David and Karen Smith, Co-Directors of the House of
Mercy, have served over the past thirty-two years as volunteer and staff youth workers in several churches in suburban Atlanta,
Georgia.
David was a computer specialist with Allstate Insurance and CNN. Karen has a Bachelor of Music
Education degree from Mercer University
and taught music in pre-schools, elementary, middle and high schools, as well as on the college level. She also has a Master
of Sacred Music degree from Emory University/Candler School of Theology. Karen served as Music Director, with a specialty
in Children’s and Youth choirs, for a number of Atlanta
area churches during her thirty-year music career. Active in the choral community she was an 18 seasons member of the Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra Chorus and participated five seasons with the Atlanta Opera Company. Karen was a member, officer and President
of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts - North Georgia chapter,
and faculty and Dean of the North Georgia Conference Annual Music Camp for junior and senior high students. As a member of
the Atlanta chapter of the Choristers Guild she facilitated
and directed a number of Children’s Choir workshops. She is also the founder of the Gwinnett County Home School Association
fine arts program.
David and Karen have two adopted daughters. Melissa, who is now 25, was a domestic adoption and
Erin, who is 21, was adopted from an orphanage in India through Lutheran
Ministries of Georgia. Karen had the privilege
of traveling to Cochin, India to bring
Erin home. Upon her return she served on the Lutheran Ministries International Adoption Board
and as an officer and President of the Adoptive Parents’ Support Group.