By Sharon Mager
HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. — Ron Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church of Havre De Grace, Md., graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) with a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2017, but alas, he didn’t get a chance to “walk” to receive his diploma. Instead, he opened it in the mail while in the hospital. Smith developed pancreatitis and was hospitalized from Nov. 29, 2017 to Dec 28, 2017, followed by several months of recovery, missing the graduation, his birthday, his son’s birthday and the Christmas festivities.
Pastor Ron Smith was overwhelmed with joy as he celebrated his “graduation” with his family and his church. (left to right—Charles Harvey, SEBTS Professor of Christian Education; Director of Doctor of Ministry Studies, Ron Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church of Havre de Grace; and Randy Millwood BCM/D Church Services Consultant and SEBTS Doctor of Ministry field mentor and Adjunct Professor, Faculty Chair and Coordinator of Doctor of Ministry Studies for Mid-Atlantic Cohorts.
Smith’s daughter, Tiffany Simmons, had the idea of hosting a surprise “graduation service” for her dad at the church, and she and her mom, Fern, began brainstorming. Simmons contacted Danielle Bauer, the church’s administrative assistant, for help and at the church’s annual Thanksgiving service on Nov. 18, 2018, his family and friends treated their beloved pastor to a surprise combination graduation and anniversary celebration to honor Smith’s 20 years of ministry at the church.
Simmons laughs as she describes how amazing Bauer was in getting her father to robe up without knowing what was going to happen. Smith thought he was walking into a Thanksgiving program, along with others, giving thanks for different seasons of life, including graduation.
“She had him completely convinced,” Simmons said. “He was at the back of the church, waiting for the graduation music for the cue. When he came in everyone stood up and started clapping. It was great. He was totally caught off guard.”
In the front of the church stood Charles Harvey, Professor of Christian Education; Director of Doctor of Ministry Studies, SEBTS. and Randy Millwood, BCM/D Church Services Consultant and SEBTS Doctor of Ministry field mentor and Adjunct Professor, Faculty Chair, and Coordinator of Doctor of Ministry Studies for Mid-Atlantic Cohorts.
“Dr. Harvey and I ‘robed up’ and were the presenters for the evening — including formally ‘hooding’ Ron (academic language for placing the doctoral hood over his head and on the doctoral robe – very ‘pomp and circumstance’) and presenting the diploma,” said Millwood. “Ron absolutely beamed through the evening.”
Smith was overwhelmed with gratitude towards Harvey, who paid the cost to fly down for the evening, and to Millwood for his investment in Smith’s life, and for arranging for Harvey’s visit.
“Randy helped me with church revitalization, he was my friend, he was my professor and my advisor. I love the guy so much. He’s such an incredible person,” Smith said.
Smith said the whole experience was amazing. “It would have been nice to make graduation, but this was so much better! I had my church around me and my family.
“My parents were there, my kids and my granddaughter,” he said. Faye, Smith’s 19-month granddaughter, was squirming in her seat wanting to get to her grandfather in the front. Smith told Simmons, Faye’s mom, to let her go and the little girl came running up for Smith to hold her.
In addition to the graduation service, the church deacons presented Smith with a plaque for his 20 years of service to the church.