN), an ethnically and denominationally diverse clergy-only network that builds trust and broadens impact via candid conversation and collaboration. The MCPN works to reduce economic disparity in Memphis. Smith was born in Houston, TX and for 12 years served as the senior pastor of The City of Refuge (COR) Presbyterian Church. He founded The FORGE for Families (FFF), a CDC that empowers underserved neighbors in the greater 3rd Ward community in Houston. In addition, he was for three years the lead chaplain for the NBA Houston Rockets. Crazy about baseball, reading, and walking, his real claim to fame is his wife of 36 years, Jacqueline, and their three children: Ruth Abigail, Rufus V, and Rhoda Anna.