Sustained by Faith, Strengthened for Service

When high school sweethearts Vayon and Russell Smith married in 1964, they decided early on to serve the Lord. After serving as lay people in Louisiana churches, Russell felt called to ministry in 1978 during a mission trip to Montana.

"Montana is a far cry from Louisiana," recalls Vayon, "but the Lord sustained me through it all." Over the next 40 years, the Smiths served churches across Montana. With minimal pastoral salaries, both worked additional jobs to support their three children.

"There were no extras for stashing away for retirement," says Vayon. "We focused on ministry and what the Lord wanted us to do."

When they retired in 2017 and moved back to Louisiana, Russell became ill. With little retirement income and mounting medical bills, they needed help. Vayon heard about Mission:Dignity^® on The Mike Huckabee Show and applied for assistance.

When Russell passed in 2019 after 54 years of marriage, Vayon was devastated but sustained by her anchor verse: For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT).