Ever since a young age, Charlie Smith said he always knew he was meant to preach the gospel, and now God had led him to his latest mission: pastoring at the Indian Bayou Community Church.

The Indian Bayou Community Church is located in Rayne, but since the start of the New Year, Smith has been leading his new church as the head pastor. Smith began that current role on Jan. 7, 2024. The church is made up of about 75 to 100 members, a small community with a big heart for learning and growing.

Smith will be a part of that moving forward.

For Smith, it was an easy decision for him, since he has been in ministry for over 17 years in various roles. Smith is there to see and help lead the residents of Rayne.

“They are wanting to grow,” Smith said. “They want a kids’ ministry, they want a youth ministry. I have been a youth pastor, I have been a children’s director. They want to grow. And I am here to help with that.”

At the Indian Bayou Community Church, Smith will counsel people for weddings, funerals as well as preaching the Sunday service. Eventually, as part of his duties, he will help with a youth group, training a young man or woman to help lead them, allowing them to grow in their faith and role with the church, too.

“It’s discipleship, just like in the Bible,” Smith said. ”I am training the next leaders, and they are going to train the next leaders. That is a big part of the process and what I am going to be doing.”

Following a six-month trial, Smith will fully take over as their pastor. During this time and before it, Smith was filling in as a pastor for the church. When the offer was presented to himself to be the head pastor, he prayed about it and knew that this is what God was calling him to do.

“The first Sunday I came here, they were real welcoming,” Smith said. “It’s a good place, the people were warm and happy to see me. Knowing that they want to grow and see God move excited me.”

He and his family will now make roots in Rayne, moving from his hometown of Loreauville. He initially said he never thought he would be a lead pastor, but after lots of thoughts and prayers, he said he felt it was time.

God has helped him to lead the way for the Indian Bayou Community Church. Obedience and availability has led him to where he currently is, for however long that may be.

“I feel called to share the gospel,” Smith said. “Wherever God calls me, that is where I am going to go.”

Through his time with his faith, getting to know people, their stories, it has allowed Smith to grow in his faith on his own. It’s those moments they have together, where they grow with each other, become better people for it. And thanks to God, allowing them to learn by Him.

“When you are walking God’s will and you are pursuing Him, you notice lessons everywhere,” Smith said. “You notice moments everywhere that God is going to speak to you. And that has helped me to be invoiced with people.”

As he takes the stand at Indian Bayou Community Church this Sunday and for the foreseeable future, Smith said he can’t wait to teach the kingdom of God. He said his goal is to make Heaven crowded.

“Being a pastor, when I get to Heaven, not only do I want to hear, ‘Well done my faithful servant,’I want to be able to answer the question, ‘What did you do with my flock?’” Smith said. “I want to tell the Lord, I pointed them to Him, I pointed them to the Son.”