Dr. Shelton Smith

About Dr. Shelton Smith

President + Editor

of the Sword of the Lord

Dr. Smith was born in Kentucky on December 4, 1942. He was saved in September 1951 and, as a fourteen-year-old high school freshman, announced his call to the ministry on January 6, 1957.

His pastoral ministry spanned thirty-four years, including seventeen years at the Church of the Open Door, an independent Baptist church in Westminster, Maryland.

Dr. Smith and his wife, Betty, were married in 1961. They have two children, Davina and Marlon, six grandchildren, Jessica, Nicole, Susanna, Caroline, Jonathan and Daniel. They also have three great-grandchildren, Quincey, Thomas and Melody.

Itinerary

The War in Iran

BY DR. SHELTON SMITH // MARCH 11, 2026 As the Middle East turmoil continues, the war waged by the United States is a topic of much discussion. I have been repeatedly asked as to how I feel about it. 1. We can never be happy about war. No matter how necessary it may be, it is not a happy occasion. 2. In the case of Iran, the United States did not start this conflict. Iran has been killing and maiming thousands of Americans and thousands of Israelis for the past 47 years. 3.

Dr. Shelton Smith

Mar 112 min read

No Plan B

We are all familiar with the idea that if things do not work out as we originally planned, then we go to Plan B. Plan B is our backup when Plan A goes awry. Plan B is not what we hoped to do, but when Plan A fails, we have another way to accomplish our goals. Plan B is not our first choice, but it is the choice we make when our first choice is not available. In matters of schedule, finances and any number of other things, we like having a Plan B, and frankly, we recommend tha

theswordofthelord

Feb 234 min read

Recent Blog Posts

Experience + Credentials

Became President & Editor of the Sword of the Lord in April, 1995
Preacher at various national conferences for many years
International tour host, Europe & Middle East
Conducts Sword of the Lord Conferences, Bible conferences and revival meetings in 60-70 cities annually
Pastor of the Church of the Open Door, Westminster, Maryland (1978 – 1995). The church grew under his leadership from 175 in attendance to an average of 1,650 per Sunday with approximately 3,500 members. Hundreds were saved and baptized each year.
Writer
Bachelor of Arts, History and Secondary Education (Union University: 1966)
Master of Theology, Systematic Theology (Luther Rice University, 1972, summa cum laude)
Doctor of Ministry, Practical Theology, (Luther Rice University, 1976, summa cum laude)
Doctor of Theology, (Midwestern Baptist College & Seminary, 2003, magna cum laude)