Pastor Cooper Smith grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, but God has been moving him slowly northward to colder climates. After attending college in Virginia, he spent eleven years in Chicagoland. While there, he graduated seminary from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2013 and graduated with his doctorate in Old Testament from Wheaton College in 2019. He then moved to Minnesota to join the staff at Heartland in 2020.

Cooper is passionate about Christian community and theological education. At Heartland, this means that Cooper focuses on discipling adults and providing guidance to Children's ministry.  He is excited to see followers of Jesus learn more about our great God in a way that effects their worship and actions.

Cooper and his wife Marie have three daughters. They enjoy taking family bike rides and playing board games.