Staff – Children’s Director
Personal Bio: Abe and Arian Smith met while marching in the Kansas State University Marching Band and were married in 1998. They have three children, all whom play a band instrument, and recently welcomed a “bonus” daughter into the family when their oldest married. They have been members of Cornerstone since moving to Kearney in 2007. Their family was blessed to have Arian stay home with their children until their youngest was ready to start school. She then joined Little Beginnings Preschool, first as an assistant teacher and later as the lead teacher. In 2026, Arian joined the staff at Cornerstone as the Children’s Ministry Director. She has a heart for young children and is excited to tell them about Jesus!
On describing Cornerstone: A church that declares the gospel with faithful preaching from God’s Word and practically displays the gospel as we learn to lean on one another.
Her testimony: Though Arian could tell you Bible stories and factual things about God when she was younger, it wansn’t until college that she realized that, because of her sin she was far from God and had no hope of drawing near to Him on her own. She came to recognize her need of a Savior and trusted in Christ’s death and resurrection to give her peace with God. She continues to trust Hime to help her grow and to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16)
Influential books recently read: Being a former preschool teacher, Arian’s favorite picture book is The Garden, The Curtain, and the Cross by Carl Laferton. It presents the gospel with clarity and helps readers see how themes of Eden, the temple, and Christ fit together into one grand story of redemption. Her most recently read book is You Are a Theologian by Jen Wilken. It is a great reminder that we are all theologians, and that “all of life is is lived in reference to who God is, who we are, what He has done, and what He is doing.”
Bible “hero”: Moses. Though Moses was hesitant and insecure when God called him, God provided him with direct assurance and the tools needed for the job. God worked through Moses’s weaknesses so that the deliverance of the Israelites could only be attributed to God’s divine power.
Hobbies: You can find Arian at a local coffee shop catching up with friends; in the backyard reading and enjoying God’s creation, or playing board games with her family.