Pastor Jerome Smith Sr. was born January of 1972 in Chicago, Illinois. He is the grandson of the late Mother Elizabeth Smith. Pastor Smith received a GED at the age of 26, and earned his bachelors degree in finance in 2011 from Woodfield University,
Pastor Smith accepted Christ as his personal Savior in 1997, after God spared his life from a suicide attempt by shooting himself at point blank range with a 45 semi automatic handgun, in which the gun fired the bullet struck him and never pierced his body. the following Sunday through Supt. Herbert L Robinson and the Good Samaritan COGIC Pastor Smith dedicated his life to Christ and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He immediately began working in Good Samaritan Church of God in Christ as a Deacon in Training, was soon after appointed as church trustee and in 2002 he was ordained a Deacon in this church.
In 2006 Pastor Smith acknowledged his call to the ministry and in 2007 he became a Licensed Minister. He was ordained an Elder in August of 2010 by Bishop J. C. Williams of Wisconsin 3rd Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
January 1, 2014 Pastor Smith started Greater Praise COGIC in the lower level of his home with only three people in attendance, his wife first lady Markeitha Smith his oldest daughter sister Lakeitha cook-Jaster and himself, within three weeks the home could not hold the church simply was not enough space. Greater Praise was blessed to have acquired a edifice before January but there space was under lease with another church at the time of closing and therefore was not able to move in until march 2014, nevertheless March 2, 2014 Greater Praise had their initial service at the permanent location of 5422 W. Center street with more than 100 in attendance. This location is where Pastor Smith dedicated his life to Christ back in 1997. Leading to this time Pastor Smith has held many positions. Among them was:
Trustee, Boys League President, Pastor’s Aide President, Men Department President, Chairman of GSAC, Sunday School Teacher, Property Manager, Finance Committee Chair, District Public Relations, District Purity, District Missions President, Jurisdictional Missions Department Chairman, as well as Jurisdictional Home and Foreign Missions President. Pastor Jerome Smith Sr. has been married to Lady Markeitha Lynn Smith since 1990 they have three biological children Sister Lakeitha Jaster, Sister Joyce Murphy, and Brother Jerome Smith jr. other children to include Donna, and Denise Price,