About Sheila

I was raised by parents who were hard-working farmers. They faithfully took me to church every time the doors were open. I grew up knowing the gospel and hearing the Word regularly, but my faith was really more of a list of do's and don'ts. As long as I behaved and followed the rules, I thought God was pleased with me. This kind of thinking led to a lot of doubt as a teenager. 

After high school graduation, I moved away from home for my first job. Being out on my own for the first time, I was lonely and confused. Thankfully, the Lord rescued me from myself and connected me to a local church, through which I met Steve. It was through Steve that I grew in the Lord and learned to study His word. We were active church members and teachers to young marrieds for several years, but God had more in mind for us. 

After having our first child, we began to feel the Lord tugging at our hearts to go into the ministry of counseling. We had no idea all that we would encounter, but the Lord would be faithful in that calling. So we trusted His leading and moved our little family of three to Dallas, Texas. During that season of Bible college and seminary, we added three more children to the Clay clan. Over the next several years, we experienced a sweet childlike dependence on the Lord as we homeschooled our four children and lived on little funds and the goodness of God’s people. Although the years were difficult, we saw the Lord work in miraculous ways.

Now that we have an empty nest, I am able to partner with Steve at our counseling center where I work. I continue to learn to fix my eyes on Him, the author and finisher of my faith. Though I still struggle, God is always faithful to bring me back to Himself, like a loving parent redirects and disciplines a child. I know that the best is yet to come! 

My Hope for Citizens Church

My hope for Citizens Church is that we would grow into a community of believers who genuinely care for one another and seek to glorify God, the only one to whom glory is deserved. I pray that we would be humble servants, who love all those who come into our midst.