Gary Smith, Senior Pastor
Gary has been serving as the Senior Pastor of FBC St. Marys since October 2023. Before stepping into this role, he was the Associate Pastor of Worship Ministries at FBC St. Marys starting in April 2022. Gary and his wife, Sharon, moved to St. Marys from Chatsworth, GA, where he faithfully served as the Associate Pastor at FBC Chatsworth for 12 years. His ministry experience also includes serving churches in Jacksonville, FL, and Lawtey, FL.
Over the years, Gary has held several leadership positions, including serving as Vice-President of the Florida Baptist Convention Church Music Conference, President of the 300-voice FBCJAX Chancel Choir, and singing with the FBC Quartet.
As a young man, Gary felt God’s call to ministry and has served in various capacities, both as a layman and vocationally. He is deeply committed to helping others worship God and grow in spirit and truth.
Gary holds a BBA in Finance from the University of North Florida and an MA in Worship Studies from Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary. He and Sharon have two daughters and four granddaughters, all residing in the South Georgia and North Florida area. Sharon is a dedicated special education teacher and enjoys being Gigi to her grands and a loving wife to her husband.
You can contact Pastor Gary at Gary@FBCStMarys.com.
Pastor Gary and Sharon Smith
Tim Griffis, Youth Ministry Director
I grew up in a wonderful Christian home—the youngest of six. We had the most wild and wonderful childhood. Our Mother and Father poured the love of Jesus into us moment by moment. The truth of God’s word we heard filled our hearts and changed us. The Love of God we saw lived out by our Mother and Father confirmed God’s word is true.
At 13 I was led to Christ by my dear Father, changed forever because of God’s Love and Grace.
I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi College with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. It was at Mississippi College I met my lovely wife Natasha. We have been married for 37 years. God has blessed us with 3 children Caitlin, Zac, and Luke, and six beautiful grandchildren.
I worked as an account manager for Buckman Laboratories for 35 years. My time there was rewarding and challenging. I even have my name etched in granite in front of the home office.
That granite will fade and crumble. What I accomplished with Buckman will not long be remembered. However, my entire adult life I have had a passion to point young people to Jesus. Lives changed because of God’s Love will never crumble or fade, and I am so honored that First Baptist Church has asked me to serve, always with the desire to point young hearts to Jesus!
Tim can be reached by email at TDGriffis@comcast.net.
Tim and Tash Griffis
Ashli Shaw, Children's Ministry Director
I am honored to be chosen as your Children’s Director and understand that this is a calling placed upon my life by God that I have answered with an astounding “Yes!”
I have 3 goals that I am praying for, for the children of Saint Marys First Baptist and of Saint Marys as a community. I ask that you will join me in praying as we see growth, gleaning and grasping. I want to see growth not only in our Children’s Ministry in a numerical amount, but in the understanding of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit just as the disciples did. I want to see our children glean the truth just as Ruth did in the fields of Boaz while they are hungry for the Word of God. I want to see them grasp and hold on to what they have learned so when they are old it will not depart from them. When they are on their own and the enemy comes to kill and destroy they are prepared to fight and know how to defend themselves.
I look forward to seeing God’s hand and His plan fold out in Saint Marys First Baptist Children’s Ministry and how He will use each and every one of us as He unites the Body of Christ.
Ashli can be reached by email at Childrens.Director@FBCStMarys.com.
Ashli Shaw, husband Eric and children Walt, Clark, Maxine, Mamie Grace and Royce
Robin Bostic, Ministry Assistant
I am married to the love of my life, Mike Bostic and I am a Mother of three, Joshua, Sarah and Nathaniel, Grammie to 5, Aiden, Kaylan and Harper Vanderburg, and Morghan and Garrett Bostic and a puppy mommy to a French Bulldog named Peaches.
I gave my heart to Jesus in February of 2006, and I have not been the same since that day. I have been here at First Baptist for 14 years as Ministry Assistant. I thank God every day for the blessings that He has given me and my family, too many to mention and His grace overwhelms me every day. My life verse is Galatians 2:20.
Robin can be reached by email at Robin@FBCStMarys.com.
Robin Bostic