Gregory Smerdon was born, raised and schooled in Pietermaritzurg, South Africa. He came to faith in 1988 in the final year of a BA degree in education at Edgewood College, Durban. Greg taught Mathematics at Senior Secondary level for nine years. Soon after his conversation he became involved in the youth, worship and evangelistic ministry of the local church. Greg's passion for the lost led him to pioneer a vibrant student ministry at this school. The school principal awarded Greg the honor of serving as chaplain to both teachers and students. The leadership of his local Church recognized that he had the gift of an evangelist and in 1989 he began an extensive evangelistic ministry (preaching on the streets, busses, trains, camps, tent crusades, and one-on-one encounters).

Greg was involved in the leadership and administration of his local Church and served as national Youth director for three years. In 1998 Greg was invited to join AE as an Evangelist/Teacher after having been invited to participate in an AE city wide mission. Greg's primary role at AE was the pioneering of the FoxFire program - a youth empowering evangelistic ministry in South Africa which he did successfully until June 2001. He has been extensively involved in Church planting, training and equipping of youth workers, leadership development and has preached on the continent of Africa and abroad.

In 1999 Greg attended Haggai Institute Advance Leadership Training in Maui, Hawaii. Presently, Greg is on study leave from AE and is currently a Youth & Young Adult Pastor at St. Martins Church, Cape Town where he completed a Masters degree in Organizational Christian Leadership through Cornerstone College in partnership with Eastern University, Pennsylvania, U.S.A