Minister Joyce Smith the first daughter of Bishop Thomas and Susan Weeks was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts where she completed her elementary and secondary education.

Joyce met, courted and married Leo Smith Jr. on September 2, 1967, and from their union, two wonderful children were born: Leo III and Susan Smith

Spiritually, at the age of 10, Joyce gave her heart to God, was baptized and received the Holy Spirit. Minister Smith's testimony is that she knows no other way but holiness. Growing up in a godly environment, under the tutelage of her parents, she learned how to be a servant of God. This training not only prepared her for her former role as the first lady of Bethlehem Community Church, but also a minister, and mission worker. In BCC she currently serves as the Church Administrator, Director of the Altar Ministry and Coordinator of the New Members Orientation classes.

After acknowledging her call to ministry in 1979, Minister Smith attended the Northeastern Bible College Lay Institute and completed the ministerial courses from the Aenon Bible College. She was ordained in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Inc. in August 1998, and presently, she is a licensed, ordained minister in PAW.

Academically, Minister Smith has a degree in Practical Nursing, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Psychology and a Master's degree in Social Work. She has also completed post-graduate studies in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Minister Smith has worked as a nurse, clinical therapist, hospital social worker, and as an adjunct professor and field advisor for several universities in New Jersey. Her greatest job, however, is to work for the Lord propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ through prophetic life-changing teaching.