Meet the Pastor
Alan was raised in North Carolina and graduated from Appalachian State University with a Business degree. Prior to starting The Ark, he served for 10 years in volunteer leadership at Lakewood Church in Houston. During that time, he worked as a sales and marketing executive, including 7 years at Administaff, a well known Houston-based company. Joy is a Miami native, has a background with special needs children yet feels her true calling is to "pray for the church." Alan and Joy were married in 1982 and have three children, Matt, Christina, and Michael.
Alan and Joy Clayton founded The Ark Church with two other couples in June of 1996. They were limited on funds, location, and people that first day, but not on vision. Today The Ark ministers to thousands each weekend. Even though the church has grown large, Alan and Joy have a heart to make a difference in the lives of each individual that becomes a part of what God is doing at The Ark.
