Apostle Sammy C. Smith attended the University of South Carolina, Sumter Campus, and received his bachelor of Science degree from Morris College, Sumter, South Carolina.

His prolific style of preaching has made him one of the most sought after evangelists in the Carolinas and the United States.

A vision to build a ministry which would glorify GOD began with a Gospel Service on Shaw Air Force Base in November of 1984. Many were saved and brought into a greater awareness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of his commitment to GOD, the ministry grew.

The ministry outgrew the small Shaw AFB chapel and in April 1987, moved to downtown Sumter to become Grace Cathedral Church Of God In Christ. The ministry consisted of an active membership of over 300 adults. In May of 1991, the ministry moved to 307 W. Oakland Ave. On October 1999, the church moved in to a new edifice location at 60 Oswego Road. With this transition the emergence of Grace Cathedral Ministries was birthed.

Apostle Smith is a conference speaker, and have conducted revivals and seminars throughout the country. His unique preaching and teaching ministry brings revelation to the body of Christ under a prophetic anointing.

As Apostle Smith sought the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit, he began providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the pastors of four churches. It is from these relationships that Grace Cathedral Christian Fellowship was birthed. The consecration and ordination service of Grace Cathedral Fellowship, held on Saturday, October 26, 2002, marked a beginning of a new movement that established Apostle Sammy C. Smith as the founding Bishop of the movement.