October 25, 2026
STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. — North Henry Baptist Church is nearing the completion of a gradual pastoral transition that has allowed longtime pastor Stan Jordan and his successor, Josh Clark, to serve alongside one another for nearly a year.
The Stockbridge church was started 40 years ago and has had only three pastors. Jordan has served the congregation for the past 25 years.
Three years ago, Jordan began pondering his future and shared his thoughts with the deacons and ultimately with the whole church. He was not particularly interested in retiring but was seeking God’s guidance regarding the next season of ministry in his life.
Then, in May 2025, Chris, Jordan’s wife of more than 50 years, died after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jordan’s writings during that period reflected both his grief and his reliance on God.
“It is good to mourn, because it shows the great love we had for our loved one,” he wrote. “Jesus promised that we would be blessed when we mourn. The result of our mourning will be God giving us His comfort, which is so soothing and healing.”
More recently, Jordan wrote, “Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with the God of the universe. ... He is not just God. He is my God. He personally cares for me. I talk with Him, and He talks with me. I spend time with Him, and He walks with me all the time. I do what He wants me to do, and He blesses me in so many ways all the time. It is such a fulfilling relationship.”
As Jordan sought the Lord’s direction, the church began looking for a new pastor with the expectation that the two men would serve together for a season before the mantle of ministry was passed from one to the other, much like Elijah’s mantle was transferred to Elisha.
The pastor search team eventually presented Josh Clark to the church as Jordan’s successor.
Clark had grown up about two miles from North Henry Baptist Church but was a member of Eagle’s Landing Baptist Church in the same area.
“When I passed by the North Henry Baptist Church,” Clark explained, “I saw it as a light for the gospel.”
Clark said he knew God had called him into ministry at age 17, at the beginning of his senior year in high school. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian studies from North Greenville University and later earned a Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.
Following seminary, he served as pastor of student and family ministries at First Baptist Church in Leland, N.C.
On Sept. 28, 2025, Clark preached at North Henry in view of a call to become the church’s pastor. The church extended the call, and he began serving there several weeks later in November.
“Coming to North Henry Baptist Church was an answer to prayer,” Clark said. “I had a list of all the things I wanted when I became the senior pastor of a church, and I was able to check all the marks when I considered coming back to Georgia. Having the opportunity to experience the kind of transition NHBC provided was the answer to one of my most fervent prayers.”
Clark’s one-year anniversary at North Henry is approaching.
The transition began with Clark working alongside Jordan. During the first five months, Clark preached occasionally. As the months passed, he began sharing the pulpit equally with his mentor and the church’s longtime pastor.
For Clark, the year of serving alongside his predecessor has been both instructive and encouraging.
“Pastor Stan is one of the most gracious, humble, loving people you would ever want to meet,” Clark said. “During the transition period, he absolutely set me up for success.
“We met weekly and talked about how to shepherd the church well, the importance of expository preaching, and the challenges of being a good administrator. He was my mentor and has been a great blessing to me.”
Jordan also gave Clark the freedom to decide what his own role would be once the transition was complete.
“He told me that when the transition period is over, he will remain in the church or go elsewhere at my discretion,” Clark said. “I told him, ‘Please don’t leave.’”
Jordan will no longer serve on the church staff but will remain as head of North Henry Academy, a ministry of the church devoted to teaching students and helping them develop into well-rounded Christian adults.
Clark will assume the full responsibilities of senior pastor as he leads the church in pursuing its stated objectives of “Growing in God, Growing in Community, Growing in Serving, and Growing in Missions.”
The transition has allowed Clark to learn from a pastor who has shepherded North Henry for a quarter century while giving Jordan the opportunity to help prepare the congregation for its next season.
Jeremiah 3:15 says, “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (ESV).
For nearly a year, Jordan and Clark have worked together toward that calling.
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