Welcome
On a mission to inspire families, youth and leaders to live for Jesus!
Get to know me!
Katie's spoken for the following organizations
About Me
About Katie
It was an overcast morning when I felt the stranger's hand on my shoulder. In the moment, I had no idea that what was about to happen, being kidnapped from the stairs at the back of my middle school, would change my life forever. Hi, my name is Katie Smith and I survived being kidnapped and attacked at the age of 11. I had been baptized the summer before and I knew God was with me. The determination God gave me that day to get through a brutal experience is the same faith that has empowered me to boldly live for Christ! As an inspirational speaker who has spoken on multiple continents, media platforms and as a life and business coach, I want to inspire my audience and clients in whatever they go through, what ever God calls them to, he will equip them for the moment and for the journey! It is my passion to see christians built up in their faith and equipped for the calling God has on their life!
We need hope now more than ever!
If you can dream it, if you've lived through it, with God's help, you can heal and fulfill God's call on your life!
About my latest book:
Katie Smith has experienced amazing answers to prayer through her 30+ years of prayer journaling!
It was in her prayer journals that she first learned to share her heart with God. God became her best friend, her antidote to depression, loneliness and anxiety. Katie learned to ask for the desire of her heart... She asked for, met, and married the man of her dreams and it started in prayers poured out in her journal. There in those prayer journal pages she asked God to guide her teenage steps as He led her as to speak on a tour in Africa and then onto college, both which seemed extremely unlikely. In those journals she trusted God for an abundance of opportunities which He made reality including moving from San Diego to Nashville to attend Belmont University, working for a couple of TV shows, hosting her own radio talk show, podcasting with the leading independent christian radio station J103, leading an English conversation club for teen girls in the Middle East, meeting and praying over national leaders like Representative Chuck Fleischmann and introducing Kari Jobe to an audience of 10,000, and more!
Katie is a wife and mother and Amazon Best Selling Author whose sons are now graduated from homeschooling. Her prayer for the next generation of Christians is to experience God’s “never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love;” to fall in love with God’s word - the Bible; and to pray bold prayers about the work God is calling them to do. She’s on a mission to inspire 1 million youth and families to start their own daily prayer journal habit. Katie believes that through prayer, the love of God will change you and YOU can change the world for its good and His glory!
SPEAKING TOPICS
- Identity
- Dating/Relationships
- Drug/Alcohol Awareness
- Faith Restored
- Planning your future
- Leadership
- Marriage
- Sharing Your Faith
What others are saying about katie
"Katie has the best energy! As a coach, speaker & trainer, Katie comes from the heart and wants to make a difference in peoples' lives!" -James Malinchak, ABC's Secret Millionaire
"Katie is an awesome moderator and amazing coach!"
-Nick Unsworth, Founder, Life On Fire
"The bigger the crowd, the better Katie is!"
-Justin Wade, President, J103
Impacting the World
Youth truly & marriage are our future! In this section, I have the privilege and joy of having met and worked with some of our culture's most influential voices, people who are changing the world for the better!
Dave Ramsey graciously met with me during a studio break in 2017. A dear friend who also worked for Ramsey Solutions gave me a care package to take to the Ministry of Education in the Middle East! Dave is committed to all people having hope, and for every generation! And I feel the same way! I was also considered to be a Ramsey Personality as their Marriage and Family Expert Speaker in early 2023! Alas, they went in another direction. I'm here for you now and I'm honored to serve you!!
Additionally, when I talk about the value of doing good, hard things, I love to share how as a 21-yo college student, when my husband and I married with student debt, we sold everything, got in a semi truck and paid off $33,000 (nearly $60k in today's dollars) in 16 months! We were inspired by a couple on Oprah who, inspired by Dave Ramsey sold everything, got in a truck and paid off their debt!
About Dave Ramsey: Dave Ramsey started on one radio station in Nashville back in 1992, sharing practical answers for life’s tough money questions. Today, he’s joined by his co-hosts in reaching 18 million combined weekly listeners. From YouTube to your favorite podcast app, listen and watch the show anytime, anywhere. www.ramseysolutions.com
Nick and Megan Unsworth, Life On Fire
With over 1,000 International Coaching Federation Coaching hours, I had the honor of being awarded Most Helpful from Nick and Megan Unsworth, Founders of Life On Fire (LOF). LOF is faith-based coaching and marketing company where I was a business launch blueprint coach and rose to Main Lead Coach before leaving to pursue my vision of speaking for youth and families! I have my Life & Business Coaching Certificate through them as well.
Nick and Megan Unsworth have helped celebrities scale their platform and built an amazing tribe of enterprenuers in online events, speaking and book best-sellers! For more info, go to www.lifeonfire.com and tell them Katie sent you! Pictured at The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dallas, Texas, 2021
Kari Jobe and me!
If you've heard the song "The Blessing" you know... Kari's heart to proclaim truth and hope through Jesus from generation to generation is not just a song but a life-long calling lived out through music! Which is why I was thrilled to have the privilege of being part of a live recording with Kari for her husband, Cody Carnes album God is Good! Cody got away before I thought to take a picture, so next time, maybe I'll get his picture too!
Tour info at www.karijobe.com and
"God is Good" listen here! https://youtu.be/S22PoqundoI
Josh McDowell, Apologist
Josh McDowell was a college skeptic, set on disproving christianity when his own heart met Jesus! He has been a leading apologist and evangelist ever since! Josh has addressed more than 46 million people, giving over 27,200 talks in 139 countries. As he traveled to other countries, Josh quickly realized that where people were sick, homeless, and hungry, words were not enough. In 1991, Josh founded Operation Carelift to meet the physical and spiritual needs he discovered in orphanages, hospitals, schools, and prisons in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Since that time, Operation Carelift has delivered food, clothing, and medical supplies worth more than $46,000,000! Nearly one million children have received school supplies, food items, hygiene items, and toys from the volunteers that traveled twice a year to share God’s love with them. He's also the author or co-author of 150+ faith-building books. UH-MAZING!!!
Josh and I met at an event in San Diego where he brought his private exhibit of ancient Bible scrolls and explained the reliability of the Bible!
Josh's commitment to building the faith of the next generation of christians is why I want to share him with you here!
You can find Josh's books & more at www.josh.org
Ted Gocke, DJ, J103 Shining the Light
To know Ted is to love Ted! A youth pastor and DJ for 20+ years in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ted and I hosted a podcast together during Covid. It was called the Intersection of Faith and Culture. It was such an honor to do this podcast together, which was mostly about how to bridge the gap between you and your neighbor, while sharing the love and message of Jesus in non-churchy ways. It was awesome!
I first met Ted when I was a voice tracking for J103 in 2011! I'm grateful for Ted's commitment to you and sharing the love and message of Jesus!
Find the podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/60MJ0I2BjQXYAV25uV4j0m?si=1HbvY47KSP2lAFoBWAN8Vw&fbclid=IwAR2KZULRt4g-OwVcLIKbgUh87uJjRyR6B6JbP-pJ9AK3OoEwdmC9Spr2ODc&nd=1
Rachel Cruze, Host, Ramsey Solutions & Best Selling Author
Rachel is just wonderful. I mean, it's not every day that you hang out with someone who has 18 million downloads on her show per week and it's clear her heart is to serve others... And the thing is, it's the IMPACT she's creating that is truly the goal for her! Helping regular people live debt-free and invested lives! Rachel's heart to see people live with hope and freedom inspires me afresh! Man! and to do that from a Biblical perspective is of eternal value. I love what Ramsey Solutions is doing-reaching junior highers and high schoolers with curriculum just for them and makes me proud to put this picture of us together on this page!
This photo was taken at the Ramsey Solutions headquarters after their first live-streamed event of 2023. What a joy and privilege to get to be in the front row of the audience while the Ramsey Team shared a message of hope!
Check out Rachel's epic podcasts, books and budgeting tools!
Joe Theismann, NFL Legend
Joe Theismann was the key note speaker for an event for Life On Fire and wow! His story of shattering his leg in a NFL football accident (one of the worst, ever) and the fact that not only can he walk but he completely overcame that personal, physical, and professional nightmare made Joe one of my favorite speakers, ever. His attitude for excellence, care, and perserverence made me want to be a better person! He also loved my energy at the event so that's good, too!
From a speech Joe Gave at Liberty University in 2016:
Citing Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” he called students to commit their lives to God and embrace their education.
“If you’re not willing to learn, you’ve got no chance,” he said. “That’s why you’re here. Your classes right now are your work. Commit to them. Be passionate about them.”
“I lost my daughter six months ago, and as I look out among this sea of young faces, I see her smile, I see her spirit, and I see her love for life,” he said. “Today really is the beginning of the rest of our lives. All of us will have a Homecoming. There are no set plans. There is no true game plan. The Lord sees us as individuals. He treats us as individuals. He assesses us as individuals. Ultimately, we will all go home and sit in his presence.
“May God bless you and keep you safe in His arms.”
It was such an honor to work with Joe on an event and I hope to inspire my audiences the way Joe inspired me!
To reach Joe Theismann, contact at https://www.joetheismann.com/
Special thanks to Liberty University for the use of part of their article.
Ken Coleman, The Proximity Principal!!
Ken Coleman at Ramsey Solutions... Because I couldn't meet the author of The Proximity Principal The right people + the right places = opportunities and NOT take a picture with him! I mean-who you are in proximity to-who you connect with or allow into your school, work, home, life has a direct impact on who you are and what your life is. My life is about serving others through great speaking, coaching and writing! So here I am! Next to an NYT best seller, faith-based national talk show host in a dreamy studio where inspiration for 18 million listeners is generated every week! That's pretty inspiring! Plus, Ken is a coach just like I am! So often I hear myself in the quotes Ken shares on IG. Things like "there's only one you!" "You are magnificent, here to do specific things that no other person has the exact background, talent and skills that you do!"
Pick up Ken's books or listen to his amazing podcasts on living your best career here: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ken-coleman
Rex Craine!!
Rex Craine and Katarina Craine! Oh my goodness!
First, Rex is a former Boston Red Sox player, next he LOVES Jesus AND he's an incredible speaker! Rex and I met while working at the same events. I feel like when I first watched Rex speak, he was literally speaking life into the dormant-parts of my speaker-heart. I feel like he gave me permission to show up as a speaker with all the passion, joy, and inspiration that has been under the surface for so many years.
Truly, the passion I have for speaking was channeled into partnering with my husband when we worked on Baby Step 1 the first year of our marriage! We paid off $33k by the time I was 22! And motherhood came and I put my whole heart into that even as I struggled with an auto immune disease. But thank God, my health was restored and our sons are young adults now! After healing, my husband and I opened our home to international students and we poured into them with our sons, and anyone who wanted to join our table for many years. No matter how we fundraised or sacrificed, we never had more resources than we absolutely needed. Eventually, it contributed to my husband's Lupus. We ended the hospitality house for now. BUT I HAVE A VISION and YOU are a part of it just as Rex was! My vision is to inspire 1 million youth and families to live full out for Jesus! To trust HIM in every situation! To obey his call because whatever the perceived sacrifice nothing compares to having Christ!
Oh goodness! To know more about Rex, click here: http://rexcrain.com/about/
To know more about his beautiful wife Katarina, who is also an author and shares an amazing testimony of God working in and through her own health challenges. The link to her book is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/b08gfszl5g/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_rgkjjd0yk18xhnv3j7df/
Hal Elrod, James Malinchak and me!
I'm sure you've heard of the book The Miracle Morning and I bet you've heard of ABC's Secret Millionaire! Hal Elrod, pictured wearing the cap is the author of Good Miracle Morning! And James Malinchak was the star of Secret Millionaire as well as an incredible speaker and speaker trainer!
In the Spring of 2022, I was honored by Nick and Megan Unsworth to host many sessions of their private coaching group Best Seller On Fire where Hal shared his best seller story and James taught the incredible marketing nuggets that go into creating a world-impacting brand from your book!
"I want Katie on every webinar I do" said Hal or words to that affect.
And James had said similar "Katie is amazing! I love her energy!"
It's because I was doing what I was born to do... Impacting lives. and empowering others to know how loved they are and use their gifts to serve others! It's another way of impacting 1 million youth and family to live full out for Jesus! You do that by recognizing the gifts and desires he's given you and developing those gifts. If that sounds good to you, you can access the free version of Best Seller On Fire Coaching Program at https://www.bestselleronfire.com/registernow-1 Tell them Katie sent you!
To see and hear inspiration for your mornings from Hal Elrod, go here https://halelrod.com/
Lisa Bevere
Lisa Bevere! Best Seller of the book Godmothers and more! I had the pleasure of joining Lisa on her book launch team in 2020. I loved the book Godmothers which is all about simplifying the role of being a sister, daughter, friend as we journey together as christian women. I actually launched my own private Facebook group where over 100 ladies organically joined and journeyed through the book together. It was very healing for the other ladies and for me. I recognized through that study that I had been, in many ways, unable to recognize the love that was in my life. I had idealized what love looked like and then got intrenched in the idea that I wasn't getting loved because I didn't know how healthy relationships worked. Oh, how easily we twist things, and cheat ourselves! THANK GOD that the Lord is committed to our wellbeing. He is committed to our "untwisting". He is committed to teaching us what healthy love really is as He intended it. I'm so thankful that I got a front row seat to learn from Lisa on my journey to understanding love more and I'm thankful to get to share with others what the Lord has taught me. Growing healthy relationships is one of my favorite topics to speak on.
(February 2023) Lisa Bevere is opening up another opportunity to grow together. Click here for more information: https://lisabevere.com/fighting-for-female-intensive
Jack Canfield & Friends!
Wow, the folks in the picture next to me are some of the best speakers, writers, and marketers of our time. It was such an honor for me to get to serve them at the Best Seller on Fire Workshop in the spring of 2022. No one is an island and no one gets where they want to go alone. Who you do life with and learn from matters. It was an incredible honor to get to work with and learn from the author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield. Nick and Megan Unsworth and James Malinchak honored me so much after our team hosted a workshop for 350+ with an amazing dinner together where they insisted I order the biggest pork chop you have ever seen! It was epic!
Jack's business partner Patty Aubrey also joined us on Best Seller on Fire Coaching and shared her insight as the first to oversee the growth of the publishing industry's first billion brand, Chicken Soup for the Soul!!
James Malinchak's long-time coaching client Julie Carrier, leadership coach for girls, curriculum creator for the UN's GirlUp program and also shared her insight having written two books on girls and leadership and building a meaningful message for girls for such a time as this.
Nick, Megan, James and Jack, it was such a pleasure to serve you and the community you've built at Life on Fire! For more information about personal development or mastering marketing, contact Info@lifeonfire.com
Dr. Lisa Dunne! President, Chula Vista Christian College
Dr. Lisa Dunne has an amazing vision of education from the cradle through to professions! Lisa and I met through a homeschooling co-op in San Diego nearly a decade ago! I was thrilled to meet and be invited to speak to her Communications students at San Diego Christian College (the same college Left behind author Tim La Haye and Turning Point Ministries founder Dr. David Jeremiah were once associated with!).
In the last few years, Lisa has founded Chula Vista Christian College which is a homeschool-friendly university in the greater San Diego area. She currently mentors church leaders to create their own homeschool mentoring programs. I cannot even say how much this means to my former homeschooling heart! It means so much to me to know that Lisa is so faithfully pursuing adn equipping churches and parents to support families in the next generation!!! I could jump up and down on that soap-box any ole time! HOmeschooing our sons using the literature approach an drunning a ministry in our home while we did was absolutely the most outstanding expereince of my life. If you'd like for me to speak to your group about families doing ministry together, homeschooling, homeschooling with your spouse, homeschooling solo and family life and ministry, just ask! I'd be delighted to share!
To contact Dr. Lisa Dunne about Chula Vista Christian College or mentoring for homeschooling, click here: https://www.cvcu.us/
Bernie Herms!
Man! How fun it is to be reacquainted with Grammy Award winning producer/composer Bernie Herms! You might know him not just for his professional career but also for his amazingly talented wife, Natalie Grant, who is also a Grammy Award winner!
I met Bernie as an answer to prayers for opportunities back when I was a student at Belmont University. I had joined a church that was very much into music and broadcasting-things I loved basically from the time I was 10. And then, in 1998, Bernie was working on the same project that I was an intern for, a womens praise video and album that were recorded LIVE at Oral Roberts University. The experience left a lasting impression on me.
In 2022, Bernie was a surprise guest at the live album recording for Cody Carnes album, God Is Good. (I LOVE this album and recommend it! It's on Youtube!)
In a world full of broken families and artists that don't stand for much, I am so thankful for Bernie Herms and Natalie Grant. Their passion for the good things in life, God, relationships, excellence in work and service are why I am so grateful they are in this world!
By the way, Natalie has written a few books for middle-school girls, so if you're not familiar with those, here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Natalie-Grant/author/B001JS4EZY?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
For tour info, click here:
https://nataliegrant.com/#tour-dates
Naomi Raine (Maverick City) and TAYA (Hillsong United) are going on tour with NAtalie Spring of 2023!!!! OH MY WORD! So exciting!
Steve Weatherford! NFL Super Bowl Alumnus, Dad to SIX, Husband to 1
I've had the pleasure of working at a couple of the same events with Steve and WOW is he an amazing man of God and speaker! I was first endeared to Steve when he spoke at Legacy Builders Mastermind about the role of son/father and how learning the gospel redeemed so much for him, including a crippling case of ADHD growing up and driving desire to earn his father's approval. Now you can find Steve on multiple platforms, including his podcast, Secrets to a High Performance Life on the Steve Weatherford podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-steve-weatherford-show-the-secrets-to/id1436670002