Meet Our Team

Dr. Eric Smith is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Hope City Church in SW Florida. He brings over twenty years of ministry and leadership experience, with the majority of those as a Lead Pastor. He was a founder of Vertical Church, a church plant in Mississippi that became one of the fastest-growing churches in the State and grew to four campuses. During that same time period, he was a founder of the 242 Network. The 242 Network is a church-planting network that assesses, trains, and coaches church planters. After seven years leading Vertical Church and the 242 Network Director, Eric took on the task of revitalizing Vaughn Forest Church in Montgomery, AL, a church that had been declining for almost nine consecutive years. Under his leadership and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit, the church saw the momentum change and within a year and a half was named to Outreach Magazine’s “100 Fastest Growing Churches in America”. Eric has also worked as a consultant serving churches, church plants, and businesses around the country. He holds a doctorate from Liberty University (D.Min.) as well as an (M.A. & M.Div.). He is married to Krystal, they live in Naples, FL with their son Weathers.