Meet The Pastor
Rev. W Clay Knick
I am a native of Danville, VA and have lived in Virginia and North Carolina. I love the Tar Heel state and enjoy visiting it. Lisa's parents live in New Bern, NC. Speaking of Lisa we met in 2003. She was taking a Lay Speaking class and told me afterwards that she wanted to take an advanced class. Of course I scheduled one as soon as possible which turned out to be four months later. She was the best student in the class! She had been single a number of years after the death of her husband so we believe the Lord was up to something. I know this: Lisa is the best thing that ever happened to me. When we married I became an instant dad to Brandon and Melissa. I love being a husband and a dad. Being both has made me a better Christian person and human being.
Church was an important part of my growing up years. I'm a cradle Methodist and was shaped by my youth group and the music we sang. That music was what we would now call contemporary Christian music or praise music. Interestingly enough some of the songs are in the UM Hymnal or The Faith We Sing: Freely, Freely, Seek Ye First, and Holy, Holy, just to name a few. Before I am a pastor and preacher I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I love preaching, teaching, and helping us all engage in the mission of God through the church of Jesus Christ. I remain convinced that the only way of life that makes sense in this world is a life that follows Jesus as his disciple and apprentice. To that end I seek to grow as a disciple and as a pastor and preacher. So I am an avid reader and student and as one of my professors said about me, "Clay has a thirst for knowledge." I'm still thirsty for God, life, theology, history, many other things. I love American history (1607-1865, 1941-1945) which was my college major. I really thought I might be a history teacher. But God had other ideas. It would be hard to mention theologians and writers who have influenced me since I have read widely over the years, but of late N. T. Wright and Fleming Rutledge would be at the top of a long list.
Pastoral care has been an important part of my ministry over the years. I did a year-long residency in pastoral care at UNC Hospitals years ago thinking I might want to be a hospital chaplain. I have been a hospice chaplain, hospital chaplain, and an EMT and fire/rescue chaplain with the Danville Life Saving Crew and the Dry Fork Volunteer Fire Department. I served with those two agencies for eight years and it was a great experience.I now serve as Chaplain for the Middletown VA Fire Department.