EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Donnie Smith, Executive Director. Contact him at his office at ahughes@churchofgod.org . Dr. Smith has served as a minister since February 1969. He has ministered in forty-eight states across the United States and in more than 70 countries around the world. Dr. Smith has served the church as an evangelist, pastor, state youth and Christian education director, state administrative bishop and as executive director of the division of care.
During his pastorate of thirteen years in Atlanta, Georgia his church grew from 100 to over 1,000 members. At that time, he also began five ethnic congregations with over 1,500 members. Dr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Lee University, a Master of Arts and Master of Divinity from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in Cross-Cultural Ministries from Columbia Theological Seminary. He is the author of “The Undiscovered Harvest, Ministering to America’s Immigrant People,” and served as the general editor of the 2008 publication, Manual de Cuiado Ministerial para la Iglesia Local, as well as contributing to numerous publications and periodicals. In November of 2009 he received commendation from the White House for his outstanding work among the Hispanic churches across America and for teaching Hispanic pastors on how to help the nation’s poor.
Dr. Smith and his wife Barbara have been married since December 1967. They have two sons (Shane & Casey) and are the proud
grandparents of five grandchildren.
EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR
Reverend Sandra Melcher, Executive Coordinator. Contact her office at spiritcarecenter@gmail.com.
Rev Melcher completed the Ministerial Programs of the Church of God. Their International Headquarters are in Cleveland, Tennessee. She received the Ministerial Exhorters License Certificate in August, 2005 and the Ordained Licensed Minister Certificate in August 2007.
Rev. Melcher and her husband, Mike, came to the Newport area from Mississippi in February 2010 to serve as the Student Pastor at the Newport Church of God. While serving in this ministry position, Mike went to be with the Lord at the early age of 48. He served as the maintenance director at the Iris B. Vest SpiritCare Center former known as Widows Ministry Center in Sevierville. Rev. Melcher continued in ministry at Newport Church and in January 2012 was asked to serve as the Administrative Pastor.
Then during the summer of 2013 Rev. Sandra was ask to serve as interim at the Indian Creek Church and then was voted in and
appointed as Lead Pastor.
In the fall of 2014, Rev. Melcher came on staff under the leadership of the Iris B Vest SpiritCare Center Director, Bishop Timothy and
Sharon Nuckles as the Administrative Assistant.
August 1, 2016, under the leadership of the Care Division Executive Director and Iris B Vest SpiritCare Center Executive Director
Dr. Donnie Smith, Rev. Melcher became the Executive Coordinator.
Before coming to Newport, Rev. Sandra was a full-time Student Pastor as well as volunteer in the Mississippi area.
Rev. Melcher has two children, Rev. Michael Melcher(wife Kristi) and Sheena Hogan (husband Christopher)and five grandchildren:
Carson, Reiley, Ann Lynn Holcomb, Krista Deberal, and Kaylee Naomi Hogan.
Rev Melcher completed the Ministerial Programs of the Church of God. Their International Headquarters are in Cleveland, Tennessee. She received the Ministerial Exhorters License Certificate in August, 2005 and the Ordained Licensed Minister Certificate in August 2007.
Rev. Melcher and her husband, Mike, came to the Newport area from Mississippi in February 2010 to serve as the Student Pastor at the Newport Church of God. While serving in this ministry position, Mike went to be with the Lord at the early age of 48. He served as the maintenance director at the Iris B. Vest SpiritCare Center former known as Widows Ministry Center in Sevierville. Rev. Melcher continued in ministry at Newport Church and in January 2012 was asked to serve as the Administrative Pastor.
Then during the summer of 2013 Rev. Sandra was ask to serve as interim at the Indian Creek Church and then was voted in and
appointed as Lead Pastor.
In the fall of 2014, Rev. Melcher came on staff under the leadership of the Iris B Vest SpiritCare Center Director, Bishop Timothy and
Sharon Nuckles as the Administrative Assistant.
August 1, 2016, under the leadership of the Care Division Executive Director and Iris B Vest SpiritCare Center Executive Director
Dr. Donnie Smith, Rev. Melcher became the Executive Coordinator.
Before coming to Newport, Rev. Sandra was a full-time Student Pastor as well as volunteer in the Mississippi area.
Rev. Melcher has two children, Rev. Michael Melcher(wife Kristi) and Sheena Hogan (husband Christopher)and five grandchildren:
Carson, Reiley, Ann Lynn Holcomb, Krista Deberal, and Kaylee Naomi Hogan.