The Rev. E.M. Clark (Elmond Madison) of Springfield, Missouri, went to his heavenly home on Saturday at the age of 98. He was born in Centerville, Iowa to J.J. Clark and Estella Madison Clark in 1911.
Rev. Clark is survived by his wife of 71 years, Estella; a daughter, Elaine, and her husband, Dr. Dan Johnson; sons, Admiral Vern Clark and his wife Connie, and Larry Clark; a sister Alene Scott; grandchildren Darin Johnson, Brent Johnson, Jon Adrian Clark, Jeffrey Clark and Matthew Clark; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by five siblings.
Raised in the farmland of Iowa, Rev. Clark began his career as a school teacher. After becoming a Christian, he felt the call to full time ministry and he became an evangelist and a pastor in the Assemblies of God. Initially pastoring in Michigan, he then focused on the evangelistic field where he met and married his wife Estella Bernice Burry. They pastored in churches in Nebraska until he came to Springfield, Missouri, to serve as the Director of Radio, which aired the program ‘Revivaltime’ for the Assemblies of God.
In the late 1950’s he returned to pastoring responsibilities at Bethel Church in Quincy, Illinois. Shortly thereafter he was elected District Superintendent of the Illinois District Council of the Assemblies of God where he served as the chief executive of the body of churches in the state of Illinois. Clark’s vision and focus during this period was church building and development of leaders to create District facilities and churches that would shape the future. In 1970 he became the President of North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Minn. He served there until 1978 when he became the Chancellor of the College until he stepped down in 1980.
Rev. Clark spent his remaining years dedicated to the development of God’s Church. His service included work for the Assemblies of God to strengthen the financial base for Christian education and his continuing commitment to building churches. He became well-known for his fund raising abilities and ultimately raised millions of dollars in support of new churches. At the age of 80 he began writing about his experiences in the ministry and his philosophy of spiritual giving and ultimately published four books on the importance of having our financial affairs in rightstanding with God.
Rev. Clark received numerous awards and recognitions for his years of ministry in the Assemblies of God including an honorary doctorate from Northwest College, the Order of the Golden Shield from Evangel University for his years of support of Christian education and was listed in Who’s Who in 1975.
“Our Dad was a tower of strength. He was a man of great wisdom, courage, determination, and commitment. We will remember him as a man who believed he was called to serve God and lived each day seeking to fulfill his purpose.”
A visitation will be held in Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 East Seminole, Springfield, Missouri on Monday, December 14, 2009, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 15 at 1 p.m. in the Clark Chapel at James River Assembly at 953 West Farm Road 168 in Springfield with interment to follow in Rivermonte Memorial Gardens.
Memorial donations may be made to the fund for the E.M. & Estella Clark Faculty Award for Excellence at Evangel University, which annually honors an outstanding faculty member at the University.