Leadership
Matt Smethurst, Lead Pastor
Matt Smethurst was raised by parents who showed him what it looks like to follow Jesus; through their faithful influence, God saved Matt at a young age. In college at James Madison University (2002–2006), he captured Matt’s heart in a deeper way and gave him a heart for ministry. This passion was further crystallized while serving as a missionary in East Asia (2006–2008).
After returning to the States, Matt completed a pastoral internship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.. He and his wife, Maghan, then moved to Louisville to attend Southern Seminary, where Matt completed a Master of Divinity degree. They also belonged to Third Avenue Baptist Church for 12 years, where Matt held two deacon positions and served as an elder for six years.
Matt is the author of Before You Share Your Faith: Five Ways to Be Evangelism Ready (2022), Deacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the Church (2021), Before You Open Your Bible: Nine Heart Postures for Approaching God’s Word (2019), and 1–2 Thessalonians: A 12-Week Study (2017). You can find more of his work at The Gospel Coalition, where he’s served as an editor for 12 years.
Matt’s greatest earthly asset, though, is not any theological degree or ministry accomplishment; it is his wife, Maghan. The two Virginians (Matt is from Charlottesville; Maghan is from near Manassas) met at JMU and started dating while serving as missionaries. They have been married for 15 years and have five young children. Life in “the little years” is remarkably full, but the Smethursts are richly blessed. Matt is honored to serve River City Baptist Church as its lead pastor. (You can watch or listen to sermons here.)
Kyle Nieber, associate Pastor
Kyle was raised in the sunny city of Los Angeles. He grew up in a non-Christian home, where his parents divorced when he was 4. This was profoundly impactful for him at such a young age. But in God’s sovereign mercy, he used this tragic circumstance to draw Kyle to himself.
Fearing abandonment as a kid, he desperately wanted to please his friends as a way to find security in them. But in late high school, he was exposed to the gospel. He realized the security he was searching for could only be found in Jesus Christ. And so, convicted of his sin, and certain of the hope found in Jesus, Kyle repented and placed his faith in him.
In college, God gave Kyle a desire to serve in ministry and also provided his greatest earthly treasure: his wife, Mary. Afterward, he and Mary moved to Louisville to grow in their faith as members at Third Avenue Baptist Church. He had the privilege of serving in multiple diaconates and as a pastoral intern, biblical counselor, Home Group leader, and occasional preacher and Sunday School teacher there.
Over the years, the Lord continued to deepen his desire for pastoral ministry, particularly in the areas of counseling and discipleship. In February 2023, with the desire to see the gospel spread through healthy churches, they moved their family to Richmond to join in the work the Lord had begun at River City Baptist Church.
Kyle and Mary have been married for 12 years and have four young children. They have already grown to love the city of Richmond and, in particular, the people of RCBC. Kyle is humbled and thankful to serve as RCBC’s associate pastor.
Josh Horner, Elder
Josh Horner grew up in a Christian home, where he heard the gospel regularly from his family and members of his church. When he was young, the Lord opened his eyes to the magnitude of his sin and need for a Savior through the witness of his father. By God’s grace, he repented of his sin, believed in Jesus Christ, and was baptized soon after.
The Lord continued to grow and sanctify Josh over the years, but during his undergraduate studies at West Virginia University, he developed a desire to serve Christ in ministry. It was also during his time at WVU that Josh met his wonderful wife, Casey. Following their wedding in 2010, the two moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to pursue seminary education. While Josh is deeply thankful for his time at Southern Seminary, it was his time at Third Avenue Baptist Church that the Lord used to deepen his love for the local church, as well as to foster continued spiritual growth through churchwide discipleship.
In 2021, Josh and Casey moved with their two kids, Jude and Ansley, to Richmond to support the launch of River City Baptist Church. They have already developed a great love for this city, and they look forward to seeing the ways God uses this new church’s ministry to proclaim the gospel in Richmond and beyond.
Sebastian Traeger, Elder
Sebastian Traeger grew up in a broken home in the Philadelphia area. While at Princeton University (1992–1996), God changed his heart the summer after his freshman year through the ministry of Cru. That summer, while reading through the Bible, he came to understand the gospel, and repented of his sin and believed in the person and work of Jesus. God also gave him a heart for ministry: beginning his sophomore year, he started a Bible study, which God blessed with friendships, spiritual growth, and conversions.
After graduating, Sebastian moved to Washington, D.C. to work in the business world. He began attending a small baptist church on Capitol Hill—aptly named Capitol Hill Baptist Church—which became his church family for nearly two decades. While there, he met his wife Nikki, made many friends in pastoral ministry (including Matt), and served in various capacities, including as an elder.
Sebastian is the co-author of The Gospel at Work: How the Gospel Gives New Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs (Zondervan, 2014) and is a former Executive Vice President of the International Mission Board. He currently owns a small business and serves on several boards.
Sebastian and Nikki have been married for 16+ years, and have four school-aged children. They moved to Richmond seven years ago and love the city’s food and festival scene, as well as its family-friendly culture.
Andy PEttigrew, Elder
Andy grew up in a wonderful home with parents who loved the Lord and faithfully brought him to church. He was convicted of sin at a young age. After hearing the gospel both from his parents and his pastor he repented of his sins, placed his faith in Jesus, and was baptized soon thereafter.
Andy has been married to Laura for 23 years. They have a daughter studying at Union University and two teenage sons. Most recently, Andy and his family served as IMB missionaries on the continent of Africa, particularly in Botswana, South Africa, and Kenya.
Andy grew up in Jackson, TN but has spent the last 25 years serving in various ministry positions around the world. While serving as a missionary, Andy also was the Director of Operations for the work of the International Mission Board in sub-Saharan Africa. Andy now leads the IMB's efforts to train and mobilize the next generation of missionaries, particularly among universities, seminaries, collegiate ministries, and local churches. Andy speaks often throughout the country in mobilizing young people to serve on mission as well as in training leaders to that end.
Andy is a PhD candidate at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a forthcoming author with B&H Publishing. When not on the road or in front of a computer, you may find Andy looking for birds, throwing a frisbee, or anticipating the next adventure with his family.
Colton Corter, Pastoral Assistant
Colton Corter was saved at 18 after overhearing the gospel in the backseat of a friend’s truck. Since then, by God’s grace, he has sought to grow in his enjoyment of the triune God. An Arkansas native, Colton moved to Louisville, Kentucky to attend Southern Seminary, where he fell in love with God’s design for the local church. Even more importantly, Colton fell in love with his lovely New England wife, Lindsey. Colton and Lindsey have three boys: John, Conrad, and Thomas.
After three years as members of University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Corters moved to Richmond in 2021 to join what would become River City Baptist Church. Colton works at the home office of the International Mission Board and has served part-time as RCBC’s pastoral assistant for administration since February 2023.
When not chasing his crazy children, you’ll find Colton reading, writing, cooking, and watching basketball (Boston Celtics) or “soccer” (Tottenham Hotspur). He’s recently picked up golf again—we’ll see how that goes. Colton is excited to serve RCBC to the end that we might all see Christ’s glory a little clearer and, together, be transformed more into his likeness for the glory of God, the joy of our hearts, and the good of our neighbors here in RVA.