West Sunrise Highway
P. O. Box F-41901
Freeport, G.B.
Bahamas

Tel: 242-352-6270
Fax: 242-351-7472
Parsonage: 242-373-2169
Pager: 242-340-4128
E-Mail: info@MountGileadUnionBaptistChurch.com

ABOUT OUR LEADERS:

Bishop Reno Vanzelan Smith was born on the 6th August in the city of Nassau. He was educated in the public school system until grade 6. While in primary school at the age of ten years, he gave his life to the Lord. He completed his junior and senior years of high school in the Baptist school system in the Bahamas. Graduating from the Prince Williams (Baptist) High School at the age of 15 years. It was while he was studying at Prince Williams High School, that he felt God calling him to the Gospel Ministry. Bishop never wanted to be a preacher, as he wanted to be a lawyer. However, today he would not settle for being anything else. At the age of 16 years, he sought and obtained entrance to the American Baptist Seminary in Nashville, Tn., U.S.A., and at the age of 19 years, became the youngest graduate in the school's history. Leaving the institution with a certificate in Effective Pastoral Care, and a Bachelors degree in Theology and Social Sciences. He pursued the Masters of Social Work degree at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Ky, USA, and graduated from the Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary in Michigan with a Masters of Arts in Religious Education. He is presently pursuing further studies at the Bethel Baptist Theological Seminary in St. Pauls, Mn. Bishop Smith has received many citations for his civic and religious duties. He was honoured by the Bahamas Government for being the MOST OUTSTANDING YOUTH in Religion in the Bahamas. He was honoured as being THE YOUNGEST MOST INFLUENTIAL PASTOR IN THE BAHAMAS. He has spoken at many schools and colleges, locally and internationally. He was appointed a Marriage Officer for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and was made a Justice of the Peace by the Government of the Bahamas. He was ordained a Baptist Minster in the historic Salem Union Baptist Church, Nassau, by the Rev'd Dr. Charles W. Saunders, C.B.E., J.P., in November 1984, and served as interim pastor of the historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church-Gambier, New Providence. He also served as the assistant to the Rev'd. William Thompson, Th.D., J.P., Pastor of the Faith United Baptist Church and National President of the Bahamas Baptist Missionary & Educational Convention. He presently serves as Presiding Bishop/District President of the Northern Bahamas District Convention of the Conference of the Bahamas Baptist Union of Churches. Bishop Smith has been happily married to Minister Bronwen Ann Smith nee Seymour since December 19th., 1987 and they are the happy parents of two children, Revanno and Bronique.

EMAIL ADDRESS: Bishopsmith@mountgileadunionbaptistchurch.com

Minister Bronwen Ann Smith nee Seymour was born on the 29th., October in the city of Freeport, Grand Bahama. After spending two years in Freeport, her family relocated to Nassau. She began her education in the public school system. However, she completed her junior and senior years at Saint Andrews Private School, where she completed her 0 Level studies. She then sought and obtained entrance in the Queen's College Methodist school, where she studied for her A Levels of the G.C.E. She was raised a Methodist, and felt that God was calling her to be a Minister. However, the Methodist Church did not believe in women preachers. She then pursued tertiary education at the College of the Bahamas, where she graduated in 1984 with a teacher's certificate (Distinction) in Junior and Secondary Education. After teaching for a few years, she received a full in service award to pursue a Bachelor's degree in science education from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus, Barbados. She graduated in 1989 with FIRST CLASS HONOURS. Minister Smith is presently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Religious Education from the Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary in Michigan. She is presently serving as Minister of Christian Education and Women's Affairs at the Mount Gilead Church, and ministers frequently as a speaker. She also serves as a Public High School Administrator having completed a Government operated Public School's Administrator's Course in 2001. She is President of the Women's Department of the Northern Bahamas District Convention of the Conference of the Bahamas Baptist Union of Churches.

EMAIL ADDRESS: Ministersmith@mountgileadunionbaptistchurch.com