Dr. Randy & Lynn Smith

Founder

Worldwide Ministry

Randy has personally ministered to teens in over 47 countries and trained National Youth Workers in more than 20 countries, starting his ministry to youth in 1970.

Family

Randy and Lynn have been married for over 54 years, having three sons and six grandchildren.

Called to Youth Ministry

Randy became a Christian at the age of 10 while attending Central Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas in1957. He surrendered to the call to ministry in 1966 while living in Tyler and attending Tyler Junior College studying for a career in nuclear engineering. After graduating from Bible college, he began his first full time youth ministry position in January 1970.

Randy served as a youth pastor in three churches before the Lord led him to found YMI – Firestone Road Baptist Church in North Canton, Ohio; Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia; and Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Read about the History of YMI)

Randy’s educational background includes:

Tyler Junior College, Tyler TX

  • Bob Jones University, Greenville SC
  • Graduate of Theology Degree, Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO
  • Bachelor of Science General Studies, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
  • Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies, Emphasis in Youth & Family Ministries, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, VA
  • Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Lexington Baptist College, Lexington, KY
  • Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Doctor of Missiology, Louisville, KY

Seminary and College Professor:

Randy has taught Local Church Youth Ministry Philosophy and Programming at Liberty University, and at Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary and Grace Bible College, all in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

He also taught Youth and Missions courses at Lexington Baptist College, Lexington Kentucky; Boyce College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, both in Louisville, Kentucky, where he served 12 years as the Associate Director of the International Center for Youth Ministry, and Associate Professor of Missions and Youth Ministry, teaching missions, evangelism, and youth ministry.

Randy has taught youth ministry at the undergraduate and graduate level for over 35 years, and has taught Youth Ministry courses as an adjunct professor in more than 17 seminaries around the world including Cuba, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ukraine, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Romania, China, Greece, Nepal and Myanmar.

Randy’s vision and heart’s desire is summed up in YMI’s Mission Statement:

Our MISSION is to EVANGELIZE and DISCIPLE the world’s youth
through the LOCAL CHURCH by “Training the Trainers” of INDIGENOUS Youth Leaders.

 

We ask you pray with  us concerning the following:

 

 

More trainers going to the field to train more teachers who can train more youth leaders.
Pray for the impact being made in communities as youth are reached with the Gospel and discipled.
Financial support enabling us to continue and expand programs around the world.