Pastor Clay HecocksWorship Pastor
Pastor Clay . . .
- Was born and raised in Ada, MI
- Attended Forest Hills Central High School
- Toured as the music director for The Platters as a young man
- Graduated from University of Michigan School of Music
- Conducted graduate work and taught at University of California, Santa Barbara
- Married Sheri on November 26, 1983, at First Baptist Church, Las Vegas, NV
- Has three children: Dustin, 20; Alexa, 16; and Taylor, 12
- Served as a worship leader at a church at 14; was made choir director at 16
- Likes woodworking, skiing, landscaping, bowling (still waiting for the perfect game), ping-pong, rock collecting, antiquing, foosball
- Played varsity tennis in high school
- Wanted to give up music to become a professional baseball player
- Moved seven times during the first five years of marriage but has remained in South Florida for a record 16 years
His favorite Bible verse is Hebrews 3:13 (NIV): But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Building Leaders for the Next Generation
Pastor Clay knows firsthand how people can honor God with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. At the age of 14, he started serving in ministry as a church organist, but it took another eight years before he surrendered his life to the Lord. Now, as the leader of our Worship Ministry, he wants to make sure that the people under his care have a strong relationship with Christ, that they are mentored and discipled, and that they have the heart of David—a driving passion for God and His people.
All three of your children are serving Christ in the fine arts—Dustin plays guitar with the Worship Team, Alexa is involved in the Dance Ministry, and Taylor plays drums. Was there some gentle encouragement from dad?
Long ago I purposed not to compel them to take music lessons because it was always expected of them. I can genuinely say that they picked up their interest and musical vocation on their own. I do think that it helped that there is always music around the house.
If you were serving as a worship leader by 14, when did you first start playing the piano?
My dad bought my mom an organ for her birthday when I was seven, and it came with six free lessons that no one else wanted to take, so I did. I liked it enough that I kept going.
Starting so young, did you ever get burned out and want to quit?
When I was in seventh grade, I made it to the all-star baseball team and all I wanted to do was to quit music and be a professional baseball player. My parents convinced me to stick it out for another year to make sure that I didn’t regret it later, and by the time I was in ninth grade, I was working at a church as an organist.
You were the church organist at 14 and you became the choir director by the time you were 16, but you didn’t make a commitment to Christ until you were 22. Didn’t anyone ask you about your spiritual beliefs?
In Isaiah 29:13, God says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” This describes me during that time. I was leading worship, but my heart was far from God. The staff of the church were great people, but looking back, I realized that they didn’t know anything about the love and grace of Christ, so they had nothing to share with me.
How did you end up getting saved?
I had moved to California to make it big in the rock-music scene but ended up hitting rock bottom. I was on staff at a church, and there were several college student interns helping out with a children’s summer camp. I started reading the Bible, and after seeing and experiencing their joy, I prayed privately to receive Christ.
When did you know that you wanted to marry one of those interns?
We were in a restaurant, sitting at opposite ends of the table. The summer staff were introducing themselves, and all of a sudden I saw her face and heard her voice. I thought, Who is that? I could marry her! Sheri and I developed a friendship, and after two years we took a long walk on the beach and I told her that I was in love with her. We were married six months later. Clearly, I married up.
How does your experience affect the way that you serve as worship pastor?
I think of a pastor as a shepherd. My responsibility to the people under my care is to make sure that they have a strong relationship with Christ and that they are mentored and discipled. I’m always looking for those like David with strong and developed skills and a passion for God. I’ve had world-class musicians that I’ve asked to step down because of spiritual immaturity.
Knowing that you actually enjoyed the Michigan winters, how did you ever get to Fort Lauderdale?
It wasn’t my decision. I was totally content where I was. I had a Christian band that was experiencing quite a bit of success, I owned a very successful woodworking business with five employees, and I was serving as the band director at my church. Pastor Bob had asked me to come down in the middle of July. I had no desire to move here, but I felt like God clearly said to me, I don’t need you here, but this is where I want you. Now this is where we want to be. It’s a great transition when where you are supposed to be becomes the place where you want to be, and we’re here for the duration.
You mention that some of your interests are landscaping and woodworking. Some would find those a little risky because of your profession. Are you ever concerned about injuring your hands?
No more than anyone else. Before I use the table saw, I pray. I use eye protection and do lots of things to be safe. I realize that you can lose a finger in a car door.
What do you believe are your spiritual gifts?
I think that my gift is discernment. I’m very comfortable with confrontation when it’s part of an honest assessment and interaction and not the opportunity to beat people down. Biblical confrontation can be an amazing opportunity to expose the truth and to set the way for repentance and growth.
Why do you believe the gift of discernment is crucial in your role as the worship pastor?
I find that I am able to get to the root of issues more quickly and to deal with problems swiftly. Leading worship is one of the greatest forums for pride to manifest itself because there’s such potential for competition and for runaway egos. The ability to discern whether someone is serving the Lord or faking it is essential. The difference may not always be obvious externally, but the wrong attitude can have devastating spiritual effects.
As a leader, you are known as a perfectionist when it comes to yourself and others. How do you balance your desire to reflect the excellence of Christ while maintaining empathy for those around you?
Grace and mercy are basic to Christianity but essential in a leader. Part of the gift of discernment is knowing when to correct and the appropriate consequences. Part of my calling to this community is to teach them godly responsibility, diligence, and perseverance in good times and bad, in times of victory and in times of trial. If we honor God in the “small” things, He can trust us with greater responsibility. God has also taught me to truly forgive so that when there has been repentance, it’s gone and forgotten.
Who is your favorite person from the Bible?
I’ve just finished a whole study of Nehemiah as it pertains to leadership, and I feel a kinship with him when it comes to style and some of the challenges he faced. Here was a man who had never seen the wall that he needed to repair, but he was able to rally support from every economic and social level to a common cause and then achieve it. My desire is to be wise and diplomatic as I share with the congregation where God is leading us and to rally everyone around the Word of God so that we can worship and praise with understanding.
Recently we’ve noticed that you wear a splint on your finger. What happened and does it affect your playing?
I hyper-extended my finger in sixth grade, so instead of a normal finger, it bends the opposite way. After years of constant pounding, it started hindering my ability to play. By the 10:15 service I would be in so much pain that I couldn’t concentrate on worship. At one point I thought that I had only two or three years left before I wouldn’t be able to play at all. I went to the orthopedic surgeon, and I told him to fix it or cut it off. He suggested that I try the splint, and truly it was a miracle. I don’t see why I cannot continue to play for many years to come.
What’s next for the Worship Ministry?
We’re reaching out to Hispanic believers with the release of our first Spanish CD. I also think that there is a greater urgency to raise up and disciple new worship leaders as we move outside the four walls of the church. It is the call in the parable of the talents in Matthew. God has entrusted us with talents that I believe we have invested wisely. We have received a reward, but what happens next? It is one thing to be faithful but another to pass those experiences on to the next generation of worship leaders. Our answer is in developing an internship program and launching Ocean’s Edge, the school of worship. I want the students to be exposed to a biblical view of worship.