CHRISTIAN SERVICE CENTER
Dec. 13, 1965–Organized under the direction of 16th and Vine Street Church of Christ
January 1967–Grew to include four other congregations, each assuming some financial responsibility
May 1, 1968–Turned the oversight and major financial responsibilities over to then-College Church of Christ, now University Church of Christ
1968–Moved to 901 Mesquite St.
2005–Incorporated as Christian Service Center of Abilene, Inc., in January
2013–Started major capital campaign to renovate the 3185 N. 10th St. location
April 3, 2017–Grand opening of renovated building

By Loretta Fulton

Breaking a habit of 23 years isn’t easy, and that’s why Jim Clark is grateful for the opportunity to ease out of being the director of Christian Service Center.

Jim started his job as the fourth director of the center in 2003.  He retired effective Sept. 1, but was given the title of “Director Emeritus” during a transition period. He will assist new director, Meredith Horn, for an indefinite time. 

“The board would like for me to work in that role for the next few months, reducing my hours to part-time,” he said. 

He and his wife, Susan, will stay in Abilene. They will continue volunteering with their church, The Well, and be involved with short-term mission trips. Jim also plans to make videos of elderly Christians so they can share their testimony with family members. And, he plans to write article or books based on his 41 years of ministry with local churches.

“We have loved living in Abilene for 36 years,” Jim said. “Looking back, we see how the Lord brought us here. We raised our two children here and are so grateful for the wonderful education they received in our public schools and at ACU.”

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene

Jim Clark

BIO
Place you were born: Ventura, California
Place you grew up: Ventura
Family: Jim and his wife, Susan, were married in Dallas on Aug. 8, 1981; two adult children, Aaron of San Antonie, and Shannon of Hurst. Five granchildren.
Education: Buena High School, Ventura Junior College, and University of California, Santa Barbara; Master’s in Ministry from Harding School of Theology at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, 1989 and Master of Divinity, ACU, 1993. 
Previous career: Video production

Q Are you fully retired yet or are you still in transition?
A Still in transition. The board appointed me as Director Emeritus. They would like for me to work in that role for the next few months, reducing my hours to part-time.

Q Do you plan to participate in the center’s community events and fundraisers?
A For now, I will be working mainly with existing donors to the Service Center

Q You said you will spend time with donors after you retire. Will you become the center’s unofficial “chief fundraiser”?  
A No, our new executive director (Meredith Horn) is in the process of hiring a full-time Development and Marketing Director. She or he will work with Meredith in all our fundraising activities—writing grants and reporting to foundations and theUnited Way;  working on the Summer mailout, the fall luncheon and year-end mailout.  I will mainly work in a capacity similar to a chancellor for a university.

Jim and Susan Clark

Q What do you think you will miss most about not being at the center every day?
A. 

• The strong relationships I’ve had with the staff and volunteers
• Working with donors – individuals and directors of foundations, such as Katie Alford at CFA, Cathy Ashby, now in a new role, with the Untied Way, Jane Varner Beard at the Dian Graves Owen Foundation and David Copeland with the Shelton Family Foundation
• The morning devotionals we’ve had for years with staff and volunteers.
• Being part of a Christ-centered mission.

Q Will you still be an advisor or will you fully retire?
A For now, until I fully retire, I’m serving as an advisor to Meredith as she adjusts to this new role as our ED.

Q Do you have any particular plans for retirement?
A 

• Volunteering with our church, The Well
• Short-term mission trips.
• Making videos of elderly Christians who can share their testimony with family members – especially with their grandchildren, starting with my wife and I making such a video to share with our five grandchildren.
• Writing.  I want to write articles or books based on my 41 years of ministry with local churches (including serving as an elder with the Highland Church for 18 years). 
• Some travel.  I’d like for my wife to travel to many of our beautiful national parks.  And to visit more museums, which we love.

Q Will you be staying in Abilene?
A Yes

Q Anything else you wish to add:
A We have loved living in Abilene for 36 years.  Although my wife, Susan, and I never thought we’d live here. But looking back, we see how the Lord brought us here. We raised our two children here and are so grateful for the wonderful education they received in our public schools and at ACU.

Being part of the Highland Church for 35 years was a wonderful blessing for our family – the elders, preachers, families we raised our kids with, etc.  Now we are at The Well and love their mission – discipleship, missions, and gospel-centered preaching. 

Finally, I am extremely grateful to God for all the Service Center’s board members, staff, volunteers and donors – individually, foundations, and churches (especially for the University Church who has supported the Christian Service Center since 1968!) Since we help the homeless, those who struggle with housing instability; the working poor who often need basic goods like food; single moms; those battling physical or mental challenges, etc.