Richard Smoak began his missionary work as an AIMer in Kenya in 1986. After receiving full appointment to Tanzania in 1988, he was actively involved in various evangelism initiatives, church planting, and developing leaders. He also provided Bible school instruction, with a focus on training Tanzanian pastors to teach and manage the three Bible schools. He is an advisor to the national boards of both Tanzania and Burundi.
Bro. Smoak was appointed as the Area Coordinator for the seventeen nations of East Africa in 2016. In September 2025, Richard married Andrea Sanders, long-time PIM secretary for Global Missions. They will continue advising and encouraging the leadership of East Africa and the long-term advancement of all the Bible schools, as well as continuing literature translation.