New Covenant Baptist Church

Apostle A. Norris Smith is the presiding prelate of Refreshing Spring Ministries and the Pastor of the New Covenant Baptist Church, which is located in Southeast Washington, District of Columbia, where he has faithfully served his congregation for more than thirty-three years. 

Bishop Smith is a native of the state of North Carolina, where he received his public education and attended Queen Street Baptist Church in Beaufort, North Carolina.

After moving to Washington, D.C., in 1968, he began his career with the DC Government Department of Public Works, where he was employed for 21 years as a safety inspector. Bishop Smith joined, Reverend Richard Carroll and Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 1969, where he served as a deacon, choir member and usher. He accepted his call to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ Thanksgiving night, 1978 and on February 11, 1979, Bishop preached his first public message.

In 1980, Bishop Smith was led to join Galilee Baptist Church in Southeast Washington, D.C., under the astute leadership of the late Reverend Dr. Eugene Weathers. He was appointed as assistant to the Pastor and ordained to the gospel ministry in 1984 (Baptist Minister’s Conference of D.C. and Vicinity). After five years of service at Galilee, Bishop Smith received the call to become Pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church and accepted on March 1, 1985.

After the passing of Rev. Dr. Eugene Weathers, Bishop Smith and family joined Guiding Light Ministries under the watch of Bishop Willie Lewis, Sr. and Elder Edith Lewis. In 2002, he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Southern Baptist Church Bible Institute, an affiliate of Faith Christian University and Schools. He was consecrated to the office of Bishop-by-Bishop Willie L. Lewis, Sr., and Guiding Light Ministries in June 2002. Bishop organized Refreshing Spring Ministries and the Fellowship of Churches in 2006, with nine pastors in attendance.

Bishop Smith currently serves as Presiding Prelate and Overseer of:

Pastor Sherman C. Hayes and Liberty Empowerment Baptist Church, Colonial Beach, VA. 

  Pastor Holley Maxwell and Saved By Grace Ministries, District Heights, MD

Apostle John H. Bibbens and, Zion Church of Lottsburg, Lottsburg, VA

Pastor Lois Battle and Forever Faithful Ministries, Suitland, MD

Pastor Loraine Williams and The Love of God Baptist Church Capitol Heights, MD

Pastor Mildred Chatmon and Power of Prayer Ministries District Heights, MD

Bishop Smith has also birthed
Pastor Dwight Bynum and Shekinah Glory Deliverance Church, Ft. Washington, Md.

Reverend Dr. Deborah Durham and Let’s R.O.C.K. Ministries, Suitland, MD

Reverend Dr. Andrea Whitaker and Refuge Praise Temple, Suitland, MD

Pastor Sharon Y.B. Thompson and Holy City of Jerusalem Temple of God, Lanham, MD

Pastor Janice Swiney and New Branch of Zion, Capital Heights, MD

Pastor Mildred Chatmon and All Praise, Suitland, MD

August 12, 2012, Bishop Smith was consecrated to the Office of Apostle by Chief Consecrator Apostle Floyd Nelson, Co-Consecrators Nehemiah Rhinehart, Apostle Douglas Williams and the College of Bishops.

Apostle Smith holds an Honorary Doctors degree from Berean Theological Seminary; he also is a member of the Hamptons’ Ministers Conference, Hampton, VA and the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops, Cleveland, Ohio.

Bishop Smith is married to Elder Donna M. Smith (Pastor of Women). They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Gloria (Devin), Karen (Andre), Kristina and Kelly and four grandchildren: Mackenzie, Brooke, Devyn, Jonathan Davis, Jr., a godson, Antwan A. Peters, a goddaughter, Kamonii A. Blunt and many other godchildren.