UPDATE ON THE MINISTRY OF MICHAEL WAYNE SMITH - APRIL 2026
In September 2022, I applied to work at Knox Area Rescue Ministries on a PRN basis. At that time, I had a full tour schedule but still had a lot of free time during the week. I ultimately accepted a part-time role at KARM, working three days a week.
In early 2023, I started having some health issues. As the year went on, I felt my path being pulled more toward KARM and away from touring around the country. I was losing confidence in my ability to sing a full concert due to my asthma and vocal cord dysfunction. It made more sense to me to transition into full-time work at KARM and begin pulling away from my singing.
Later that year, I was given the opportunity to become the manager of the department I worked in. This arrangement was going great until I lost my mother in May of last year.
This began a slow downward slope into depression and anxiety. At the same time, I was trying to juggle the demands of managing the largest department at KARM while also meeting the demands of singing in full-time ministry.
Thankfully, the decision was made for me by my bosses to take a temporary step back from management. This was in late November. I also canceled my entire Christmas tour so I could focus on my mental and physical health.
Even though I was enjoying this break, I began to develop a sense of lost purpose at KARM and my life in general. I felt the depression and anxiety coming on strongly at times but thankfully Kelley and Jax gave me stability and peace.
Finally, in February, I had my surgery. While I was recovering, I used that time to pray and ask God what His purpose was for me.
It was during this time of recovery that I noticed the people checking on me—other than family—were those I had connected with through singing and traveling. The show of love and support was overwhelming and reminded me of how God has used me over the years through my songwriting and singing. This marked the beginning of a renewed passion for music that I thought was gone.
Since then, God has made it clear to me the path I should be on, and it’s not trying to manage two careers.
April 17th will be my last day at KARM, and my focus will primarily be on full-time singing again.
There are more songs for me to write, more places to go, and more people to reach. God is not through with me!
I have some exciting plans in store. I am working on Volume Two of the In The Quiet series, followed by a full production album. I also have plans to publish a book of devotions based on many of the songs I’ve written. This has been on my heart for a long time, and I am excited that I will finally have time to work on it.
My time at KARM was not in vain. God placed me there for a purpose. I had the opportunity to interact with and minister to people I would not ordinarily encounter—people the world has turned away and ignored. It made me a better person, and I am grateful.
So, to sum up, Michael Wayne Smith is NOT retiring from the road or from singing, as has been mentioned in the rumor mill.
God is still working on me and through me, and I will gladly walk through the doors He plans to open.
Thank you all for your support in these last 17 years of ministry. I am looking forward to more adventures and more lives being changed.
-Michael and Kelley