Candis Smith

A Bit About Me

Candis Smith began her musical career at the age of 7 with piano lessons and later added the bassoon in 5th grade. She participated in many music contests during her school years. In 1973, she was selected as an alternate bassoonist for the Iowa All State Band and then chosen as a participant in 1974. Throughout the years, she gained knowledge on organ technique and played for Sunday School and occasional worship services in her home congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton, IA. She also taught piano before going to Waldorf College to receive an AA degree in Accounting and Secretarial Science. While there, she was one of the main accompanists for soloists and their recitals.

After college, she came to work in Waterloo and attend UNI and became organist at her great-uncle’s church, Our Savior’s Lutheran, from 1978-1981. She then became organist of Ascension Lutheran Church when it would was founded in 1987 by her husband Brian and others who were conservative Lutherans when the ELCA merger was taking place.

She and Brian founded Servant Unique Family Ministries in 1983 with a ministry of the arts (primarily puppets) and adding humanitarian aid to its work in 1988 which they still continue. They hosted three "Take a Vacation with a Purpose” trips to do work projects and conduct VBS programs in 1993, 1995, and 1998.

She and Brian, along with assistance from Ascension members, sponsored 58 Bosnian refugees beginning in 1997 and have continued some of the relationships they developed.

She has been employed by UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital since 1985. She and Brian have one daughter Nicole and two grandchildren (Krystina and Skyler).