ABOUT REV. DAMON SMITH
Licensed Minister in the State of Illinois.
Ordained Minister in the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
Rev. Damon O. Smith is the Youth Pastor and Associate Minister of Special Projects & Social Justice at Liberty Baptist Church where Rev. Andrew D. Hunt is Pastor. Among his responsibilities are: Youth Pastor; Baptist History Lecturer, Multigenerational Advocacy, New Media Ministry, and Civil and Social Justice Initiatives. Rev. Smith is also an Award winner in Homiletics from McCoromick Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 2019.
Rev. Smith is active in politics and other civic projects across Chicago. He has many years of experience in the inter-governmental affairs , civic engagement, academic and corporate sectors of Metropolitan Chicago.
Known in some circles as "Rev. D.", Rev. Smith has taught at the collegiate level for over 15 years in the areas of computer science, economics, public relations and operated mentoring and tutoring programs for minority students, oversaw the production of student events as well as produced concerts and fashion shows and other special events, with artists such as Common, Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest, Yolanda Adams, Hugh Masekela, Eric Roberson, and honored Jazz Icon, Miles Davis, Hugh Masekela, the Chicago Football Classic, the Bud BIlliken Day Parade and for many elected officials.
Rev. Smith is often called upon to cultivate and develop talent, galvanize diverse constituencies to achieve a common goal, take complex technical, legislative, and procedural concepts and teach, train, re-educate an audience, as well as lead non-profit and ecumenical organizations in embracing technology and new media to assist in achieving their respective goals. These opportunities have afforded him the luxury to engage with many of Chicago's business executives, elected officials, local school councils to international board of directors.
Always in a bow-tie, Rev. Smith jokingly has been called, "The Bow-Tie Baptist"; his sermons and lectures are known to be liberationary, motivational, full of humor, Biblically accurate and most importantly, heart-felt. Previous sermon titles have included: “Jim is still crowing”, “What to do about them snakes”, “Black To the Future”, “You are not your Yesterday”, & “Believe the hype”.
Among his awards and memberships, Rev. Smith includes:
2019 - Recipient, Ellen & James Taylor Award in Preaching
2017 – Fellow, Black Theological Leadership Institute, Princeton Theological Seminary
2017 - Recipient, Ellen & James Taylor Award in Preaching
2017 – Recipient, Kenilworth Union Church Urban Ministry Scholarship
2016 – Honoree, Chicago Defender Man Of Excellence
2015 – Recipient, Excellence in Preaching Award, Business & Professional Club
And serves as:
2018 - Outreach Director, Bud Billiken Day Parade
2016 (Present) – Chairman, 3rd Ward Pastors & Ministers Alliance
2014 - 2019 Chaplain, Chicago Area Morehouse College Alumni Association
2014 - 2018- Publicity Co-Chair, Xi Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
2013 (Present) – Outreach Director, Chicago Football Classic
Says Rev. Smith, "I live my life following the words of my daddy, “Son, all you have to do is be a Better Black Man today than the day before. That is the definition of success".
Favorite Bible Verse
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."
Galatians 5:13
