Discovery Christian Church Senior Pastor Bob Mink Set for Retirement

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 Jan, his wife of over 30 years, 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. Discovery Christian Church has grown now to 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, and refreshments. There are also bounce housess 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 [for] 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.