More than 20 years ago, Pastors Chris and Laura Smith were in an audience of more than 1,000 people with their 6 young children when South African Prophet Kim Clement called them out and gave them a life-changing word from the Lord. With the older children spread out over three different balconies with friends, and with Chris and Laura seated with their 3 younger children on the floor, Prophet Clement singled them out one by one and began to prophesy over them, totally unaware they were related. Once informed they were all from the same family, a fire came upon Kim and he declared: "This family will rock in FOUR arenas! Politics, the Arts, Education, and the Legal system!" Since that night, every word the Prophet spoke over the Smiths has come to pass.

With Laura's 50+ year history in Television (she did her first commercial at age 3), her experience as a published author (25 books) and Chris' history in the Music Business as a record executive (working with Michael W. Smith, Third Day, Rich Mullins, Amy Grant, etc.), they understood the "Arts" part of the word, and soon enough the "Political" and "Legal" portion would make sense as favor soon came through their media endeavors. They assumed the "Education" portion referred to their 24 years as homeschooling parents, but little did they know that God had something even more in mind. Eastgate Christian College was already on God's mind that night back in 2000.

Eastgate Christian College is an education extension of Eastgate Creative Christian Fellowship (the church pastored by the Smiths and their adult children) and has a heart to see its students "rock" in these same 4 arenas and more, filling the earth with God's Good News of salvation and healing. With their 6 children now grown, Chris and Laura have 13 grandkids and live near the Eastgate church and college campus just outside of Nashville, TN.