Welcoming Rev. Dr. Abe Smith to HPUMC

I am thrilled to announce that Rev. Dr. Abe Smith will join Highland Park United Methodist Church as the Executive Minister of Traditional Worship and Program Ministries.

Dr. Smith has over 30 years of ministry experience that includes youth and adult ministry, preaching, church and non-profit consulting, and has served as chaplain to area police and fire departments. He brings a wealth of knowledge to HPUMC, and holds a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He also has a master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Harvard University.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Education from Baylor University in 1988, Abe served as the Director of Youth Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Four years later, he moved to Texas to serve at Christ United Methodist Church in Plano and as a church planting pastor for a satellite of First United Methodist Church in Allen in 2011. In 2019, he accepted his current appointment at First United Methodist Church of McKinney.

Abe is passionate about discipleship and spiritual formation, leadership and organizational well-being in a ministry setting. He will be instrumental in helping our staff facilitate weekly worship, strategic planning, and implementing programs that align with HPUMC's mission and vision.

Abe and his wife, Amy, have three daughters in college and a son in high school. I’ve known Abe for nearly two decades, and I can’t wait to welcome him to the HPUMC family.

Blessings,