Randall Murphree

AFA Journal editor

June-July 2000 – David Smith hops out of his pickup truck, glad to be back at his secluded home ten miles west of McComb (in Pike County, Mississippi), where his medical practice and AFA affiliate offices are located. The spacious lawns, flower gardens, and lake soothe his spirit.

Samson, the Smiths’ four-year-old German shepherd, bounds across the yard to greet his master and inspect the guests cowering behind him. Once we get Samson’s okay, Smith escorts Marvin Sanders (American Family Radio general manager) and me inside to meet his wife Autumn.

Smith has had a busy week, and Autumn has just returned from a three-day business trip, but one would think they entertained overnight guests every night of the week. Like old friends, they share the details of their lives and talk excitedly about what God has done for them, and what He is doing through Christians United (CU), the citizen activist organization Smith founded in late 1992. In June, 1994, CU affiliated with AFA.

Miracle medical clinic
The crowning achievement of the affiliate to date is the Joseph B. Smith Memorial Medical Clinic, founded in 1996 to serve the area’s indigent with free or low-cost medical care. Dr. Smith’s collection of news stories chronicles the clinic’s story. The framed clippings lie stacked in a corner of his study, behind a door with a plaque inscribed “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15.” Smith believes that to serve is the proactive way to take a stand.

Smith tells of an “overwhelming spiritual experience” in 1996 when he felt a sense of direction from the Lord to start such a clinic in McComb, his hometown of 14,000 people. (A quarter of a million people live within a 30-mile radius.) His father-in-law helped him look for a building, but they were finding nothing until Smith felt the Lord directing them to go to St. Andrews United Methodist Church.

In obedience, he went immediately, with no appointment. He was greeted by Earnestine Varnado, church secretary and parish nurse. The two had never met, but Mrs. Varnado had been praying for a free clinic to serve the needy in McComb. Smith, though still in his medical residency a hundred miles away, was then certain of God’s call to start a clinic. And he has never been one to wait around to answer God.

“I’ve been blessed,” says Dr. Smith, “and I want to give back to the community. I believe this is my calling in life.”

Varnado recalls that she received a note from Smith a few days later. Then in the doctor’s typical whirlwind style, it was only a few more days before the two of them were offering their first free health clinic at St. Andrews. Varnado is still nursing director for the clinic. She and Smith both serve without pay.

Numerous other health professionals have also volunteered at different times during the clinic’s short history. Dr. Chris Woodworth, a McComb surgeon, currently offers his services when needed. “I see David Smith as a Christian, pursuing not just his own agenda,” says Woodworth. “He is committed to this community.”

The clinic is named to honor Dr. Smith’s father, who died at age 34 in a home electrical accident. David was nine, the oldest of three sons. His father’s reputation for serving others and being a good citizen continues to be a guiding principle for David. “The clinic,” David says, “is just one way we as Christians united together can show, and not just tell, the community that Jesus Christ loves them.”

Porn non-gratis in Pike
Smith first entered his hometown political arena while he was still an undergraduate student. In June, 1993, a McComb Enterprise-Journal headline proclaimed, “Student wants city to fight porn films.” His concern at that time included porn magazines and videos, but he was also anticipating the possibility of other sexually oriented businesses (SOBs) trying to open in the city. After Smith’s complaint, Mayor Ronnie Wilkinson appointed three city selectmen to review city and state porn laws.

Smith was right in expecting more graphic pornography to try to invade the city in various venues. In 1997, he and about 30 others picketed the Camellia Four theaters in McComb when the movie In and Out was on the screen. The highly-promoted Hollywood favorite featured a kiss between two homosexual characters.

In early 1998, the city received an inquiry from a woman who wanted to open a strip club. “I couldn’t believe that people would stand by while strip joints invaded our town,” Smith says. He was the first to address the issue, encouraging city fathers to take steps to prevent such establishments from locating in McComb. By May, the city had adopted an ordinance that prohibits sale or possession of alcohol at any strip club.

By October, 1999, Pike County had complemented the McComb ordinance with its own stronger regulation. Supervisors adopted an ordinance that strengthened their control over all SOBs. “It’s as restrictive as any ordinance in the United States,” says board attorney Wayne Dowdy. SOBs may not locate within 1,500 feet of a church, school, residential area, park, day care center, family-oriented business or another SOB. Nor are they allowed to sell alcohol. Thus far, the ordinance has successfully discouraged any SOB from locating there.

Local press coverage almost always refers to CUAFA’s work with respect because Dr. Smith has become a major player on the local political scene. Smith is convinced that it’s because of the positive things AFA is doing in the community that he has the ear of city fathers. “People listen to us,” he says humbly. “I think we’ve earned a lot of respect.”

Christian radio for area
In 1995, CUAFA introduced another positive influence into the area when the affiliate sponsored American Family Radio in McComb. At first a satellator station only, it was upgraded to a full power station, WAQL 90.5 FM, in October, 1998.

One popular feature of WAQL is Healing Power Live, a locally produced 30-minute show each Thursday morning at 11:30. The program explores medical problems and health care from a Biblical perspective. Who hosts the program? Dr. David Smith, of course. His co-host is Dr. Jerry Smith (no relation, they both insist). The latter Dr. Smith is a Ph.D. and pastor of First Baptist Church in Summit, another Pike County town a few miles down the road. His profession and theological training compliment David’s background in medicine.

The Drs. Smith sometimes have guests to address specific health problems, treatments and more. And they’re not afraid to tackle the tough questions that arise in the mix of medicine, faith, and ethics. David Smith sees Biblical truth as the unifying factor that makes one’s life complete – with a healthy body and a pure heart.

In May, Dr. Smith moved into his new facility half-way between his home and McComb. Like Smith’s home, his new Pinnacle Medical Clinic sits in a serene country setting. In addition to his private practice, the Joseph Smith Memorial Clinic, WAQL radio and CUAFA offices will locate under the same roof. It will be a place of ministry, a place where David Smith takes his stand by serving others.