Dr. Roger and Jan Smith
Meet Roger and Jan Smith, of Gilbert, Louisiana, where Roger has a medical practice in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, while Jan runs the family businesses and horse farm.
Choosing to homeschool their four children from the very start, and continuing through high school, the Smiths feel that this made all the difference in their family, and that their adult children are their greatest accomplishment. The strong relationship the children share with one another and with their parents show the grace of God, and that committed parenting is worth the investment of time and energy.
Roger has authored the book, Parenting With Influence: Shifting Your Parenting Style as You and Your Child Grow and had a podcast three times weekly called Parenting Matters Now offering advice to parents a few minutes at a time.
Roger and Jan frequently speak to groups about marriage, family, homeschooling, and leadership. Learning to lead in home, family, and community has been a life study for the Smiths, and they have applied that over the last 25 years as they have served in leadership roles in numerous organizations (4-H Foundation board, Cub Scouts Silver Beaver Award winner after 8 years of Cub Master in Winnsboro, Dixie Youth Baseball, National Board Member of NCFCA- Homeschool Speech and Debate, Homeschool Louisiana board member for 12 years, and the National Alliance for Christian Home Education Leaders for the last 5). Both Roger and Jan have been mentors and teachers at Fresh Start, a local faith-based substance abuse program and teachers at their church, River of Life.
Jan plays the keyboard for the praise team at River of Life when she is in town, and for four years has led a weekly mentoring Bible Study for young moms called Becoming Mom Strong.
Though their home now is referred to as an “empty nest,” it is often filled with guests, because they see their home as the center of their service and ministry to others. It is there that they find great pleasure in serving others and inspiring them to a deeper walk with their Lord, and a richer relationship with others.