A Vision to Flourish
Getting to know Clint Mix with Hannah Hamm.
On a sunny Okanagan evening recently, I sat down with our new Executive Minister, Clint Mix, to get to know him (on your behalf and mine). Over artisan, wood-fired pizza, he shared with me some of his journey, his convictions, and his hopes for this new role.
Here is a glimpse into our conversation:
"What kind of pizza should we order?” “Anything with meat.”
HH: First things first, why don’t you tell us about your family. I believe you have grandkids?
CM: I have 4 kids, and by the end of summer, 2 will be married. My wife, Carolina (Abuela), and I absolutely love spending time with our two grandsons, although, unfortunately, they live in the Toronto area. I understand when people say that grandkids are so great you’ll wish you would have had them first. In my experience, holding these amazing little ones against your body reminds you of the gift of your own children.
As grandparents we seek to honour their parents' wishes for parenting… so we don’t sugar them up or anything. This summer, our oldest grandson will be with us for a few days, and it will include a trip to the dinosaur museum in Drumheller, going down the Bow River in our dingy, and campfires in the backyard. We are so excited!
Grandparenting reminds me of the significance of life, passing on faith and values, and the hope we have for the future. It's God’s gift to us to be present with them and for them, and see their amazement and wonder about life!
We have another child’s wedding coming up this summer in Whistler, BC, which we are looking forward to very much.
HH: Sounds like you soak up the grandparent days when you can get them. Tell us about what you do for recreation otherwise.
CM: Years ago, I ran more marathons than I should have, and I’ve had just about every running injury there is! I am currently in the rewarding process and discipline of getting back to that level of fitness again. I tried several times to qualify for the Boston marathon and hope to do so again. I believe I’ve run 35 marathons so far!
Growing up, I played varsity basketball and soccer, and of course, hockey. I have spent time coaching high-level soccer and also track and field, and I believe coaching is a good metaphor for how God’s wired me. I want to see communities flourish, like the executive staff team, for instance. I love it when people around me flourish.
Carolina and I also enjoy golfing together… she’s gotten really good! It's what we do on holidays and there is no one else I would rather golf with than her!
HH: Sticking with the really important questions here, what is your favourite book? Favourite food? Sports team?
CM: I was gonna say the Bible, which would be true, but for this purpose, I’d say Henri Nouwen’s In the Name of Jesus is my favourite book.
For food... (he’s going be specific). Beef rib, slow-braised and charred, with the chimichurri my wife makes... or braised lamb shank with candied pecans, mushroom risotto, beet and goat cheese salad, with a scallop appetizer. (Did I mention meat earlier??)
Sports team? Well, I did grow up in Alberta (after some early years in the NWT) and spent some college years at CBC in Regina. In scripture, the Holy Spirit is symbolized by oil. Therefore, it seems only fitting that all faithful followers of Jesus should be Edmonton Oilers fans! World Cup? I have German/Norwegian/English heritage, plus my wife is Spanish and Chilean, so I’ll wait till the end to see who I cheer for! Canada first, of course.
HH: Thanks, these tidbits are great insights into your psyche. I know you spent time with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) and then with our sister denomination, CBOQ. Tell us a bit about those chapters and how you got started in ministry.
CM:My sense of calling began at the age of eight during a city-wide missions rally in Edmonton. Looking back, the various roles I have served in have all been about participating in, and helping others participate in, God's mission of reconciling all things to Himself.
I did spend some good years in youth ministry and then church planting. My somewhat reluctant entrance into denominational service (I really wanted to stay directly with people rather than move into what I viewed as bureaucracy) began through studying and being equipped in an organic understanding of the church. That led to a passion for church health, leadership development, and multiplication.
When I was navigating a difficult season in life, including a period as a single parent, I experienced church differently than I had before. The CBOQ reminded me that our identity is never defined by a single season of life. They continued to see me as a whole person and invited me into meaningful service. They did not expect perfection. That experience taught me the value of authenticity and grace and reinforced my conviction that the church should be a place where people can be honest about both their strengths and their struggles. I remain deeply grateful for a church family that made room for that kind of honesty and humanity.
The CBOQ went on to play a significant role in helping me complete both my Master’s and Doctoral studies. One of the most transformative discoveries for me was realizing that congregational governance is not simply democracy. At its best, it is a community prayerfully discerning together what God is saying and how we are to respond. That understanding has profoundly shaped my leadership.
Through both my colleagues and my studies, I came to see more clearly that the reconciling work of Jesus extends to all creation. I realized my understanding of the gospel had often been smaller than the gospel proclaimed in Scripture. That insight continues to shape how I lead and serve today.
HH: I feel so hopeful and encouraged by where God has led you through your different experiences. Is there anything you can see, in hindsight, that uniquely prepared you for this role as Executive Minister in the CBWC?
CM: First, I am convinced that no one is ever fully prepared for a role like this. This is my fourth denominational role, and after more than twenty years of denominational leadership, I have come to appreciate just how complex ministry leadership can be. The cultural landscape, church landscape, and challenges facing leaders are constantly changing.
That reality keeps me grateful for the wisdom of our Executive Staff, Regional Ministers, Board, and church leaders across the CBWC.
That said, my past experience has exposed me to many aspects of ministry leadership and, perhaps more importantly, taught me how to collaboratively discern responses to challenges that do not have simple answers.
I am currently an adjunct professor at Tyndale. One gift of teaching leadership, management, and organizational development at the graduate level is that I have had the opportunity to connect theory and practice. Most of what I teach I have also had the privilege of doing. Whether in local church ministry, executive leadership, governance, planning, conflict resolution, team development, budgeting, or communications, I have experienced these realities firsthand.
Just as importantly, I have learned where my limitations are and when I need to listen carefully and defer to the wisdom and expertise of others.
HH: I'm sure all that experience is going to come into play, in God’s providence. How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about entering the CBWC, in this role, for such a time as this?
CM: The passage that has been speaking most deeply to me is Exodus 33:15: "If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."
As I enter this role, I find myself less interested in having the right strategy and more interested in helping us discern the presence and leading of God together.
I sense the Spirit inviting us to listen deeply—to God, to Scripture, and to one another.
I also believe the Spirit is reminding us that truth is not only reflected in the decisions we make, but in how we arrive at those decisions and how we treat those with whom we disagree. Faithfulness is not simply about defending convictions; it is also about embodying the character of Christ in the process.
My hope is that we become a family of churches that demonstrates both conviction and grace, both courage and humility, and that together we discern what God is inviting us into next.
HH: Thank you, I echo that hope. Anything else you are looking forward to as our Executive Minister? Besides great pizza and conversation with affiliates of course.
CM: One of the consistent observations throughout my doctoral research was that when individuals and churches pray prayers of surrender, listen carefully to Jesus, and respond in obedience, transformation follows. These days I often use the word "flourishing" to describe that process. Ultimately, I am looking forward to seeing churches flourish as they participate in the mission of God in their local communities.
More than anything, as someone who truly enjoys social interaction, I am looking forward to meeting people. One of the great gifts of this role is the opportunity to hear stories of God's faithfulness from across our family of churches. I anticipate learning from pastors, lay leaders, students, educators, church planters, camp leaders, partner ministries, and congregations of every size and context.
I am also excited to join in helping us discern together what God may be calling us toward in the years ahead. Before we talk about plans and priorities, I hope we can listen carefully enough to name the right questions.
HH: Before I let you hit the road again, how can we the people of God in the CBWC, pray for you and your family?
CM: I continue to ask for wisdom in discerning priorities among the many good and important opportunities before us.
Six weeks into the role, I would add another prayer request: that God would help me be a person of reconciliation. We live in a time when many sincere and faithful followers of Jesus see issues differently. I pray for wisdom to help good people understand one another more deeply, respect one another more fully, and pursue Christ together even when differences remain.
HH: Amen. May it be so. Safe travels back to Calgary, and may you find times of rest and rejuvenation in the midst of the ‘initiation’ weeks and months ahead. Any final words to leave us with?
CM: Jesus is the Truth. Following Him calls us to hold our convictions faithfully while honouring the dignity of every person made in the image of God. Truth is not only something we believe; it is something we embody.
