Norman and Susan met in 1996 in Ames, IA. Susan graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College and was working in the Student Personnel office. Norman arrived as a student in Oranamental Horticulture at Iowa State University. They met at what was then Campus Baptist Church (now CrossRoad Baptist) and soon began dating, marrying in November 1997.

Working with international students at Iowa State helped them see the need for missionaries and gave them some practical experience in ministry. Norman dropped out of his PHD program at ISU and started at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating in 1999.

The Smith’s were sent to Japan by CrossRoad with the assistance of ABWE, arriving on the field to begin language training in January of 2003. After two years of language training they joined Pastor Kishimoto on the island of Nagashima for an additional two years of language and culture training as they assisted at Nagashima Grace Baptist Church.  After a furlough in 2007, the Smiths returned to Japan and joined Sue Hahn, a veteran ABWE missionary, in beginning outreach in Kumamoto. Kumamoto is a prefecture with 1.5 million people, the majority in Kumamoto City. The Smiths are currently concentrating their efforts in Kumamoto City and the suburb town of Kikuyo. Kikuyo has 35, 000 people and no protestant churches.