About Poppy Smith
Spiritual Counselor | Coach | Speaker | Author

I’m originally from England and was raised in a loving but non-believing family.

My parents loved to travel and because my father was in the Royal Air Force, we lived in many parts of Britain and in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Kenya. When I was 17, friends shared the Gospel with me, and I immediately responded to the love of God. To my amazement, God started making me aware of His reality within a few days.

In Nairobi I attended a very small, very English, church where I eventually met and married my American husband. Six weeks later we arrived in the United States. I was only 22 and thought my new life would be a wonderful adventure.  Instead, I found the loneliness of being in a foreign culture and married to someone who vanished into the hospital for his surgical training, only coming home to study and sleep, catapulted me into anger, bitterness, and depression. Having two delightful little children was a joy but with no family for support or guidance only added to my sense of hopelessness. I wrestled with God about leaving and going back to England or to Nairobi. But God stepped in.  He made Himself real once again through the words of a man I only met once and impressing on me that running away was not the answer.  You can read more of my story in “Why Can’t He be More Like Me?”

Bit by bit, God changed me from being angry and bitter, to accepting that He was at work, even though I didn’t understand His ways at that time.

To my amazement God gave me a longing to know Him and led me to join Bible Study Fellowship. I attended for twelve years and spent seven years as the Teaching Leader.

 After our two children left for college, God brought invitations to teach and encourage Christians around the USA and in over 20 countries. There I discovered what God knew all along, that whether in India, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Lebanon, Oman, Australia, New Zealand or many other countries, women are hungry for help to grow spiritually and emotionally because we all face similar challenges.

In between the times of traveling, my desire to keep growing drew me to attend Seminary where I graduated with a Master’s degree in Spiritual Formation and Direction. I went on to train as a Life Coach with the American Association of Christian Counselors. Following this I became certified as a Domestic Abuse Advocate.

I’ve known personal, emotional, and spiritual growth in each season of life. Both hard and happy experiences have shaped who I am and what I offer you as a Christian coach.

You will find me warm, accepting, understanding, and honest.  I know that various issues can trip you up such as: anger, fear, bitterness, despair, and temptation. As I’ve shared with you, I’ve experienced these things and written books about them. BUT: this isn’t where God wants you or me to stay. My role as a coach is to help you find the practical wisdom, help, and hope God provides so you become a strong and growing follower of Jesus.