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CLAY’s mission is to connect Christian Missionary Alliance churches in the Chicagoland area through annual events focusing on discipleship, unity, and living out Christ’s Great Commission.
Back in the day, James Grout, a youth pastor from Blanchard Alliance Church (Wheaton, IL) started a local network of Alliance churches called “CLAY.” The goal was to get together once a year for an Saturday event called “Global Impact.” This was actually long ago enough that most of the current youth pastors were in youth group and the current students were in dipers!
About five years ago, the youth leaders from Bloomingdale Church, Lombard Bible, Wheaton Chinese, and Alliance Bible Church began hanging out and talking about making CLAY happen again. (We actually tried to call it something different at the time to be different…but have since given up and called it CLAY.)
High School Winter Camp 2008. Our first big event together. We had a speaker from Moody, a youth leader worship band, and a plan to play “Attack the Snowman.” We loved being together even if though the game never worked…but it was a good idea.
Since then, we get together each year for three events: Winter Camp, Praise in the Park, and Crash|a multicultural worship experience.
The youth pastors/leaders from the churches also get together to plan these events (and hang out together of course).
We have been excited to see students develop friendships with each other strengthening the Church and giving glory to God. Come to one of our events to see for yourself!