Pastor Clay...

God is faithful to His Word and delights in His children!  In 1996, my wife, Tammy, and I stepped out in faith to follow what we believed was God’s direction for our lives.  You see we had been saved for ten years, serving God and growing in maturity. However, God began doing "a new thing" in our lives that we did not necessarily understand, but we knew He wanted us to grow into a deeper understanding of who He is.  With sadness and great anticipation, we left our church of many years and began attending a small church which was meeting in a trailer, down a dirt road, called Calvary Chapel of Cary.

   As we sat under the verse by verse teaching of the Word of God, and learned to freely worship Him in spirit and in truth, God began to grow us in ways we never imagined.  We spent the next few years learning to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love one another, a journey which continues to this day.

   As we fast forward a few years, Tammy was overseeing the Children’s Ministry and I was leading worship… we were "right where God wanted us" at Calvary Chapel Cary… or so we thought!  God had something else in mind.  Thus, while attending one of the many Calvary Chapel Men’s Retreats, the Holy Spirit ministered to me during worship, "I want you to be a pastor"!  What was that? Indigestion? Was I caught up in the moment? "Lord, I am not qualified!" "Yes I know", He said, "That is why I am calling you…" "OK Lord…"

    After much prayer, the one thing we knew was that we were supposed to sell our home and prepare for the next step in God’s plan.  A year later, our home sold, we put everything in storage, moved in with friends, and continued to pray… "Where Lord?"   Like a chess grand master, God simply moved around the lives of several families, bringing my wife and four children, (Carmen, Chelsea, Chandler, and Carrington), and myself to this town of Wilmington.  We thought we could never leave our blessed life in Cary, but God turned our hearts to Wilmington.  We thought we could never leave our friends and family, but God gave us a love for the people here.  Of course, there have been challenges along the way, but God’s plan proves to be what is best for us once again. 

    On September 2, 2001, I had the privilege of teaching my first message as Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Wilmington.  Since then the Lord has been faithful to provide us with exactly what we need, when we need it - in every situation.  God is adding to the church, and people are being saved (Acts 2:47).  People are excited about serving the Lord, and getting involved in ministry.  But perhaps even more important is that we are growing in the knowledge and wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ!  We are "continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."   Together we are learning to walk by faith, and be led by His Holy Spirit.

    On that note, I would like to personally welcome you to Calvary Chapel of Wilmington.  I pray that you would allow the Lord Jesus Christ to be "Lord of your life", and that you would come into a real and personal relationship with Him that grows daily as you seek His face.

     If you are ever in the Wilmington area please stop by and visit us; we'd love to fellowship with you!

The Lord Bless You and Keep You in His Love,

Pastor Clay