Our Pastor

Bishop Melvin E. Clark

For over 58 years of dynamic ministry and progressive community leadership, Bishop Melvin E. Clark, Sr., has been considered a leader among leaders. He is a highly-regarded theologian, presidential advisor, international thought leader, executive level advisor and accomplished businessman who has never lost his love and concern for the people of Aliquippa. In May of 1960, Bishop Melvin E. Clark, Sr. was installed in the Pastorate of the First Church of God in Christ, Inc., which later became the internationally respected Church in the Round. During Bishop Clark’s tenure, the ministry has experienced phenomenal growth that has crossed cultural and ethnic boundaries on a global scale. Not only has he presided over a thriving, multi-faceted ministry that has impacted countless families and institutions; early on Bishop Clark launched an innovative media strategy, that was one of the first of its kind, that included the acclaimed “Across The Pastor’s Desk Radio Ministry” that served as a shining beacon of hope and inspiration throughout the region for many years. His leadership abilities and deep concern for people has brought him before many leaders including four Presidents of the United States. He has been called on several occasions to serve in an advisory capacity to former President William Clinton, and was sought by the Bush administration to serve in a leadership capacity. Bishop Clark accepted an appointment to the prestigious national Saints Center Board of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. and was selected by the presiding Bishop to serve on the National Task Force of the Church of God in Christ, Inc., designed to hasten the construction of the administrative and classroom buildings for All Saints University. Bishop Clark’s outstanding achievements as pastor and community leader resulted in his consecration and appointment by the General Board of Bishops of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. in October of 1986 to the Bishopric and Jurisdictional Prelate of the Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania. In this capacity, Bishop Clark has served as ambassador around the world as a delegate to the World Pentecostal Conference in Jerusalem and later in Switzerland. At the request of the President of Sierra Leone, he was honored to be called to speak during a special celebration at the President’s church.

“For by the grace of God, the MAY I PRESENT JESUS TO YOU Ministry is not frigidly formal nor foolishly fanatical, but fervently fundamental, earnestly evangelical and purely pentecostal.

The CHURCH IN THE ROUND – where you’ll always experience a hearty handshake, warm welcome, a sincere interest and a great big hug of love.”

-Bishop Melvin Clark

Prayer Request

Online Giving

Events

He later traveled at the request of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, worldwide to South Korea to minister and help develop the church there. Bishop Clark has also ministered in Greece, the City of Corinth, twice in London, England, and has had the honor of serving at the Vatican, Rome, Italy as counselor, advisor, and member of the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishop’s Congress, who later conferred upon him the Doctor of Divinity degree. Bishop Clark is the recipient of the Man of the Year Award of the Greater Aliquippa Chamber of Commerce, the Humanitarian Award of the NAACP, of which he is a life time member and perhaps the most memorable, the Certificate of Tribute and the coveted Presiding Bishop’s Award of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. commending Bishop Clark for his most loyal and faithful service to Christ and His church. He adds this honor to an outstanding education career, which includes two Master’s degrees and an earned Doctorate of Philosophy.