Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr. is an American pastor, gospel recording artist, author, and media producer serving as Senior Pastor/Teacher of The House of Hope, a multi-campus congregation spanning Atlanta, Macon, and West Pointe, Georgia. A native of Macon and the son of a longtime local pastor himself, Smith built one of the fastest-growing Black church movements in the Southeast while also carving out a national gospel music career, a media network, and a reputation as one of the most quoted preachers of his generation.
[IMAGE: E. Dewey Smith preaching at House of Hope Atlanta]
E. Dewey Smith at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr. |
| Born | June 30 (year not publicly disclosed), Macon, Georgia, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Andrea Fambro Smith (married 30+ years) |
| Children | Two sons: Kamari Elijah and Kylen Isaiah |
| Father | Pastor Eddie D. Smith Sr. (1946–2025), Macedonia Baptist Church, Macon |
| Fraternity | Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. |
| Education | |
| Bachelor’s | Morehouse College, Religion (magna cum laude) |
| Master’s | Amridge University (magna cum laude) |
| Doctorate | D.Min., United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Senior Pastor/Teacher |
| Church | The House of Hope: Atlanta, Macon, and West Pointe, Georgia |
| Membership | 10,000+ |
| Began preaching | Age 17; became pastor at 19 |
| Career | |
| Music | 2022 Stellar Award winner; debut album God Period named a top 2021 Billboard album |
| Media | Founder, Hope TV Network (300M+ views, 22 Telly Awards) |
| Books | A God Dream, Maximizing Your Membership |
Who Is Pastor E. Dewey Smith?
Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr. is the Senior Pastor/Teacher of The House of Hope, a single congregation spread across three campuses in Atlanta, Macon, and West Pointe, Georgia. Beyond the pulpit, he’s built a career as a Billboard-charting gospel artist, a Telly Award-winning media producer, and a nonprofit founder focused on human trafficking recovery and mental health support. His reach extends well past his own congregation through the Ambassadors Assembly, a global network of more than 300 pastors and leaders he founded and oversees.
How Old Is Pastor E. Dewey Smith Jr.?
Smith’s exact birth year has not been publicly confirmed by him or his ministry. He celebrates his birthday every June 30, and public estimates place him in his early-to-mid 50s as of 2026, based on the timeline of his ministry, which began when he started preaching at age 17 more than three decades ago. Without an official birth year on record, any specific age cited online should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed figure.
Where Is Pastor Dewey Smith From?
Smith is a proud native of Macon, Georgia, where he grew up in a family already rooted in pastoral ministry. His path from a Macon congregation to leading one of Georgia’s largest church movements has remained a consistent part of how he introduces himself to new audiences.
[IMAGE: Macon Georgia downtown]
Early Life and Family Background
E. Dewey Smith’s Father
Smith’s father, Pastor Eddie D. Smith Sr., spent 50 years as senior pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia, before retiring in 2022. The elder Smith accepted the pastorate in 1972, went on to serve on the Macon City Council from 1975 to 1978 and two terms on the Bibb County Board of Education, and became enough of a local institution that the city renamed a stretch of Second Street “Lead Servant Pastor Eddie D. Smith, Sr. Way” in his honor. He passed away in early 2025. Growing up as the son of a pastor with that level of community standing gave E. Dewey Smith an early, front-row view of what long-term pastoral leadership looks like.
Beginning Ministry as a Teenager
Smith commenced his preaching ministry at just 17 years old and became a pastor at 19, well before most of his peers had finished college. That early start placed him on a fast track that would eventually lead to building one of the more recognized Black church movements in the American Southeast.
Education
Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Morehouse College in Atlanta, graduating magna cum laude. He went on to complete a Master of Science degree at Amridge University, also with magna cum laude honors, before earning his Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Morehouse later inducted him into the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers as a Distinguished Preacher and honored him with a portrait in the college’s International Hall of Honor.
Is E. Dewey Smith in a Fraternity?
Yes. Smith is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., one of the historically Black fraternities founded at Howard University. The fraternity itself has publicly recognized him, inducting him into the Morehouse College International Hall of Honor and highlighting his ministry, music career, and community advocacy work as part of that honor.
Ministry Career and Professional Journey
Building The House of Hope
Smith leads The House of Hope as one church across three physical locations: Atlanta, Macon, and West Pointe, Georgia, with combined membership reported at more than 10,000. Under his leadership, the Atlanta campus grew to include a 60-acre, six-building property anchored by a 7,000-seat cathedral, a scale of physical growth matched by relatively few congregations in the region.
[IMAGE: House of Hope Atlanta cathedral campus]
Community and Advocacy Work
Smith has built his ministry around causes that extend well past Sunday services. In 2013, he launched Tabitha’s House, a nonprofit that provides housing, counseling, and support to young girls rescued from human trafficking, making his congregation one of the few in the country that owns dedicated housing for trafficking survivors. He also opened The Haven House, a fully licensed counseling center addressing mental health needs in the community, and has stayed active in prison reform and re-entry program work throughout his ministry.
Media and Music Career
In 2020, Smith launched the Hope TV Network, which has since drawn more than 300 million views and earned 22 Telly Awards. His gospel music career took off around the same period: his debut solo album, God Period, released through Pebble Street Records, was named one of Billboard’s top albums of 2021, and its lead single, “Your Presence Is a Gift,” reached number one on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart. He won a Stellar Award in 2022 and has picked up nominations for both the Dove Awards and the American Music Awards.
E. Dewey Smith Songs
Beyond “Your Presence Is a Gift,” Smith’s catalog includes “I Give You Jesus,” “For All You Done,” “Trust In The Lord,” “Have Thine Own Way,” “I Really Love the Lord,” and “As We Leave This Place,” along with newer releases like “Daddy Used to Sing,” a tribute recorded following his father’s passing.
Books
Smith has authored several books, including A God Dream and Maximizing Your Membership, both aimed at helping readers connect practical church life with deeper spiritual purpose.
Personal Life
Smith is married to Andrea Fambro Smith, whom he describes as his best friend of more than 30 years. The couple has two sons, Kamari Elijah and Kylen Isaiah. Smith has spoken publicly about the grief and depression he experienced following the loss of his mother, describing it as one of the hardest seasons of his life and one that shaped how he now approaches preaching, viewing himself as a messenger of hope first and a preacher second.
Criticism and Controversies
In 2018, church officials at The House of Hope Atlanta publicly apologized after refusing, in 2014, to dedicate the child of a member because she was married to another woman. Smith said he wasn’t personally aware of the decision when it happened, but took responsibility for it once he learned about it, appearing before his congregation alongside the woman to apologize directly.
Separately, Christian Post reported in 2019 that a paternity and child-support lawsuit had been filed in Henry County Superior Court in March 2018, identifying the parties involved only by initials. A source close to the case told the outlet the defendant was Pastor Smith and that he was reportedly current on child-support payments for a child born in 2017. Court records show the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the case in July 2018. Smith has not publicly confirmed the details of this report, and it should be understood as reported allegation rather than established fact. This matter is distinct from separate, more serious allegations reported around the same time involving a different individual, a church staffer accused of assault, which Smith and church leadership have also publicly addressed.
E. Dewey Smith’s Net Worth
No verified net worth figure has been published for Smith. Unofficial online estimates place his net worth around $1 million, but these figures come from general estimation sites rather than any confirmed financial disclosure, so they should be treated as rough guesses rather than fact.
Influence and Legacy
Smith has built a rare combination of ministry footprint: a fast-growing, multi-campus megachurch, a Billboard-charting gospel music career, a Telly Award-winning media network, and hands-on advocacy work in human trafficking recovery and mental health care. Through the Ambassadors Assembly, he also extends his influence to more than 300 pastors and leaders around the world, positioning him as both a local Georgia institution and a national voice in Black church leadership.
Interesting Facts About E. Dewey Smith
- He began preaching at 17 and became a pastor at 19, a strikingly young start even by megachurch standards.
- His father, Pastor Eddie D. Smith Sr., pastored the same Macon community for 50 years and had a street named after him.
- His debut solo album, God Period, was named one of Billboard’s top albums of 2021.
- He’s a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
- His House of Hope Atlanta campus includes a 7,000-seat cathedral on 60 acres.
E. Dewey Smith Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| ~1990s | Begins preaching ministry at age 17 |
| ~1990s | Becomes a pastor at age 19 |
| 2013 | Launches Tabitha’s House for human trafficking survivors |
| 2018 | Publicly apologizes for church’s 2014 refusal to dedicate a same-sex couple’s child |
| 2020 | Launches Hope TV Network |
| 2021 | Releases debut solo album God Period, named a top Billboard album of the year |
| 2022 | Wins a Stellar Award as a solo artist |
| 2025 | His father, Pastor Eddie D. Smith Sr., passes away |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pastor E. Dewey Smith?
He is the Senior Pastor/Teacher of The House of Hope, a multi-campus church in Atlanta, Macon, and West Pointe, Georgia, and a Billboard-charting gospel recording artist.
How old is Pastor E. Dewey Smith?
His exact age isn’t publicly confirmed. He celebrates his birthday on June 30, and estimates based on his 30-plus years in ministry place him in his early-to-mid 50s as of 2026.
Is E. Dewey Smith in a fraternity?
Yes, he is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
What is E. Dewey Smith’s net worth?
No confirmed net worth figure has been published. Unofficial estimates suggest roughly $1 million, but this is not verified.
Who is E. Dewey Smith’s father?
Pastor Eddie D. Smith Sr., who served as senior pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia, for 50 years before retiring in 2022 and passing away in 2025.
Is Pastor E. Dewey Smith married?
Yes, he is married to Andrea Fambro Smith. The couple has been together more than 30 years.
Does E. Dewey Smith have children?
Yes, he has two sons, Kamari Elijah and Kylen Isaiah.
What church does E. Dewey Smith pastor?
He leads The House of Hope, one congregation spread across three campuses in Atlanta, Macon, and West Pointe, Georgia.
