Clark Millspaugh

Clark was in the middle of selling his oil company, cashing in on a lifetime of work.  God had been stirring his heart through Bob Buford’s book, Half Time, as well as using John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart ministry to help him explore what was in his heart as a man.  He truly wanted to use his gifts and his resources and his influence to spend the rest of his life serving God.  A man invited him to The Journey.  He graciously declined, as he was already very busy with selling the company and engaged in these other ministries.  However, when he heard that it was a “journey to intimacy with Christ,” he paused for a long while.  Those words defined his heart’s quest.  How could he not at least check this out?

He sat in a room full of men, who, like him, wanted more of God.  He could tell this was not another Bible study or men’s accountability group.  These men were opening their hearts to each other from the very beginning.  Clark blurted out, “I’m pissed off at God!”  It shocked the men, but at the same time, set a tone of transparency that would continue through their journey together.  Over the next several months, Clark was challenged to walk closely with God.  In the midst of his huge business transaction, he had a group of men telling him to “Be still and know that He is God.”  Whereas this would be a time for most men in Clark’s position to think of how they might want to reward themselves and spend their wealth, Clark wanted less of the world and more of God.

Clark completed his first Journey group, and he immediately formed a group of 21 men and started another Journey group.  Most of these were Wild at Heart guys, and he wanted them to go to this place where he had found great treasure.  Then, he read a book called, Red Moon Rising, which tells the story of the 24/7 Prayer Movement.  In this book, he read about how Prayer Rooms were being set up in rough areas of cities, which became sources of ministry and blessing and salvation to those in the neighborhood.  Clark desired to buy a building and create a prayer room in Tulsa.  He was guided to one of the poorest areas of Tulsa, right next door to an elementary school where he had served as a mentor for years.  This public school had a precious Christian lady as principal who had seen her job as a mission field.  Clark learned that most of the people in this neighborhood lived in government housing and didn’t have cars.  He also learned that no grocery store existed within walking distance of this community.  Most people bought food at the local convenience store full of overpriced junk food.

The Harvest Market was birthed.  He bought a couple of buildings adjacent to the school and converted them into a grocery store, a teaching kitchen, a classroom and a Prayer Room.  He bought groceries at wholesale and sold them for minimal profit to the community.  He worked with the school and their Global Gardens project to offer fresh vegetables in the Harvest Market.  They taught Moms how to cook healthy meals in a teaching kitchen which mirrored the kitchens in most of the apartments in the area.  He also completed the Prayer Room along with housing for young men who were part of a discipleship community.  These young men engaged the youth in the area and even began coaching some of the kids in basketball. 

Finally, Clark realized that he was providing basic needs to the families in this area, but what he really wanted to share with them was Jesus.  He found a pastor, and they launched a church.  On Sundays and Wednesdays, they would push the grocery racks to the side and they would have church.  This blossomed into an even larger ministry to the community, and God has blessed their efforts in so many ways. 

In October of 2012, Clark died of Leukemia.  It was so unexpected and seemingly premature for a man of only 59 years.  It’s strange to think that only 6 years earlier, as Clark contemplated joining The Journey, he had no idea he only had a few years left on earth.  One thing we know for sure is that he made the most of them.  He walked closely with the Lord in personal abandonment and absolute trust, giving his life away to the “least of these.”  We still miss our dear brother, Clark, and we grieve with his widow, Anne.  However, we join our Lord honoring Clark and his legacy as we say, “Well done, they good and faithful servant.  Well done!”