April 22, 2015
For Immediate Release

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University will host Dr. Robert Smith, 
professor of Christian teaching at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in 
Birmingham, Ala., as the keynote speaker in a two-day evangelistic preaching conference 
“Called to One Hope” May 18-19 in Louisville at the Louisville Education Center, 2300 Greene Way, Louisville, Ky.

Smith will be leading sessions along with Dr. Joel Carwile, pastor of Valley View Church in Louisville and a member of the CU Board of Trustees; Dr. Eric Johnson, senior pastor of Greater Galilee Baptist Church in Louisville; and Dr. Jeff Eaton, lead pastor of Hope Community Church in Lawrenceburg, Ky.

At Beeson, Smith teaches Christian Preaching and other electives in homiletics. He received Beeson Divinity School's “Teacher of the Year Award” in 2005.

Smith, an ordained Baptist minister, has served as pastor of the New Mission Missionary Baptist Church for 20 years. He is also 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” (Mercer University Press, Macon Georgia: 2010). He has written the book, “Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life” (B&H Publishing Group, Nashville: 2008) 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 95 universities, colleges and seminaries in the United States, Great Britain, Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean.

Smith received his associate of science degree from God's Bible College, his bachelor of science from Cincinnati Bible College and his master of divinity and Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

Previously, he served as the Carl E. Bates Associate Professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. A popular teacher and preacher, he received Southern's 1996 Findley B. Edge Award for Teaching Excellence.

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

The times for the conference are 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, with evening worship at 7 p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church, 1501 S. 34th Street, Louisville, Ky.

The conference registration fee is $49 for the first 75 to register.

For information on the conference and to register, contact Dr. Twyla Hernandez, assistant professor of Christian missions, at tkhernandez@campbellsville.edu; Chris Sanders, CU Louisville Education Center director, at cmsanders@campbellsville.edu. Go to thecall@campbellsville.edu or louisville@campbellsville.edu for more information.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.