7 Questions with Cathie Smith

Cathie Smith

Missions Initiatives Team

This week we feature Cathie Smith, serving on the Missions Initiatives Team, overseeing the Women’s Ministry Network as a relatively new face (circa 2021) for CSBC. She is celebrating her first anniversary this month! She has accomplished a great deal to further develop and equip women across California in roles serving the Kingdom. Cathie admits it’s an evolving role but is striving to make an impact in our diverse state by finding unique ways to engage, encourage and equip.

What book are you currently reading?

Usually, I’m reading several at one time. At the moment, there are just two. I think one of them was actually mentioned a few weeks back by another member of the team, "Respectable Sins" by Jerry Bridges. The second book is "How to Thrive as a Pastors Wife" by Christine Hoover.

What biblical character (other than Jesus) would you want to meet, and why?

That’s a really good question! There are a lot of biblical characters I’d want to meet. You know I read these each week and I think of all the ways I want to answer the question, and now it's my turn, and I feel like I’m hearing the question for the first time. I’ll go with Elijah. I really like him and can identify with all of the ups and downs he encountered.

Toilet paper, under or over?

Definitely over.

Who has been the most influential person in your Christian life, and why?

There are a lot. I, unfortunately, wouldn’t be able to narrow it down to just one, maybe three. So, I will give those three special people as my answer. The first is Grant Johns, he was my missions pastor where I attended seminary. He was very much like a second father to me. He believed that God could use me and was just overall very encouraging about all I could accomplish. The second, Christy Fonvielle, has been a spiritual life mentor to me for over 20 years. She has taught me and strengthened me in my prayer. Finally, Kathy Ward. She is truly an amazing person that has been in my life for over 10 years standing firm in the midst of life’s storms, and God’s truth.

What is one piece of advice you would want to give your younger self if you could?

Trust God in leading your life even when it doesn’t make sense. It is really easy to get distracted by all of the voices. The small voice of truth is the way, even if other people are not in agreement. If I can quote a verse in my answer…Jeremiah 17:5-8. Basically, when God is big in our lives and people are small, we will have victory over Satan.

If you could choose one place in the world to visit where would it be and why?

I love to travel. I think I’d like to visit Antarctica. My personal goal is to go to all seven continents; I’m currently only missing that one.

When you think through all the names of Christ, what name resonates with you right now, and why?

El Roi – The God who sees me. I have a calling for the marginalized. Jesus had a calling for the invisible/unseen and that resonates with me and what I want to accomplish.