Dan Clemens Welcomed as Senior Pastor at Discovery Christian Church

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.”