Administrative Leadership:

Dr. Donnie Smith, Executive Director
Dr. Donnie W. Smith serves as the executive director of Church of God Care Ministries. He has ministered in various capacities for the past 38 years. He has served as evangelist, pastor, state youth director, state overseer, and has distinguished himself as a Bible teacher and speaker in numerous states and 26 countries around the world. Dr. Smith received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lee University, a Master of Arts and Master of Divinity from Church of God Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary. He is the author of The Undiscovered Harvest, Ministering to America’s Immigrant People. He brings a wealth of ministerial experience and a passion for hurting people to the helm of Church of God Care Ministries.

Dr. John Sweet, Program Director
John Sweet, DMin. now serves as the Program Director for SMCH. He and his wife Jo Ann were foster parents for eleven years. Dr. Sweet has also been involved in recruiting and training foster parents. The Sweet's pastored the Green Meadow Church of God in Alcoa, TN for twenty years. They developed a foster care ministry out of that church. Eventually that program moved to the Smoky Mountain Children's Home. He received his Doctorate from the Church of God Theological Seminary where his dissertation and project focused on Care Ministry for the 21^st Century. He has served as a pastor, foster parent, as a law enforcement chaplain, as a crisis intervention specialist with children and families, and teaches classes in the sociology department of Lee University. He also serves as Field Coordinator for the Global Child Network providing consultation, training and staff development for orphanages internationally. Dr. Sweet brings a wide array of experience and an unmistakable passion for hurting children his position at COGSMCH.

Reverend Timothy M. Nuckles, Assistant Program Director
Reverend Timothy M. Nuckles has been appointed to the Home for Children as the Assistant Program Director. Tim serves the Home for Children in the area of campus development, special projects, and chaplain to the house parents and staff. Reverend Nuckles and his wife Sharon have two sons of whom they are very proud. They have pastored for the past thirty years, most recently at the Riveroak Church of God in Danville, Virginia. Tim brings to the campus a rich background in development and building experience from leading work groups to rebuild churches and parsonages in conjunction with God’s Pit Crew.

Reverend Nuckles has been privileged to serve as Pastor, Chaplain to the Blue Knights, Virginia State Council Member, a member of the Benevolence Board of Directors, and a consultant with Invision Ministries. He brings a variety of ministerial experience to the campus.

Dr. Coleman Peacock, Director of Communications/PR
Dr. Coleman Peacock serves SMCH as Director of Communications/Public Relations, and Education. Dr. Peacock is a credentialed Ordained Bishop in the Church of God, where he has served in a variety of positions, including Youth Pastor, Pastor, State YCE Board Member, and State Youth and Christian Education Director. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Chelsea University from which he received his Doctor of Philosophy in Public Relations. Coming to the Department of Benevolence in 1989, Dr. Peacock brought with him an extensive experience in church ministry and public education, during which time he was honored as Georgia’s Industrial Education Teacher of the Year and Vocational Educator of the Year. Since 1989 he has served the Division of Care and Benevolence and SMCH as Director of Communications and Public Relations. Under his leadership as Director of Education, Alpha Educational Learning Center, a Category VII private school for transient students with academic needs, is being established on the SMCH campus. Dr. Peacock and his wife, Bonnie, who is also employed at SMCH, have served as both adoptive and foster parents.

Dr. Peacock is an accomplished photographer, graphic artist and writer. He has served as Editor of Love Reaching Magazine, From the Home Front newspaper column, and many articles. In 2005 his poem Peaceful Dream was published by the International Library of Poetry in the book A Surrender to the Moon. In February of 2005, in recognition of his poem Wonder of a Waterfall, he was presented the Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Award by the International Society of Poets and recognized as a Poet of Merit. Dr. Peacock has served SMCH for two decades.

M. Portman, LCSW Clinical Consultant
Michelle Portman serves as the Clinical Director for the COGSMCH. She has served at-risk children and youth as a foster parent, houseparent, clinical therapist, and Clinical Director. She has been involved in training director care staff, foster parents, and direct therapy. She previously served the campus part-time as a counselor/life coach to houseparents.
Michelle is a graduate of University of Tennessee College of Social Work (MSSW). The Clinical Team in charged with the day to day administration of direct care workers and the care of our children in all programs. The team provides supervision and 24/7 crisis support for our houseparents and foster parents. The team develops individual life plans for each child and monitors their progress socially, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and academically. Michelle is married to Craig, and they have twin boys.

Reverend Don Baker, Program Coordinator
Reverend Don Baker has served the Church of God as Pastor, Associate Pastor, Evangelist, and now as the Program Coordinator for Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. He has been involved in working with at risk children for fourteen years and is an adoptive parent. Presently both he and his wife Joy still keep foster children in their home. Reverend Baker has a Masters Degree in Psychology, and he has worked as a counselor and consultant to other private agencies. He also developed an emergency respite program through his local church.

Although he has been a Minister for almost twenty years, he can relate to many of the personal issues SMCH children experience. His own personal testimony is one of deliverance from drugs and alcohol and the lifestyle that is associated with addiction. He served for many years as Associate Pastor of the Green Meadow Church of God under Dr. John Sweet. Both he and Dr. Sweet began their work with foster children through their ministry at Green Meadow. Reverend Baker brings a deep personal commitment and experience to his position at SMCH.