Brad Smith, President, Bakke Graduate University
Obtaining a business management degree at Texas A&M University, Brad served as Student Body President. For two years he worked for U.S. Majority Leader Howard Baker and then served U.S. Senator John Tower as a legislative assistant focusing on foreign relations, agriculture and communications. Brad has also consulted for several national and statewide elections in Texas in the area of volunteer management, media and demographics.
From 1984 to 1988 Brad attended Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating with Master of Theology degree. In 1986 he co-founded the Center for Christian Leadership at Dallas Seminary where he served seven years developing spiritual formation and leadership programs. Brad also worked with the Center for Non-Profit Management, consulting with non-profit agencies in Dallas and has consulted with various Fortune 100 companies and national Christian ministries in the area of team building and leadership development.
In 1992 Brad became the founding pastor of Kessler Community Church in near downtown Dallas. After two years as an independent church plant, the membership was able to purchase and renovate a building and has continued to grow in serving a racially diverse, urban neighborhood.
In 1993 Brad joined Leadership Network, a private operating foundation focusing on church health and innovation, where he served in various roles, including President and CEO until 2002. Brad’s primary emphases at Leadership Network included overseeing a network of large churches and founding networks for (a) churches targeting postmodern cultures; (b) urban churches and churches focusing externally for missional purposes; (c) a training organization for church leaders called Leadership Training Network.
These networks served approximately 20,000 churches and organizations involving close to 40,000 individual leaders.
Brad began his Doctor of Ministry studies in June, 2002, became the Executive Director of International Urban Associates, working with Ray Bakke, in June, 2003, and then President of Bakke Graduate University of Ministry in October of 2003. In June, 2005, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Bakke Graduate University of Ministry.
Mr. Smith has co-authored two published books: (1) The Equipping Church Guidebook (Zondervan, 2001) and, (2) Joy at Work: Bible Study Companion (PVG, 2005).
