Good Shepherd Baptist Church had its beginnings in 1918 when a small group of persons separated from Thirty-first Street Baptist Church to form their own church at the corner of 32nd and O Streets. The church quickly out grew that facility and in 1945 purchased the site at 1200 North 28th Street. In 1982 the congregation moved into its current facility.



A Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on Sunday, May 23, 2004 as Phase 1 of our expansion project began which included the installation of an elevator, administrative offices, additional classrooms, a chapel and a new music/fellowship hall. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Dedication Service were held on Homecoming Sunday, September 24, 2006 marking the completion of Phase 1.



Good Shepherd is affiliated with the Tuckahoe Baptist Association, Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, Baptist General Convention of Virginia and the American Baptist Churches, USA. Our pastors from 1918 to 1992 have been the Reverend Robert C. Williams, the Reverend Andrew D. Smith, The Reverend Dr. Paul Nichols and the Reverend Rudolph W. McKissick, Jr. The Reverend Dr. Sylvester Thomas Smith was installed as our fifth pastor on June 5, 1994.

In addition to the traditional ministries, various ministries have been instituted: the Scholarship Program which provides scholarship money to members who are seeking their first undergraduate degree; Youth Bible Study and Men's Bible Study; a Golden Age Program allows the church members to show their appreciation to members who are 70 years of age and older; an Aerobics Class for adults and a Summer Day Camp for children. The community is also served through Church-sponsored Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Programs. The Senior Center Program operates each week day to give older persons in the church and community a safe place to fellowship and participate in exciting activities.

We believe the ministry here is fruitful and many lives have been changed through the power of God. Throughout our journey, we have remained a faithful people, magnifying the Lord and exalting His name. We give honor and thanks to God for His grace and mercy.




The Reverend Dr. Sylvester T. Smith is a native of the state of Florida. He is the second of thirteen children born to Willie and Margaret Smith. Dr. Smith received his primary and secondary education in the public schools of Monticello and Dade City, Florida. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida.

In 1981 Reverend Smith was graduated summa cum laude from the School of Theology of Virginia Union University as he earned his Master of Divinity Degree. On December 19, 2002, Dr. Smith completed the requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Christian Social Ethics at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Smith has given pastoral leadership to the following churches in Virginia: six and one-half years at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cumberland; three and one-half years at the Calvary Baptist Church in Prince Edward; and eight years at the Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Richmond. He is presently the honored Pastor of Good Shepherd Baptist Church family in Richmond.

Aside from his responsibilities as Pastor of Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Dr. Smith is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the Virginia Union University and Assistant Professor of Ethics at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. He serves as a board member of the American Cancer Society, the Better Housing Coalition, and the Baptist General Convention of Virginia which consists of over 1100 Baptist churches throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Smith also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Foundation Board of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia.

Dr. Smith is a member of several religious, social, fraternal, and civic organizations. They include: East End Ministers Fellowship; the Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond and Vicinity; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Boaz Masonic Lodge #212 in Daytona Beach, Florida; and a Life member of the NAACP.



Dr. Smith is married to the former Ruby P. Browne, a retired mathematics teacher. Dr. and Mrs. Smith have been blessed of God with one daughter, Monica Lynn. Monica and her husband, Gerald Carter, are the parents of four daughters: twins, Storm and Cori; Nyema and Neambi and one son, Gerald.

Dr. Smith is a gospel preacher, a friend to all, and, most importantly, a child of God.


Directions to Good Shepherd Baptist Church
1127 North 28th Street Richmond, VA 23223-6624 Map it
(804) 644-1402


From I-64 West: Take I-64 East to the Nine Mile Road West exit. At the end of the exit ramp make a right turn onto Nine Mile Road. Keep Nine Mile Road to 29th Street and make a left. Keep 29th Street to R Street, make a right. You will see the church on your left.

From I-95 North: Take I-95 South to I-64 East. Take I-64 East to the Nine Mile Road West exit. At the end of the exit ramp make a right turn onto Nine Mile Road. Keep Nine Mile Road to 29th Street and make a left. Keep 29th Street to R Street, make a right. You will see the church on your left.

From I-95 South: Take I 95 North to I-64 East. Take I-64 East to the Nine Mile Road West exit. At the end of the exit ramp make a right turn onto Nine Mile Road. Keep Nine Mile Road to 29th Street and make a left. Keep 29th Street to R Street, make a right. You will see the church on your left.

From I-64 East: Take I-64 West to the Nine Mile Road West exit. Keep Nine Mile Road to 29th Street, make a left. Keep 29th Street to R Street, make a right. You will see the church on your left.

Map it



Key Events
  • Mar 29 2020 - All Church Activities Suspended Due to CoronaVirus - See "Message from Pastor Smith" in announcements Map


  • A message from Pastor Smith
    Join us for In-person worship service at 11:00 am each Sunday! Live-stream worship services will continue each Sunday on YouTube (Good Shepherd Baptist Church RVA).

  • E-GIVING IS AVAILABLE!
    Text GSBCRVA and the $ amount to 73256
    or visit
    https://abundant.co/gsbcrva to schedule a donation.

  • All members are reminded to call the church office to notify the church of a death in their family, hospitalization or changes to their sick-list posting.

  • GSBC is part of the Kroger Community Rewards program. We can earn points towards monetary donations from Kroger Grocery Stores based on our shopping as a congregation. The more we shop, the more points we earn. Points can be earned on all purchases with the exception of alcohol, tobacco products and gas. Link your Kroger Rewards account to the GSBC account!


    • May 2026 - Fulfilling Our Obligations to God and Society

    **Denotes Church School Lesson

    1. Our Citizenship Is in HeavenPhilippians 3:17-21
    2. A Season of National RepentanceJonah 3:1-5
    **Christian Expectation of GraceJonah 3:1-5; 4:6-11
    3. God’s Compassion for AllJonah 4:6-11
    4. God Ordains Productive WorkGenesis 2:4-10, 15
    5. Commit Your Work to the LordProverbs 16:1-3, 8-9
    6. Caring for the Work of God’s HandsPsalm 8
    7. The Sabbath Is a Perpetual CovenantExodus 31:12-17
    8. Working on the SabbathJohn 5:8-11, 16-17
    9. Supporting Oneself and OthersActs 20:31-35
    ** Work as Christian DutyGenesis 2:15; Exodus 20:9; John 5:17; 9:4; Acts 20:33-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
    10. Work Quietly and Diligently2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
    11. Work Diligently Before GodProverbs 10:1-5, 15-16
    12. The Workers and Their WagesMatthew 20:1-16
    13. God Demands Justice for AllAmos 5:6-15
    14. Wait Patiently for God’s JusticeJames 5:1-11
    15. Serving with EnthusiasmColossians 3:12-17
    16. Justice for the WorkerDeuteronomy 24:14-21
    **Christian Manner of JusticeDeuteronomy 24:14-21; Ephesians 6:5-9; 1 Timothy 6:17-19
    17. Contentment, Humility and Generosity1 Timothy 6:6-8, 17-19
    18. A Feast of Finest WineJohn 2:1-11
    19. Celebrate God’s BlessingsGenesis 21:1-8
    20. Playing Children Signal God’s GraceZechariah 8:1-5
    21. Release from Human RulesColossians 2:16-23
    22. A Time for Feasting and JoyMatthew 11:7-11, 16-19
    23. Rejoice and Be GladJeremiah 31:10-14
    ** Christian Rhythms of LifeMark 2:18-28
    24. The Lord of the SabbathMark 2:18-28
    25. Let Us Sing to the LordPsalm 95
    26. Gladness in the House of the LordPsalm 122
    27. Members of the Body of ChristRomans 12:1-8
    28. A Holy Day of RejoicingNehemiah 8:9-12
    29. Restoring Healthy RelationshipsMatthew 18:15-20
    30. Fellowship Through Common PropertyActs 4:32-37
    ** Living in Christian CommunityMatthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 10:22-25
    31. Inspiring Love and Good DeedsHebrews 10:19-25



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