From Sean:
"I grew up in a Christian home with incredible parents who taught me the word of God and modeled a life in Christ. At an early age, I made a profession of faith.
As I went off to college, my faith became shaky at best. I found myself, living for myself, trying to accomplish all I could for me. I walked on to the Auburn Football Team and played for the Tigers. I constantly battled with my self worth. When your life is defined by a depth chart, you find yourself working harder to become approved by others. As I look back on those years, I can see so many ways how the kindness of the Lord was leading me to repentance.
As I went off to college, my faith became shaky at best. I found myself, living for myself, trying to accomplish all I could for me. I walked on to the Auburn Football Team and played for the Tigers. I constantly battled with my self worth. When your life is defined by a depth chart, you find yourself working harder to become approved by others. As I look back on those years, I can see so many ways how the kindness of the Lord was leading me to repentance.
(Ephesians 2:1-10 NASB) And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
After graduating from Auburn I worked as a Sports Reporter for an NBC station in Montgomery, Alabama. I was enjoying my career but felt unsettled. It was during this season that God directed me towards pastoral ministry. With no formal training, I decided to move back home to Birmingham. This is where Rhiannon and I met and were married. I began my ministry studies and in 1998, took a position as a youth pastor. Following the will of God for our lives has been an amazing journey. Helping those that are in Christ, live as disciples of Jesus Christ, is what I love to do."
SEAN & RHIANNON:
Sean and Rhiannon served as youth pastors for six and half years. While serving in youth ministry, Sean felt called to plant a church. They prayed and searched for where they might begin this new work.
In 2003, Sean came across a new church plant in Birmingham. In 2004, he and his family moved to attend and serve as congregants of this church. (Church of the Highlands). Shortly after getting firmly planted in this new fellowship, Sean was asked to be a part of the pastoral staff. During his 12 years in leadership, he was able to help lead in many areas. He received his Ordination for Ministry, started their first campus outside the city of Birmingham (located in Auburn, Alabama), worked helping lead church planters, and served on the Executive Team that helps lead the church in its entirety.
The Clarke family moved to Franklin in March of 2016 and along with five other families and a handful of college graduates. This group of 35 adults and kids, gathered together for their first service in Freedom Intermediate School in August of 2016.
In 2003, Sean came across a new church plant in Birmingham. In 2004, he and his family moved to attend and serve as congregants of this church. (Church of the Highlands). Shortly after getting firmly planted in this new fellowship, Sean was asked to be a part of the pastoral staff. During his 12 years in leadership, he was able to help lead in many areas. He received his Ordination for Ministry, started their first campus outside the city of Birmingham (located in Auburn, Alabama), worked helping lead church planters, and served on the Executive Team that helps lead the church in its entirety.
The Clarke family moved to Franklin in March of 2016 and along with five other families and a handful of college graduates. This group of 35 adults and kids, gathered together for their first service in Freedom Intermediate School in August of 2016.