Previous Next

Darryl Lamar Smith was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from Kirkman High School in 1983 and served in the U.S. Army for three years. God saved him in 1991. He was licensed to preach in 1992 and ordained in 1994.Darryl has been on staff with Cru since 1996, working with high school students at Howard High School in Chattanooga. He served as Chattanooga’s city director for six years and as the southeast regional director for three.In the summer of 2006, Cru chose Darryl to be the executive director for the high school ministry, where he served until he was chosen as the director of Oneness in Diversity in 2017.Darryl is married to Gwen, and they have three adult children. 

Gwen was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN.  She is a graduate of Covenant College where she has a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management.  She joined staff with Cru in 1996 with a heart for young people, and for the first six years of ministry she and her husband, Darryl, worked in the field reaching and discipling students at Howard High School in Chattanooga.In 2006, Cru moved their family to the National Headquarters in Orlando, Florida where Darryl served as the National Director of the High School Ministry and Gwen served as the Event Coordinator for the Campus Fund Development team while also serving on the Executive Team.In 2017, Cru announced the creation of a new role within the U.S. Leadership team in which the Lord led Darryl and Gwen to co-direct.Their journey has prepared them to lead as the National Directors of Oneness in Diversity in this next season of their ministry, with dependence upon Jesus to help create a unified and culturally diverse environment throughout all of Cru. Throughout her time of stewarding these different leadership roles that God has called her to, she has been committed to utilizing her gifts by also speaking and teaching the word of God all around the world.

Website: https://www.cru.org/us/en/about/our-leadership/cru-leadership/darryl-smith.html?CampaignCode=