Mayor: Smith hopes his win inspires others

the high school’s Student Government Association.

“Within that organization were advocates, not only for the school, but the community as well,” Smith said. He spent four years in the SGA and saw the impact he and other members made on campus, and in the community.

As Smith approached graduation and discussed future plans with his classmates, he decided that he wanted to become mayor of Earle.

“When I said I said I wanted to be mayor, I didn’t know what time, or the timeframe, I was going to be able to do that. I went home, again I thought about it, I prayed about it, and I said God, I want you to do it now,” he said.

“I went forward, and when I announced my campaign my senior year, I was running my campaign and going to school at the same time,” Smith said.

“When I announced my campaign to the people of Earle, Arkansas, I had some that took me as a joke,” he said. “I had to prove to them that I wanted this position. So I went around the state of Arkansas shadowing different mayors, in other states via Zoom, to see what the dayto- day operation was as a mayor.”

Smith’s initiative and desire for positive change was noticed by many voters, even as others were caught up on the fact that he was so young. Smith relied on the word of God to guide him, citing scripture from the Book of Habakkuk that stayed with him through his political journey:

“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved; And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it; For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

“I ran the campaign, I had some obstacles, I had some challenges, but I didn’t give up,” Smith said. “I’m praying and I’m hoping that this historical win can kind of bridge the gap between the communities and the young people, because it’s time for us as young people to step up to the plate, get in those positions and make a difference.”

Smith hopes his win will inspire other young Americans to get involved in government, as a testament to how big a difference one person can make if they focus their goals and work steadily toward a purpose.

“Not only in Earle, not only in Malvern, not only in the municipality communities, it’s time for us to step up, even though people are going to say something, that’s what they do,” he said.

“As people, we got to have hope, and we got to keep believing in better days,” Smith said.

“It’s just a blessing to be standing before you all today to kind of help, you know, bridge this gap between our young people and our smaller communities,” Smith said, noting that small rural communities face a problem because kids graduate and leave, but he hopes his win shows them that they can bring about real improvements close to home if they pour their effort into their communities.

“It’s got to change. It’s up to to us as young people to step up to the plate, to follow leaders in the state of Arkansas to make a difference,” he said.

Before closing, Bishop Rudolph chose a brief message surrounding the known variations of love, which was a pleasant end cap to the blessed morning fellowship. Rudolph explained that love is typically corralled into three definitions that include Eros, which is a typical romantic love; Philia, which could be described as brotherly or sisterly love; and Agape, which is the term for God’s all- encompassing, unconditional, perfect love.

The Book of 1st John, 4: 16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

“Our love can be phony sometimes, our love can be fickle sometimes, but this morning I want to talk about the love of God,” Rudolph said.

“Love Agape is the love of God,” he said. “Each one of you can say that I don’t deserve the love that God has given me.”

Rudolph pointed out that Jesus did not seek the righteous but rather wanted to spend his time and give love to the sinners, the broken, and the lost. His love may be hard to understand, but it’s easy to accept, and His example is one we should all follow better.

“Each and every one of us, we have experienced the love of God, each and every day of our life,” Rudolph said. God’s love is not based on conditions or favors or deals, His love is granted to all, regardless, and man’s capacity pales by comparison.

“It doesn’t matter what you do,” Rudolph said. “If you accept Him, he will continue to love on you.” Rudolph stressed that Love Agape, or God’s unmerited grace and undeserved affection, is a love we are all lucky to have, and one we should try to emulate as we walk this Earthly realm and try to heal from the wounds of the past.

Smith’s visit to Calvary COGIC was a perfect way for the community to celebrate Black History Month while also highlighting a promising future. Smith hopes to do help usher in many needed improvements for his district, such as assisting public safety and emergency response preparedness, improving city streets and local transportation, and helping with downtown beautification and economic development.