John Winston Smith Jr. graduated from Weldon High School in Weldon, NC, in 1986. In the same year, he went to North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where he majored in Political Science and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991.

While at NCCU, Pastor Smith met his soulmate, Tonya Rozier Smith. They married in 1992 and shortly after were blessed with two beautiful children, Darius and Danyelle.

He also has a wonderful daughter-in-law, Summer. Pastor Smith continued his higher education, where he obtained a Master's in Public Administration from the same NCCU in 2012.

Then, in 2016, he did a Master's in Social Work from NC State University. Pastor Smith joined the United States Army in 1990 and completed his service in the Army Reserves for eight years.

Pastor Smith has dedicated his life to the Lord while he served in the military. He was licensed to preach the gospel in 1995 and later ordained through the Neuse River Ministerial Alliance in 2001 at Little Zion Baptist Church.

For many years, Pastor Smith and First Lady Tonya have given themselves to a ministry to spread the gospel through the Faith Vision Community Church. He is also licensed as a clinical social worker at the Durham, NC, location of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Pastor Smith believes that God's word is "Spirit and Life," as stated in St. John 6:63, and he is dedicated to preaching and teaching the word as led by the Spirit.