Garrett Smith, Director of Outreach and Spiritual Formation 

My wife Nici and I are the parents of two wonderful children, Daliya and Zachary, ages 3 and 4. I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and my wife comes from the country of Namibia in Southern Africa. We were married out in the middle of the desert in Namibia.  I was raised Jewish, and became a believer in Jesus while I was living in Israel about fifteen years ago.  It’s actually a pretty wild story, which I am happy to share.  I feel passionate about my Jewish identity and we raise our children in both the Jewish and Christian worlds as my wife comes from a Jewish background as well.  I also have a ministry working with Jewish interfaith couples (www.celebratelife.us).

I have a Masters of Divinity degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. I am working on my Doctorate in Marriage and Family Counseling at Gordon Conwell. I am also the teaching elder at a local Messianic Jewish Fellowship that meets the First Friday of each month at NPC (www.sarshalom.us).

Read how I became a believer in Jesus - "Jewish Buddhist finds Jesus"

Favorite Authors: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis

Favorite Quote: “My God is alive and well.  Sorry to hear about yours.”

Favorite Food: Love ethnic food – Ethiopian, Thai, Mexican, you name it, I will eat it.

Favorite TV Show(s): Don't really like much, yet I still manage to waste as much time watching TV as my wife will let me.

Favorite Ice Cream: Dastardly Mash – Ben and Jerry’s stopped making it about 10-15 years ago, and I still have not recovered.

Favorite Singer(s)/Band(s): James Taylor, Gypsy Kings

Favorite Outdoor Activities: Basketball and Playing with my kids

Favorite Sports Team(s):  Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox (I have only been in Boston since 2002, but it is hard to resist)

Favorite Drink(s): Milk Shake, Coconut Water, Lassi

Contact: gsmith@newtonpres.org