Canaan United Methodist Church

Dr. James P. Smith, an elder in the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, serves as senior pastor of Canaan and Sand Hill United Methodist Churches in Ridgeville, South Carolina, and equips his congregation to be in ministry to the community. He models this himself as he currently serves on the Kershaw School Board of Trustees to which he was elected chair in January 2018. 

Before coming to Canaan and Sand Hill,  he served the St. Paul UMC in Camden and  prior to that, the Bowman area as the pastor of the Pineville-St. Stephens Charge; served the East Camden Charge, where he helped to build a vibrant youth ministry that led the charge to grow in their faith by teaching, preaching, having retreats, and attending the conference sponsored spiritual life retreats; mentored young men, worked with incarcerated men and women, helped to prevent teen pregnancy, and with strengthening families. He also served on the board of directors for the United Way of Kershaw County; and was instrumental in the establishment of the early childhood program, Kershaw County First Steps, on which he served faithfully for four years.

Leadership Coach with “Lead Like Jesus.” The Mission of LLJ: To glorify God by Inspiring and equipping people to lead like Jesus. 100 Nations, 1000 Coaches and 200,000 Equipped. “Jesus was the perfect leader, and LLJ philosophy centers around learning and implementing his priorities.

He is also active in the South Carolina Conference serving on the Conference Committee on Congregational Development and as a Forward Leader to help churches assess future potential for ministry. Dr. Smith has more than 25 years of experience in leadership and leadership development. 

His skills in leadership training have reached from local churches in South Carolina to churches in Zimbabwe and Kenya, Africa where Dr. Smith was a part of a team sent to empower local pastors with leadership skills to lead their churches.  Dr. Smith was also blessed to put hammer to nail as he engaged in the enlarging and expansion of a church in Costa Rica with the South Carolina Volunteers in Missions also known as UMVIM.                          
Dr. Smith served in the South Carolina National Guard before transferring to the United States Army Reserve where he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant and received his endorsement as Chaplain.  

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Coker College, Hartsville, South Carolina; an MDiv. from Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, South Carolina; and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.

Recently Dr. Smith became a published author when he released his book, “Healing a Broken Nation: Teaching and Preaching Forgiveness and Reconciliation,”  which speaks to healing and wholeness for individuals, families, congregations, and communities.  This work is very near and dear to his heart and is a focus of his ministry

Dr. Smith is married to The Reverend Millie Nelson Smith. 

His favorite scripture is from James chapter 1, verse 19:  “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”  He exemplifies this in his life and ministry.  

Meet Our Pastor - The Reverend Dr. James P. Smith