Today I sat down with Smith Hopkins. Smith and I first met in 2010 at Harding School of Theology in Memphis. He was and is a serious Bible student and I have always appreciated how he presents his ideas and handles himself even when faced with disagreement. Early in 2021 Smith stepped away from his preaching position at a suburban church in Memphis in order to begin the challenging but necessary work of planing a church closer to the heart of urban Memphis. I caught up with Smith to ask him about his upcoming church plant, and Smith’s excitement and passion for planting healthy churches was infectious. I hope you enjoy the conversation and find yourself inspired to step out in faith where God may be calling you.
Smith mentioned research by church planter Stan Granberg, which you can find here: https://digitalarchives.apu.edu/gcrj/vol10/iss1/17/ (Stan E. Granberg, “A Case Study of Growth and Decline: The Churches of Christ, 2006-2016” Great Commission Research Journal [2018] 10.1: 90-113).
If you’re interested in learning about the church plant Smith is leading or if you would like to partner with them or pray for them, you can find more information here: https://www.oikosmemphis.org
