Co-Founder & District Elder
Pastor John David Smith
Pastor John David Smith hails from Pendleton, South Carolina. He graduated from Pendleton High School (Pendleton, SC) and enlisted in the US Army Reserves upon graduation. While serving as an Army Reservist, he attended the University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC), where he majored in Music Education and Music Theory/Composition and later attended USC-Upstate, where he majored in Social Psychology. He has four stepchildren and two grandchildren.
Pastor David accepted God's call to preach in 2000, and has been in the pastorate since October 2001. His love for God's people and his desire to follow Christ, led him to resign from the denomination he loved. In order to fulfill God's calling upon his life, he was ordained District Elder, by the authority of the late General Bishop Wilbur Johnson, Jr., and then General Overseer, Dr. Armenia Johnson, and along with his former wife, Robin, founded In God's Hands Ministries, Inc. in January 2007.
Pastor David has taught private piano lessons, and for eighteen (18) years, took time each summer to teach Band Camps throughout South Carolina and North Carolina. He is a lifetime member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Professional Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc, serves on the board of two nonprofit organizations, a member of the Atlanta Black Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Government Contractors Association, a member of the National Small Business Association Leadership Council, a member of the American Legion (Post #224), a public speaker/mentor to youth groups and adults, a published poet, a distinguished member of the International Society of Poets, and an entrepreneur. His first book of poetry is entitled “The Presence of Knowing” and he now adds playwright to his list of distinctions, as his first Christian stage play entitled "Heaven Help Us!" was performed by T.G.I.F. (Thank God I'm Faithful) Productions in March 2019, He is currently working on three additional books, as well as, a second stage play, a Spoken Word CD and a gospel CD.
Pastor David is a Christ-centered family man, an entrepreneur and a community activist who continues to use his gifts for the betterment of God’s people.
Elder Robin LaVerne Smith hails from Pittsburgh, PA, but was raised here in South Carolina, and graduated from Greenwood High School (Greenwood, SC). She has four children: Amesha, Demetrius, Cala and Colson, and two grandchildren: Asia and Tahja.
Elder Robin received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with Honors from Walden University in Minneapolis, MN, and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. She was an assistant in Greenwood School District No. 50 for twelve (12) years, served as a Concurrent Planning Specialist for Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC for two years, served as the Region V Adoptions Supervisor at DSS in Laurens, SC for 1-1/2 years. She is the former County Director of the Greenwood County Department of Social Services.
Elder Robin was ordained an Evangelist of the gospel in August 1999, by the authority of Dr. Bishop P.E. Jennette, Chief Apostle and Overseer, Greater Emmanuel Pentecostal Church of God, Inc., and by the authority of Dr. Armenia Johnson, Pastor, Holy Temple - Heavenly Vision Ministries, Inc. After leaving Pittsburgh and returning to Greenwood, the desire to continue preaching the Lord's Gospel was paramount and led her to become part of another denomination where she faithfully served as an Evangelist. Being obedient to God's call, she resigned from the denomination which she had grown to love, and along with her former husband, David, they founded In God's Hands Ministries, Inc. in January 2007 and since then, has been appointed as the National Field Director for Heavenly Vision Ministries of Pittsburgh, PA.
Elder Robin loves children and reading, and believes in living by example. Her heart’s desire is to never be outside of the Will of God.
Evangelist Esther Sprowl Spearman is a graduate of Brewer High School. She attended Allen University where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion. She is the widow of the late retired Army Sergeant First Class, Robert Spearman, and they have one son: Shawnté.
Evangelist Esther answered God's call to preach in 2000 and was licensed in 2001. She faithfully served until the call of God upon her life and confirmation of the Holy Spirit led her to resign from her much loved denomination and join Pastors David and Robin Smith as an integral part of In God's Hands Ministries, Inc. Evangelist Spearman was licensed as an Evangelist of the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the authority of District Elder John David Smith and Evangelist Robin LaVerne Smith, Pastors, In God's Hands Ministries, Inc, in January 2007. By the request and presentation of her pastors, Evangelist Esther was Ordained on June 24, 2007 under the authority of General Overseer, Dr. Armenia Johnson, Holy Temple - Heavenly Vision Ministries, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA.
Evangelist Esther enjoys reading the Word of God, watching Christian Television and shopping. She desires to continuously be in the Will of God, to faithfully teach His word, and to always preach under the power of the Holy Spirit.
Apostle Armenia Johnson is a native of Pittsburgh, PA where she graduated from Schenley High School. She began her formal education in New York, attending the Church of God In Christ Jesus Bible College for five (5) years and continued to acquire certifications in specific fields of Juvenile Law and Psychology. She also attended New York Community College, Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh, Cornell University and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Apostle Johnson has served as an Associate Professor for Community College of Allegheny County and has conducted various workshops and seminars in various cities. In August 1997 she had bestowed upon her an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Theology. Dr. Johnson is a professional gospel singer, and has recorded and traveled extensively. She has been preaching the Word of God for more than 40 years and has participated in services with Juanita Bynum, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Pastor Shirley Caesar and many others.
Apostle Johnson was Pastor of Holy Temple of Heavenly Vision Ministries for 14 years. Heavenly Vision Ministries continues to grow through the sons and daughters of the ministry. She has over forty (40) years of combined social service experience, thirty (30) of which have been in Allegheny County. In 1988 Dr. Johnson was appointed as the State Director of the One Church One Child Initiative. She has served on many boards and committees throughout the State of Pennsylvania to include: Holy Family Institute, University of Pittsburgh Runaway and Homeless Youth Network, Mayor’s Youth Task Force and continues to be involved in support of families in crisis.
Apostle Johnson is the mother of four (4), one (1) daughter and three (3) sons, one (1) daughter-in-law, nine (9) grandchildren and seven (7) great grandchildren and spiritual sons and daughters. She currently serves as Chief Apostle and General overseer of Heavenly Vision Ministries. She currently serves as Assistant Pastor at Nazarene Baptist Church.
Elder Theresa D. Nelson, inspired by her upbringing and with adult understanding, embraced her power through the process of living holistically. Within the security of her immediate family and the natural way life was followed in their home, little did she know her formative years were going to play a large part in her adult life. Here the passion that burns in her heart was unknowingly nurtured.
Elder Theresa’s adult experiences lead her to understand the important role self-‐care plays in sustaining a life of intention, health, and happiness. As she became more knowledgeable through her dedicated pursuit of holistic things, her passion grew to be one of service for helping people learn more about the benefits of taking care of themselves. As a 30-‐year veteran teaching habits for self-‐care, she knows these benefits are paramount for the caregiver and the relief of the stressful moments we all experience at some point in life.
Elder Theresa is the President and CEO of Self-‐Care Restorative Solutions, LLC, based in Gahanna, Ohio. She is a Self-‐Care Specialist™, Self-‐Care Coach™ and Speaker. Theresa is the author of four books, is working on her fifth and has recorded a number of CDs that guide caregivers through techniques for relaxation.
Elder Theresa presents keynotes, lunch-‐n-‐learns, webinars, workshops, and on panels for a variety of organizations. Theresa is founder of Maximize Your Self-‐Care™, a program that coaches’ clients on how to decrease guilt, stress, frustration, and increase their energy in record time…guaranteed. She also conducts Nurture Your Soul™ Caregivers Workshops founded to create a much-‐needed awareness concerning the lack of self-‐care for caregivers and to raise the importance of self-‐care for this segment of the population.