Pastor Mike
Pastor Mike's Page
Pastor Mike, his wife Sue and their 3 children; Sandra, Tricia and Ben
Click here for Pastor Mike's Blog
Click here for Pastor Mike's Sermon in word doc. form of a
"Vision for Church of the Valley - Heart of the Valley"
Mike Clark's Biography
Mike spent his formative years as a native of Southern California in West Los Angeles and Anaheim. He remembers a visit to Apple Valley when he was 5 years old and idolized Roy Rogers at the time. Mike’s family transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for his years in Jr. and Sr. High School. Attending a Presbyterian Church there, Mike heard of Christ’s sacrificial love on the cross while attending summer camp. He committed his life to Jesus at the age of 15 and became enthusiastically involved in youth ministry. He also began dating his High School sweetheart Sue. Mike moved to Boulder, Colorado to attain a degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado. He confirmed the Lord’s call to ministry as he worked with the Presbyterian Church in Boulder in youth ministry and led the Young Life outreach ministry to Boulder High School students. After college, Mike attended Fuller Seminary, receiving a Master of Divinity degree. Upon graduation, he returned to Pennsylvania to marry Sue and begin his pastoral ministry. They moved to Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where Mike served as Associate Pastor in Family Ministries. Sue began her career in Occupational Therapy, and together they began their family with boy and girl twins – Ben and Tricia. Moving back to California, Mike began over 20 years of ministry with two churches in the San Francisco Bay area, first in Morgan Hill and then in Los Altos. Mike and Sue welcomed another daughter to their family - Sandra. Sue began specializing in Hand Therapy and currently works at the Stanford University Medical Hospital. Ben graduated from UCLA with a math major and now works for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tricia graduated from Occidental College in Eagle Rock, CA with a major in kinesiology. She currently works as a Physical Therapy Assistant while applying to graduate schools. This year, the family looks forward to a final college celebration as Sandra graduates from the University of California in San Diego with a major in communication. Mike enjoys writing, photography, bicycle riding, hiking, sea-kayaking, birding and traveling. Sue enjoys walking, reading, baking, bell ringing, singing in the choir, and is an avid sports fan.
Mike's Thoughts on Ministry
As a New Testament inspired pastor, I share my gifts and abilities to shepherd, disciple and guide church members and friends to develop lifestyles that draw them into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and with each other (fellowship), help them discover and use their God-given spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality and experiences to bring glory to God (ministry and mission), encourage them to honor God in word and behavior (worship), mature them toward daily health and wisdom (discipleship) and equip them to share the hope they have in Christ with those in their local communities (missional evangelism). Building upon these lifestyles, I have had the privilege of seeing a healthy maturity develop in the two churches I have served as Senior Pastor. I enjoy discipling new and mature members, both young and old, and church officers to grow in their personal walk with the Lord according to the great purposes that the Lord intends for every believer. I encourage each church to center on Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church, be led by the Holy Spirit, and to follow the Bible as our only authority. We are to strive to be a place where all are accepted in the grace of Jesus Christ, introduced to Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, welcomed in the fellowship of sisters and brothers, invited to actively praise the Lord, encouraged to grow in the eternal truth of God’s Word for our daily situations, helped in life’s trials and tests, prepared to serve others as Jesus served us, and set free to rejoice in abundant and eternal life. In this way, we make a strong impact on our local community and the world through our mission perspective - our commitment to use our time, talents and treasures to be a blessing to those around us. I am impressed with Church of the Valley’s passion to reach out to your local community with the compassion of Christ in active caring.
... I try in my life and ministry to have integrity in all things, leading by example and with positive encouragement, to help the church bring glory to Christ. I am a servant leader who has learned to work under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to come alongside officers and staff members, and then to seek the Lord’s will together. I appreciate the Reformed, biblical tradition of seeking consensus together as leaders under the leadership of Christ. I bring a deep appreciation for the Word of God and believe in careful deliberation so that decisions might be based upon His authority for the church as directed by the Holy Spirit. Though I appreciate our Presbyterian heritage, I am not afraid of change when it will move us out of our comfort zones and help us to share the Gospel of Jesus with others. I am willing to follow the Apostle Paul’s example to "become all things to all people, so that I can win them to Christ." Some will find this type of change challenging, and some will reject it, but a church that will sacrifice in love as Christ sacrificed is a healthy church. I encourage people to move from being "me first" worldly Christians, to become "God first" world-class Christians.
I enjoy spending time getting to know people. I work hard to communicate that I am an approachable pastor who is not too busy for the important ministry of sharing our lives together in Christ. I look forward to getting to know each of you personally.
Media Content
Audio Sermons
Audio Sermon #1 - The Wise Parent
Audio Sermon #2 - How To Reduce Conflict
Audio Sermon #3 - How To Be Reconciled
Written Sermons
Written Sermon #1 - So Many Riches to Share
Written Sermon #2 - Pray For Each Other
Written Sermon #3 - Why Church?
Written Sermon #4 - Grasping Power
Photo Gallery
