GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Prior to becoming a Christian, Laura Smith-Haughton was an 'altar pest', meaning she would be at the altar whenever the opportunity presented itself. These days, however, Smith-Haughton is now a 'pest' in the area of women's ministry, as she is heavily involved in that area in her church.

Smith-Haughton is currently the president of the Ladies Ministry at the Tweedside New Testament Church of God in Clarendon, as well as the wife of the pastor for that congregation.

Smith-Haughton, who is from Walders Run in Clarendon, gave her heart to the Lord, when she was 15 years old, while attending a crusade on April 19, 1991.

"We had a crusade at the church and I was always going to church and being an altar pest. I always love the church and love to attend Sunday school," she said.

The Ladies Ministry president said prior to her conversion, she was a Sunday-school teacher. She said this was due mainly to her regular attendance at church services and Sunday school.

She recalled being in the crusade and hearing the preacher making an altar call. She said the preacher prophesied that something was about to happen that night and there was no rush for the service to be over.

"I was sitting down there and was saying to myself that if I give my heart to the Lord now, would I be able to continue serving the Lord for the next 50 years down the road? It so happened that I became nervous and weak and could not resist the altar call; and from that very night I started my walk with the Lord," explained Smith-Haughton.

fasting and prayer

She pointed out that fasting and prayer are foundations for all Christians; and that because she laid her Christian foundation with the two, she has been able to do well for the Lord as she walks as a Christian. She added that her feasting on the word of God daily has even made her walk with her Maker even more exciting.

She said, as a Christian and the wife of a pastor, her walk as she serves God is even more challenging. The wife of Pastor Gregory Haughton added that to lead is very difficult. She said as a pastor's wife, there are times when she will hear things being said about her husband and she is tempted to respond. But her love for God and responsibility as a senior member of the church forces her to respond in a loving way.

"I really love the Lord, and I love people. I am a person who gets along well with people, and so people love me. As it relates to the congregation, for them to love my husband they have to love me, and so I put myself in the position where they can love me," explained Smith-Haughton.

She wants women not only to be women and live like women should, but that they should seek to be women of God. She is also encouraging women not to allow anyone to discriminate against who they are. Smith-Haughton, who had a sword of wisdom for the church, said the church needs to love God with all its heart, soul, mind and strength, because it will be worth it after all.

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