From the Track to the Pulpit: Meet Pastor Ron Smith

Every month, we have the privilege of highlighting a local pastor who is faithfully serving our community—and this month’s story is one you won’t want to miss.

Our May Pastor of the Month is Pastor Ron Smith of First Baptist Palatka, and his journey is anything but ordinary.

Before stepping into ministry, Pastor Ron’s life looked very different. He spent years in the world of racing—fast cars, high energy, and a completely different pace of life. But as he shares in our recent conversation, God had a bigger plan in mind. What began as a chance to be on the road traveling to race cars, eventually gave way to a calling that would change the direction of his life entirely. Today, Pastor Ron is leading First Baptist Palatka with a heart for people and a deep commitment to sharing the Gospel and seeing our community united.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Pastor Ron for our latest Pastor of the Month episode, and I think you’ll really enjoy hearing his story in his own words. What stood out most to me was his heart—for people, for the church, and for seeing lives changed through the message of Jesus.

That’s exactly why we love sharing this feature. It gives us the chance to introduce you to the pastors who are serving right here in our community—men and women who are faithfully leading, loving, and pointing people to Christ every single day, and we’re thankful to Ultimate Mobile Detail for sponsoring it.

Watch the full conversation here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtywsMxyyIQ