Preston Smith
Youth Pastor
Preston joined TCLP as Youth Pastor in December 2025 after serving on staff at CrossPoint Church as the Associate Student Minister for the previous 2 and a half years.
Preston grew up in Hoover, AL where he graduated from Hoover High School in 2014. The summer before college in 2014, Preston sensed God calling him into vocational ministry after dreaming of being a veterinarian his entire life. Preston switched his plans from pre-vet studies and received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Auburn University in 2018 with the plan to attend seminary afterward. He worked as a public accountant for two years until he started his seminary studies at Beeson Divinity School in 2020. During seminary, Preston loved working as the student ministry intern at Shades Crest Baptist Church in Hoover where God taught him the necessity of investing in the next generation for Jesus. Preston graduated from Beeson with a Master of Divinity in 2023.
Preston and Leah were married in July 2020. Leah graduated from Auburn University with her bachelor’s in biomedical sciences in 2019 and from Samford University with her master’s in Physician Assistant studies in 2022. Leah has been working as a Physician Assistant in the Birmingham area since 2023.
Preston and Leah have one daughter, Myrtie, who was born in December 2025. Preston loves hanging out with Leah, Myrtie, and their two dogs, Milo and Polly. Other than investing in, discipling, and hanging out with students, he also loves spending time with family and friends, playing golf, watching movies, and reading books outside when the weather is nice.
