Building a Stronger Community

Byron’s role as Senior Chaplain goes beyond the conventional responsibilities. He plans to spend more time with our staff, offering pastoral care and general support. 

His goal is to continue the important work already being done throughout our campuses – spreading the word of Jesus to children and families. Byron is working to foster an intentional daily spiritual emphasis, as well as offering pastoral support to both our residents and staff. With his guidance, the chaplaincy program will see a stronger sense of Christian community throughout the agency.

“The aim is to provide assistance to our staff who face the unique challenges of working with our residents from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds,” Smith said. “We will focus on providing spiritual care to residents and support to our dedicated staff while we hope to equip them with resources they need to minister effectively to our clients.”

Originally from Soperton, Georgia, Byron grew up in Texas in a home that was no stranger to alcoholism and the dysfunctions that accompanied it. He felt the call to ministry as a teenager and later attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and Dallas Baptist University. 

Byron’s background uniquely qualifies him for his new role as he brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to the position of Senior Chaplain. Smith came to the Children’s Home as the Administrator of the Meansville Campus in 2016 and has been in that position for the last seven years. 

His over thirty years of full-time ministry experience includes his service with Buckner Children’s Home in Dallas, Texas and the Methodist Home in Macon, Georgia. He has also served as an Associational Missionary and Church Planter with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. 

Byron is not only a seasoned chaplain but also an avid traveler with a passion for local and international missions. He has undertaken more than thirty mission trips to ten different countries that included the experience of proclaiming the Gospel on a radio station in Uganda that reaches over 750,000 people.

Byron and his wife Kimberely have been married for thirty-two years and their

love for travel extends to his family, with his three sons. Ethan in Austin, Texas, Jack in Boston, and Cameron in New York. Therefore, travel is a natural part of life. 

Envisioning the success of the Chaplaincy program, Smith says he hopes to see a strong spiritual foundation for our residents and staff, a significant increase in professions of faith, baptisms, and participation in Bible studies. 

Additionally, he is looking forward to establishing more partnerships with churches, boosting volunteerism among our campuses, and making our community outreach even more impactful. 

“Our staff face daily issues with both work and family concerns,” Byron explained. “I would hope that they will feel spiritual encouragement as they are uplifted in daily prayer and when “life” happens they realize that they are supported by the Senior Chaplain.”