As I mentioned here, Stephen & Jenn Clemens have recently joined our team at SAC. We are partnering to create a church that unchurched people love to attend.
Recently, I interviewed Clem in hopes of further introducing him. Here are his words of wisdom:
1) If money weren't a consideration, what would be your dream job and why? People might say that I'm a little addicted to weather. If I could chase severe storms for the rest of my life, I would die a very happy man (probably from all of the adrenaline rushes). I tend to get a bit on edge during severe weather season. I love to take people with me when I go chasing God's handiwork.
2) Even though you played soccer at Central, do you recognize AMERICAN football as the superior sport? Is this a trick question? If you want to compare apples to apples we can. I will always have room in my heart for the real "football" but yes I do think American football is the superior sport! :)
3) Why do you believe that this is the year that the Dallas Cowboys will win the Super Bowl? Let me begin by saying that I am a diehard Dallas Cowboy's fan and I am convinced that they are not only America's team but God's team (He told me so!). :) The Cowboys will win the Super Bowl after they finally win a playoff game this year! I love watching the Cowboys play and there's nothing better than doing it around close friends and family.
4) You've been a youth minister for the past four years. What have you enjoyed most? I never thought in a million years that God would call me to teach and disciple teens. I would have to say just getting to do what Jesus did throughout His ministry - serving others. True joy and fulfillment will follow you when you get on your hands and knees and wash people's feet (metaphorically speaking). I can't tell you how enjoyable it has been to take someone who felt undeserving of kind treatment, who felt under-appreciated or laughed at by others, and take them under your wings and show them our Savior's love. To treat them differently and not look at them the same way others might. Building real relationships that will last forever and will endure the test of time has been rewarding as a young youth pastor.
5) What excited you most about joining the San Angelo Church Team (other than the $100K annual salary)? First of all, $100K is way too much . . . I'll settle for $90K. :) My wife and I have been extremely excited about the opportunity God has laid before us. There's a sense of awe, because we know we serve a big God and He's going to do big things through His church. It excites me most to think that we are going to reach out to people who may have had a bad church experience in the past or people who have never been introduced to Jesus. We are bringing to San Angelo a church that is transparent, real, and authentic in every way. A church that wants to show everyone the way to the cross and to the new freedom we have in Christ. We are truly looking forward to the many adventures ahead and can't wait to see God move.
6) Financially, you and Jenn decided to step out on faith to join our team. What made that step of faith difficult and how were you able to take it? I don't know that it was all that difficult. There was, of course, a measure of distress in knowing that we were going to be leaving behind income that we had become dependent upon. But for us, it was never a question about the income itself. We just wanted to be faithful wherever He led us next. We have seen God provide for us over and over again. He promised to give us what we needed and not always what we wanted. It never makes sense to us how He does it but He provides for us. We take the step, or leap of faith, and He does the rest. To an outsider looking in it may seem like foolishness to walk away from being comfortable financially. We have purposed in our hearts to never allow our comfortable situation to dictate what God wants us to do next.
In the next few days, I'll post a Q&A with Stephen's wife Jenn.
