Church Staff

CRISTINA SMITH

Cristina has been known to the church family since she was an infant due to her missionary parents, Robert & Alice Thompson, being supported by First Baptist Church for many years. Her dual citizenship with the USA & Brazil has afforded her a love for missions — stateside & overseas — and conversing fluently in English and Portuguese. 

Cristina graduated from Long Prairie, MN high school in 1988 and God led her to Calvary Bible College & Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nouthetic (Biblical) Counseling & Church Music in May 1992, and married Duane Smith in December of the same year.

After a few years, the Lord led the couple to their first Pastorate position in Marshfield, WI, where the couple served as Assistant Pastor & wife for 8.5 years. God blessed the Smiths with three sons in Marshfield: Nathan, Michael, and Jacob.

In January 2007, the Smiths moved to Waukon, IA to assume the role of Senior Pastor & wife, and they have been with us since. In 2010, Cristina was hired as Worship Coordinator, and she is responsible for the planning of services year-round. Additionally, in 2013, she was hired as the Administrative Assistant. She served as an officer on the mission board that her parents founded, Brazil Inland Mission, Inc., from 2004-2019 as Secretary and was the Home-District Secretary to her missionary brother, David Thompson, from 2003 - present. Together, the Smiths have organized and planned eight mission trips to Brazil. 

Cristina serves as a prayer chapter leader for Iowa's CWA - Concerned Women for America and is also the Encourage-A-Legislator Coordinator. Additionally, she is involved in the community, women's ministries, speaker, counselor, youth leader, musician, playwright, wife and mother.