Grace Centers of Hope

Who Are We > Meet Pastor Clark

KENT W. CLARK, Chief Executive Officer
	Pastor Clark has been the Chief Executive Officer of Grace Centers of Hope (formerly the Pontiac Rescue Mission) for 20 years. He is also the Senior Pastor of Grace Gospel Fellowship, located one block away from the Mission building. Over the years, his vision and leadership has transformed the ministry of Grace Centers of Hope into one of Southeastern, Michigan’s leading faith-based institutions.
Recognizing the need for accountability and responsibility in breaking the cycle of addiction, Pastor Clark started the one-year drug rehabilitation program for men. Shortly thereafter, he developed the same program for women and children. Pastor Clark is known for his strong work ethic and ensures that everyone who eats and sleeps at the Center earns their keep. He maintains a philosophy of “people helping people” and rejects the idea that throwing money at social problems brings any long-term change. Pastor Clark’s leadership has been a catalyst for many new, life-changing programs such as the Innovative Learning Center, the Boy’s Club, Men of Grace Gospel Choir, and, most recently, Little Grace Village; an affordable housing community. Our state-of-the-art Innovative Learning Center provides men and women, boys and girls with the educational tools they need to get back into society. Residents are given the opportunity to increase their literacy skills, work towards their GED, and also learn computer skills.
	The Boy’s Club, an outreach ministry for inner-city boys in the neighborhood, is instrumental in preventing gang associations and future homelessness. None of the boys in the club have fathers living at home and many of them have been exposed to drug use, alcoholism, and physical and verbal abuse. Pastor Clark has a special burden for these youth because he knows the future of the country rests in their hands. Lastly, the Men of Grace choir is a powerful testimony to the work of Jesus Christ in the lives of the men at the Center and the help they receive at Grace Centers of Hope. These men are all residents at the Mission that are either working through the rehabilitation program or are graduates of the program. The choir has traveled with Pastor Clark on several occasions to visit other states and they have also traveled abroad.
Pastor Clark was born in Lowes, Kentucky. He has been married to Dr. Pam Clark for 36 years and they have two daughters, Shannon and Amber, who proudly serve alongside their parents at Grace Centers of Hope. Shannon is former Miss Michigan USA 1999 and was in the top ten of the Miss USA Competition. She is currently the Director of Special Events at Grace Centers of Hope. Amber holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and is the Director of the Children’s Program. Pastor Clark can be heard on the radio every morning on WMUZ, 103.5 FM, at 7:45 am and 8:45 am. He is also available to speak at various churches, conferences, and other special events.