Pastoral Candidate for Smithville First Christian Church
On December 16th, the board approved proceeding forward with inviting Rev. Laura Guy as a Pastoral Candidate for Smithville First Christian Church. Rev. Laura Guy will serve as our guest minister on Sunday, December 29, Sunday, January 5, and Sunday, January 12, as part of the interview process.
As is customary in the Disciples tradition, Rev. Guy will meet with the congregation, share her vision, and preach during upcoming worship services. Following this, church members will have the opportunity to vote on extending the formal call to Rev. Guy. This transparent and communal process reflects the shared commitment of our congregation to live out our faith and mission with unity and purpose.
Biography
Rev. Laura Guy brings a wealth of experience, passion, and faith to this role. A second-career pastor, Rev. Guy initially served as a third-grade teacher in Olathe schools before following God’s call to ministry. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology and was ordained in 2005.
While in seminary, she founded Living Water Christian Church in Parkville and led the congregation from 2004 to 2021. Most recently, she served as the Great Plains Congregational Engagement Director for DART, a faith-based organizing nonprofit.
In addition to her ministry work, Rev. Guy has a deep commitment to community service. She has volunteered for over 12 years with Ten Thousand Villages (now Crafted) in Overland Park and served on the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education from 2018 to 2022.
Rev. Guy lives in Overland Park with her husband, Clif Guy, who has been the IT Lead Director at Church of the Resurrection for 21 years. Together, they share a vibrant family life with their two grown children and two grandchildren who live nearby.
Ministry runs deep in the Guy family. Rev. Guy is part of a lineage of Disciples of Christ pastors spanning three generations. Her daughter, Beth Guy, serves as the Communications Director for Global Ministries and has a rich background in mission work.
We are excited to welcome Rev. Laura Guy to Smithville and invite you to join us in praying for this next chapter in our church’s life and ministry. Please see the details below about opportunities to meet Rev. Laura Guy and plan to attend one of these services.
Let us give thanks for God’s faithfulness as we prepare for this exciting new season in our church!