My Ministry Story

Clyde Godwin

  My wound is geography. It is also my anchorage, my port of call.
              Pat Conroy, The Prince of Tides

My story begins with my conversion on October 12, 1970 when I was 19 years old. I was quickly connected to a 'Jesus movement' on my college campus at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. I met my wife Valerie as a student and we were married after her graduation on June 28, 1975.

We moved to Philadelphia that summer to attend Westminster Theological Seminary. It was there that I met Jack Miller, one of my professors, and soon we began to attend his church, New Life Presbyterian. I learned theology at Westminster and about gospel ministry from Jack. He was an important spiritual father to me.

Upon graduating from Westminster, I told God I would go anywhere in North Carolina, "from Murphy to Manteo," as they say. God was gracious and allowed us to serve him through Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship on the campuses of Davidson College, UNC-Charlotte and to start a new chapter at Queens College in Charlotte, NC. We had an encouraging three years with this ministry, loving and growing along with the students.

In 1982, we moved to Winston-Salem, NC to plant a new church. We began with a handful of people and saw God give birth to a wonderful body of servants. In 2004, we celebrated the twenty year anniversary of Redeemer Presbyterian becoming an official church. During those years, four churches have been started and a new presbytery formed. To God be the glory.

In 1990, we moved to Greensboro, NC to take over a failing church plant. By 1995, we left a healthy church which is thriving today, and has launched a new site in the northeast part of the city. It was a joy to preach at the dedication of their new sanctuary.

We moved in 1995 to join Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN. Scotty Smith, the senior pastor, had asked me to help him with their rapid expansion by developing a church planting strategy. He also asked me to lead a staff of 40 and be the moderator of the Session. After five years of serving there, my original mission was accomplished as the church moved towards an alternate vision of growing and strengthening the original church.

In 2000, God took us to New York City to revitalize The Village Church. They had been without a pastor for 18 months and the leadership was weary and discouraged. God did great things to renew this church and Valerie and I experienced great personal growth in worshipping our Lord in a place very unlike what we had to that point known. We lived through 9/11 and saw God's redeeming work in the face of evil and tragic sorrow.

In 2002, The Board of World Harvest Mission asked me to be the next Executive Director of the Mission. I went there thinking that it was my dream job. I thought I would finish my ministry career there.
Early on, however, I was discouraged. I love the Mission but my emotions had overruled my good judgment. Sometime in 2003, my struggle intensified; I was depressed and two surgeries had left me physically weak. In 2004, I tried to bounce back and lead. Here I learned the painful lesson that the mark of a Christian is that not only do they repent of their unrighteousness but also of their righteousness. I resigned in October of 2004, having realized I was not the right fit and could not make it work. It was the death of a cherished vision.

I have always had a passion for church planting and when I was asked to plant a church in Atlanta, I came ready to try again. We loved our neighborhood and the city of Atlanta, but by the end of the year, I realized my calling and being a church planter no longer lined up. I now know I am to be a pastor in an established community to lead through my own weakness, brokenness and repentance.

My wound is bound up with the geography of Calvary. I am so thankful that by his wounds I am healed. Jesus' death, resurrection and exaltation are my anchorage and port of call. I know my call is to be a servant of His ongoing work to make all things new. His beauty changes everything. I want to celebrate our new song.

        You are worthy to take the scroll,
                    and to open  its seals;
         because you were slain,
                   and with your blood,
                              you purchased for God
         members of every tribe and language
                   and people and nation.
         You have made them to be a kingdom
                    and priests to serve our God,
         and they will reign on earth.

Revelation 5:9-10