OUR LEAD PASTOR

DAN & CONNIE SMITH

Pastor Dan Smith is the Senior Pastor at UNITED Church in Gallatin, TN.  He grew up in a pastor’s home in Mansfield, Ohio.   After graduating high school, he served in the military and then earned his Bachelor’s degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University studying Music and Christian Education. He furthered his education through Global University.

Pastor Dan and his wife, Connie, moved to the middle Tennessee area in 1992.  In 1998, he became a full-time pastor at Cornerstone Church in Madison, TN where he served dual roles as the Worship Pastor and Christian Education Pastor for eight years.

In January, 2006, he planted a church in White House, Tennessee.  Within three years, the church grew to a strong congregation of over 1,000.  In April 2009, Pastor Dan was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, which led to a downward spiral of resigning his pastoral position, and starting on a path of seeking recovery and restoration.  He found hope and sobriety through his faith in Jesus Christ, realizing that His mercy is much bigger than sin.  As an in-patient at The Place of Hope in Columbia, Tennessee, he began rebuilding his life.   After returning home, he continued recovery through a local 12 step program and through the unwavering support of his wife Connie and his two daughters Mekenna and Moriah.  He understands the importance of submission to a strong support system including accountability partners.

In April 2012, Pastor Dan and Connie, planted UNITED Church.  Because of the very public struggles he has faced in his life, Pastor Dan is dedicated to, and has built UNITED on the philosophy that there are no circumstances in life that can rob us of the hope that Christ offers. The DNA of UNITED is a message to everyone that God is a God of restoration and second chances!