Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Ph.D. Dr. Smith (Doc) was born in Wisconsin. He was unaware of his need for Jesus Christ as personal savior until high school. As a sophomore, his history teacher shared The Four Spiritual Laws with him. There in that teacher’s office, Doc prayed to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and put Christ on the Throne of his life as Lord. Changes happened to Doc quickly. Soon his high school Spanish teacher, asked him to help begin a teen Bible study. Soon 40-50 teens met for study weekly. At his teacher’s church, Pastor Myron Higby challenged him to consider full-time Christian service. After a trip to the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Illinois and Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois, he began to pray over God’s will for his life. God called him to Moody and Trinity. It was at Moody that Matthew surrendered to the call of God for ministry in a chapel service. Marrying the joy of his eyes, Melodee Joy, the new couple moved to Southern California where he served as a volunteer youth pastor, as a part-time youth pastor and as a missionary pastor where they served for many years. Melodee was promoted to Glory on November 11, 2017 after a battle with cancer, where she received her reward for a life and ministry well lived. Before she left for Heaven she commanded Doc: “You will get married again!” Before the Lord, Doc poured out his grief and his surrender on a daily basis. Seeking God’s will for the “rest of his life” he asked God, “What do you want me to do with the rest of my life? It’s ALL yours! NO reservations. Whatever. Wherever. Whenever. You own ALL of me!” God started with three goals: 1) Write books! 2) Travel! 3) Find a wife! Asking God a very similar question to each life goal, Doc asked, “What books do you want me to write? Where do you want me to travel to? Whom do you want me to marry? God gave Doc a list of books he’s working on right now! Global and national trips have ensured as God has led. And God gave Doc a description of the woman he was to marry (Kate)! As Doc poured his heart out to God each and and opened God’s Word, the description turned into what he called, “The List!” From Los Angeles to Manila to the West, across the USA, to Israel, India, and finally to Uganda – Doc searched for God’s will for his life partner. In the timing of God, he supernaturally led Doc to Kate … in Kampala, Uganda! You’ll have to ask Him the story of their supernatural connection and courtship! As God began to move earnestly in 2019 towards His will, Doc flew to Uganda for ministry and to propose to Kate! She accepted! In speaking of Kate recently, Doc said: Faith is evident … Period. It is that simple! But when faith grows great, it’s like a flood over all in its presence! • Faith chooses to believe when there is no visible reason to believe … As Kate has done for years in prayer waiting for her husband to find her! • Faith acts without natural reasons … As Kate has done time and again by choosing a life of Holiness when those around her chose lives of immorality! • Faith speaks what can’t be seen … As Kate speaks about God’s expansion, mission, and victory as she prays and when she talks about our future! • Faith steps forward when resources and plans don’t exist … As Kate did recently with a wedding in the church and brought everything to fruition beautifully! • Faith knows when God’s speaking … When others can’t hear His voice because of fear and timidity, Kate stands and boldly proclaims His words and rallies others to follow God’s leading! The wedding was in Kampala, Uganda on August 10, 2019, just 8 days after Doc’s birthday and 2 days after Kate’s! Doc has pastored churches in California, Iowa, and Florida. These opportunities allowed him to expand God’s Kingdom and reach out with mission teams throughout the United States, Mexico, France and Israel. He has served as adjunct faculty for California Pacific School of Theology, California Baptist University in the School of Christian Ministries,   Colorado Christian University, Bible Believers Christian College and Seminary, the University of South Los Angeles (formerly Life University) and currently is on the staff at Emmanuel Bible College and Seminary.

Doc’s habit of reading the Bible and prayer has been a source of great strength and understanding when it comes to leadership development. He reads the Bible at least once per year cover to cover. He enjoys an intimate, spiritual walk with God, enjoying hundreds of answers to prayer every quarter, and hundreds of new insights monthly from God’s Word (having read it cover-to-cover some 45 times since 1993). It is his habit to label and file each insight topically for future retrieval for messages. He is currently writing several books from his topics observations of the Bible that are a direct result of God’s intimate work during his devotional time …
  • Smith’s Topical Observations from the Modern English Version – An index of observations (arranged both topically and by Bible book and chapter) from Genesis to Revelation from the MEV. 
  • Smith’s Topical Observations from the Christian Standard Bible – An index of observations (arranged both topically and by Bible book and chapter) from Genesis to Revelation from the CSB. 
  • Smith’s Topical Observations from the English Standard Version – An index of observations (arranged both topically and by Bible book and chapter) from Genesis to Revelation from the ESV. 
  • Smith’s Topical Observations from the New Living Translation – An index of observations (arranged both topically and by Bible book and chapter) from Genesis to Revelation from the NLT. 

Books by Doc

Two Daily Devotionals:

  • In His Image, dedicated to the truth that God created you to love you covering the entire Bible.
  • In His Presence, which explores the invitation that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure. This devotional covers every verse in the Psalms.

Two Daily Devotional Tools:

  • The Word in Worship Daily Devotional Journal, combines a Personal Prayer Journal and a Bible Highlights Reading Log to help organize and encourage you to enter into God’s presence daily. The
  • Personal Prayer Journal, features eight major sections: Each day we pray for the urgent things in our lives. Then, organizing our prayer needs into a daily log allows us to intercede for things like personal and family needs, friends both inside and outside the church, church leaders, missionaries and political leaders. 

Two books on Evangelism and Discipleship:

  • Growing Missional Leaders provides Biblical strategies to reach your world for Christ. It is an excellent small group resource.  
  • Gathering Missional Leaders explores the elements necessary to build the habitat that will attract a strong and vibrant coalition of men and women who want to reach their world in their generation! With that in mind, this book is set up as a guided study.

One Book on Grief

  • Entering Into Death’s Shadow Valley – A journey through grief and grieving from Doc’s experience losing his wife, Melodee, to cancer. This book shares the common pitfalls, struggles, hopes and new life that is possible through the Valley of Shadow of Death.

Books Dr. Smith is currently working on:

  • Your Travel Guide to the Old Testament – A beginners guide to the Old Testament.
  • Your Travel Guide to the New Testament – A beginners guide to the New Testament.
  • Praying Wisdom Into Our Sons – A monthly prayer guide for parents and guardians from the book of Proverbs.
  • 1st Steps Discipleship – A book to help New Believers in their 1st days in the faith to become a true follower of King Jesus.

Books Dr. Smith has consulted on: Transformational Church: Creating a New Scorecard for Congregations by Thom Rainer, Ed Stetzer and John Lescault The Midrash Key: Pinpointing the Old Testament Texts from Which Jesus Preached by Mr. Edward J Vasicek  

You can follow Doc on …
Twitter: drmattphd
Facebook: Matthew Lee Smith
Instagram: eaglesinleadership
His Website: https://eaglesinleadership.org