NATCHEZ &8212; One experience has built upon another for Joseph Smith, who returned to Natchez to be ordained as a minister at Ebenezer Baptist Church Friday night.

The ordination by the Antioch Missionary Baptist Association fulfills what he believes is a life-long calling to serve in the church.

A 2002 graduate of Natchez High School, Smith recently graduated with highest honors from Howard University in Washington, D.C., completing a bachelor&8217;s degree in music education.

At Howard, Smith said, he had experiences he expects to be among the best in his lifetime.

&8220;It provided me with a different perspective I wouldn&8217;t have attained in Natchez. It gave me a greater confidence as a black man in the world,&8221; he said.

Smith hopes to enter divinity school at Howard in the spring. Meantime, he waits and prays to see what his next move will be, he said.

He knows one thing for sure. He will use his education to make a difference as a minister. &8220;The ministry for me will be a combination of all my life experiences,&8221; he said. &8220;In addition to spiritually directing other people&8217;s lives, I&8217;d like also to instruct them in economics, finances, character and integrity, the things you need to get along in the world.&8221;

He would like to improve communities and make changes to make people&8217;s lives better, Smith said. &8220;And a minister with an education can better guide the flock.&8221;

If his call is to come back to Natchez, he will not object, Smith said.

&8220;I think there&8217;s a great need for young, influential black men in Natchez,&8221; he said. &8220;Teens and adolescents need to see people closer to their ages doing positive things.&8221;

His growing up in Natchez will always be important to him, Smith said. His grandmother, Augusta Seiferth, and his mother, Anita Smith, always have been positive influences in his life, as have certain teachers and ministers.

&8220;The Rev. John Scott has meant a lot to me. He is a very reachable and down-to-earth minister, very honest about his ministry,&8221; Smith said.

At Natchez High School, he sang with the choir and with every male ensemble he could join. His work with music teacher Joyce Arceneaux Mathis made him excited about classical music.

His education at Natchez High School prepared him well for his university education, he said. &8220;I was so much further ahead than most of my colleagues,&8221; Smith said.

A church in the D.C. area has offered him a position as youth minister. He is considering it but is waiting to be sure he makes the decision based on his calling.

&8220;I&8217;ve been in music since I was about 5 years old,&8221; he said. He grew up singing in Natchez churches and helped direct choirs, as well.

Music during his Howard University years has taken him into great churches and performing arts centers.

As a member of the university choir, he sang the solo during the processional at Rosa Parks&8217; funeral, a great honor for him, he said.

He sang at the funerals of Shirley Chisholm and Ossie Davis, also.

As a show of support, Dana Morgan, a friend and fellow Howard University graduate, came to play at the ordination service. &8220;She&8217;s a concert pianist from D.C.,&8221; he said.