Meet Clay

Since 1994, Clay has served as Lead Pastor of Alice Drive Baptist Church in Sumter, SC.  God has done amazing things:

  • Worship attendance grew from 280 to 1,500 while the community grew 4%.

  • The church relocated to a new 65-acre site.

  • The church became multi-site in 2017. A new $6 million facility for the Pocalla Campus was completed in December, 2022.

  • Hundreds of people have taken their “next step” toward Jesus.

One demographer said, “A church like Alice Drive isn’t supposed to exist in a place like Sumter, SC.”

Some other things about Clay that might interest you:

  • He grew up on a working cattle and citrus operation in Central Florida. He is now the managing parter of Buckhorn Ranch and Groves

  • He went to Samford University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Ph.D., 1992).

  • He is married to the amazing Gina, who is a counselor in private practice.

  • He has three children with ACC ties: Abram (Duke); Hannah (UNC-Chapel Hill); and Sarah (Clemson), and a grandson Shep.

  • He is the author of numerous articles and the book Pipes: God’s Spiritual Gifts Flowing Through You. (click to order).

  • He loves talking about church and Kingdom growth!

  • He loves helping organizations gain clarity and take next steps.