by Breeanna Jent on 2013-11-06
Dan Clemens will step into the role as Discovery Christian Church’s senior pastor next year upon the official retirement of current senior pastor, Bob Mink.
Mink announced to the congregation last month during the church’s 29th anniversary celebration that he would leave the post after more than 30 years in the position. Dan Clemens, who currently serves the church as its associate pastor, will step into the role as the church’s second senior pastor in its history in October 2014.
Clemens moved with his family—wife Andrea, son Corey and daughter Avery—to Moreno Valley from Canton, Ohio in August 2012.
“I am definitely excited to continue Discovery’s mission,” said Clemens. “Knowing that Bob has been the senior pastor for 30 years, I’m excited to continue that legacy. Stepping in as the next lead pastor is both a privilege and an honor for me.”
Mink told the Moreno Valley City News in its October 31 edition, “I really believe after 30 years, it’s time for a change, and Dan Clemens is the right guy.”
Mink formed the church in 1984.
Clemens attended Kentucky Christian University, where he started as a preaching major.
“For some reason I was struggling with that,” he said. When he took a youth ministry class, he said he fell in love with it. “I felt a call to ministry. I just took off. I got it. I grew into that, and I had the opportunity to do ministry while I was still in school.”
Clemens worked as a youth minister in St. Petersburg, Fla. before he was invited to teach youth ministry in Canton, Ohio, his hometown. For 15 years he has worked as a youth pastor, and he “felt a call to move forward.” In his search for a position as an associate pastor, he found Discovery Christian Church.
“It’s been wonderful. It was a big step of faith, moving 2,300 miles away,” said Clemens. “We’ve made some amazing friendships and relationships that have been phenomenal.”
But the job he took as the associate pastor was “never just a stepping stone to the next position,” he said. “We found our home here at Discovery.”
In Mink, Clemens said he has “tremendous respect for Pastor Bob as a mentor,” he said. “We’ve talked about ideas and we’re both very excited to see growth in the community, because it’s a vibrant community.”
The church also has 8 acres of debt-free land, and Clemens and other church leaders are hoping to increase the church’s size and expand its current facility.
“Right now, we have a lot of dreams in mind,” said Clemens. Ultimately, he said, “I am excited to continue the church’s mission, and see how God leads me to lead Discovery.”
[END]
Bob Mink (Senior Pastor) - I was 33 years old when I came to Moreno Valley in 1984 to plant what became Discovery Christian Church. It seems like the city, our church, my children, my wife, and I have all grown up together through the years. And while many people have come and gone and there have been many changes, my vision to be a part of a growing church that reaches out to people and encourages them has never faded. The greatest challenge and reward of my work is to understand the Bible so that I can present it in a way that others too will want to apply it to their lives. I think being a Christian, going to church, and get-ting into the Bible should be fulfilling and fun. My wife, Jan, and I have been married for over 30 years and we are the proud parents of two children, Audrey and Rob. Beyond my work with the church I have a passion for golf.
Dan Clemens (Associate Pastor) - My family (wife Andrea, son Corey, and daughter Avery) and I came from “The Heart of it all” Canton, OH to Moreno Valley to begin our journey with Discovery in August 2012. We knew the moment we arrived this would be the place where we can lay down our roots and begin building relationships with those around us. If you were to ask me what I am most excited about, I would say, the opportunity to assist Discovery to reach her full potential and beyond. I would love the opportunity to meet and connect with you and your family and hear your story, we all have one and they are unique. Be blessed!
During Discovery Christian Church’s 29th anniversary celebration, held earlier this month on Oct. 6, Senior Pastor Bob Mink announced that he would be stepping down as the only head pastor the church, in its 30 year history, has known.
Over the next year, Mink will work closely with his successor, Dan Clemens, who currently serves as the church’s associate pastor, to prepare him for the role. Mink will officially step down from his current post on the church’s 30th anniversary celebration in October 2014.
“I really believe after 30 years, it’s time for a change, and Dan Clemens is the right guy,” said Mink.
Mink came to Moreno Valley with his wife of over 30 years, Jan, his daughter Audrey and his son Rob-then just small children-in August 1984 with intentions to begin a church.
“I came to Moreno Valley on the invitation of a church planting organization in southern California, that’s really no longer in existence, to an area then known as Sunnymead,” said Mink, who grew up in Cincinnati. Before traveling to Moreno Valley, he was with a small church in the greater Philadelphia area, he said.
On October 7, 1984, Discovery Christian Church was born into existence.
Staffed by one at that time-Pastor Mink himself-Discovery Christian Church has humble beginnings, tracing back to the church’s roots at Butterfield Elementary School on Kitching Street, where it operated until 1990. It was then just a small Bible study group of 16, said Mink.
Today, the church provides services out of a facility located on Alessandro Blvd., complete with five full time and seven part time staff members, explained Mink. Average Sunday attendance-the church has three Sunday service times: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.-the church welcomes as many as 800 congregation members. Shortly after the church’s move to the current facility, classrooms were completed. Eight years ago, the main building was remodeled to include a coffee shop, and
Discovery Christian Church has grown now to also include several ministries, including a full children’s ministry; a women’s ministry; a men’s ministry; various weekly Bible study groups, both on- and off-site; and even a men’s basketball league in the winter.
For over 10 years the church has also been home to a trunk or treat Halloween extravaganza, which in the last few years has grown exponentially, and includes trunks full of candy, popcorn, hotdogs, refreshments, bouncers and other Halloween activities, noted Mink.
Overall, Mink believes that the church has grown exponentially and has accomplished much throughout the years.
“When I started, I sat down and mapped out goals (to reach in) the first 10 years,” Mink said. “We met most of those goals. Our basic premise is to reach people with the gospel, and build believers up. We want to be a good, positive witness and influence in the community.”
Mink said he is looking forward to seeing the direction in which Clemens will lead the church.
“I’m interested in seeing how the church can grow in numbers and in influence. A new person will bring a fresh perspective so it can continue to blossom and grow. I want to give Dan the space to do that,” he said.
Clemens became an associate pastor at Discovery Christian in August 2012. He moved to Moreno Valley from Canton, Ohio, with his wife, Andrea, son Corey and daughter Avery.