PASTOR GAYLON CLARK
For the past 33 years, Pastor Gaylon Clark has shared life with the gentlest soul on the planet, his wife Kathy Clark. They have one adult son, Michael, who resides in San Antonio, Texas. Beyond his immediate family, Pastor Clark has been blessed with a larger spiritual family—the Greater Mt. Zion Church members in Austin, Texas, lovingly known as “Greater.” Pastor Clark has served as the Lead Pastor of Greater for 24 years, seeing this role as his life’s calling. While in college, he dreamed of pastoring one church for his entire ministry, and by God’s grace, that dream is becoming a reality. Under his leadership, Greater has experienced exponential growth and deepened its commitment to serving the local and global communities. Under Pastor Clark’s leadership, Greater has launched eight Great Causes, strategically addressing the challenges of urban communities. His vision has fostered partnerships with organizations tackling teen pregnancy, poverty, economic empowerment, education, and health. He also spearheaded the launch of a community Food and Clothing Pantry and a Community Assistance Center, providing essential resources and financial relief to individuals in crisis. Beyond Greater, Pastor Clark has been instrumental in city-wide initiatives. He is a founding member of Christ Together Austin, a collective of churches dedicated to community engagement. Through this partnership, Education Connection was established in collaboration with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) to place volunteers in schools to read to third-grade students. Additionally, Greater Mt. Zion supports Huston-Tillotson University, a local HBCU, by mentoring W.E.B. DuBois scholars and sponsoring scholarships. Additionally, Pastor Clark serves as the chair of the Mental Health Initiatives with Dream Together 2023, an ambitious vision to make Austin a more caring and equitable city. His leadership in this initiative underscores his deep commit- ment to addressing the community’s emotional well-being and ensuring that mental health support is integrated into the city’s broader efforts for justice and compassion. Pastor Clark’s leadership also impacts lives worldwide. Greater has built a medical clinic in Kitale, Kenya, provides monthly support to the Kariobangi Baptist School in the Korogocho slums of Nairobi, and has helped finance the construction of a middle school in the same community. Through these efforts, the ministry of Greater Mt. Zion now extends from East Austin to East Africa. Pastor Clark is deeply passionate about fulfilling the Great Commission. He is devoted to life-oriented expository preach - ing, developing small biblical communities, mentoring and discipling men, and leading efforts in city transformation. He lives by the words of Gary Smalley: “Life is about relationships… the rest is just details.” For him, this quote encapsulates the biblical heart of ministry—loving God, loving people, and making disciples. Pastor Clark’s dedication to ministry, community engagement, and leadership has earned him recognition from several esteemed organizations: Austin Area Urban League, Achievements in Black Austin, The University of Texas at Austin—Community Partnership Award, African American Harvest Youth Foundation, Austin Disaster Relief Network, Austin Police Department, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. These honors reflect his passion for transforming lives and communities through faith-driven leadership. Pastor Clark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dallas Baptist University and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Dallas Theological Seminary. His academic training has provided a strong theological foundation that continues to shape his ministry, equipping him to lead with biblical depth, integrity, and a heart for discipleship.
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