Youth Camp in Jamaica - 2015

Mary Smith is the wife of UCG Pastor Chuck Smith. She acts as his “administrative assistant” as he pastors the Ft. Lauderdale, FL congregation and the seven congregations in the Caribbean.

Mary was born and raised in the Church, attending the Birmingham, AL congregation for most of her life before marrying Chuck and moving to Tennessee. Mary has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, and worked for her alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University until relocating to Ft. Lauderdale with her husband. She still works remotely on a part-time basis for the university.

Mary has worked numerous youth camps throughout the years, and has also taught Sabbath school. She considers our young people to be most precious, and enjoys one-on-one interaction with them. She finds it very rewarding to watch those she has served in camp grow in to wonderful young adults with a heart to serve God. 

Chuck was born in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1959.  His family moved to Milton, Tennessee in 1966.  Chuck has been a member of God’s Church since 1980.  He has owned and operated a construction company in Tennessee for 20 years.  He began serving congregations throughout Tennessee and in the Caribbean on a volunteer basis around 1999.   In 2012, Chuck moved to south Florida and now serves full-time in south Florida, the Caribbean, and Guyana, South America.

David Rains was born in Sublimity, Oregon and attended the Salem, Oregon church area for three years. He then moved to Virginia and then to Massachusetts. He is now a baptized member of the Worcester, Ma church area. He loves working with the youth in the church teaching them about God and helping them build a closer, personal relationship with Him. He was able to serve at a church camp in Brazil and also in Jamaica. He enjoys the piano and the great outdoors. David is the oldest of six children and is a senior in College studying Biology.

Jason Stewart is a northeast Ohio native and began attending the Church as a pre-teen. Jason attended Ambassador Bible College after high school and returned home to serve in his local and surrounding congregations. Jason currently lives in Knoxville, TN with his lovely wife, Sierra.

Sierra Stewart is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, where she grew up in God's truth. She earned her bachelors degree in psychology in 2013. After undergrad, Sierra attended ABC and married her wonderful husband Jason. Sierra works as a psychiatric case manager for the severely mentally ill and moonlights as her husband's sous chef, for fun. Sierra enjoys learning, teaching, and trying new things.

Sarah is from QLD Australia, while originally from the Toowoomba congregation she now attends both Toowoomba and Brisbane congregation, after moving to Brisbane for work. Growing up an outdoor enthusiast with a love of nature and animals, lead her to peruse Bachelor of Science double major in Ecology and Geographical Science from University of Queensland, graduating in 2012. She spent a year traveling, causally working as a kitchen hand/waitress and helping out at her parents sustainable hobby farm before being offered an internship as research assistant in the Healthy Ecosystems and Environmental Monitoring team within the Institute of Future Environments, at the Queensland University of Technology. In her free time she enjoys being active, participating in numerous sporting activities, dancing, cooking and baking, painting, music, photography, and enjoying the little things in life.

Rachel lives in Brisbane, Queensland and attends the local UCG congregation. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Primary Education, majoring in Educational Psychology. These studies combine her two passions of working with children and serving others. Growing up in a large family of eight children on a small farm, Rachel learnt the value of teamwork, discipline and flexibility. She was home schooled during her high school years and worked in the family arborist business before commencing her studies. Some of her interests include spending time with family and friends, getting involved in the church community, being outdoors and keeping active. Rachel is excited to be part of this project and to be meeting the brethren overseas.