Written by David Seibel | 2.7.2020

This post is the eighth in Project Legacy, a series of interviews that aim to learn from leaders outside education to influence those inside education. You can read previous contributions from Jake Stamper (Business), Jeff Worrell (Politics), Steve Poe (Ministry), and Tony Van Hoozer (Business) on our blog.

In the last two years, Steve Clark has helped nearly 200 families buy, sell, and build homes with amazing results. In this post, I share a few essentials learned from Steve Clark and how they can help educators today.  

It ought not to surprise us when kids don’t act like adults.

It ought not to surprise us when kids don’t act like adults.

Lesson #1: Challenges are Temporary

The first thing you must know about Steve is that he has walked through some challenging valleys to get where he is today. Although his committed and engaged parents raised him well, Steve made a series of poor decisions as a high school upperclassman. In his words, “I had some bad influences and began experimenting with drugs. Things got so bad that my GPA dropped by an entire point, and I was not able to go to college.” As if this was not hard enough on Steve and his parents, Steve became a father at the age of nineteen. “This really shook my world,” he says, “and it was at this point my aunt and uncle really took me under their wing.” When many of his high school classmates were beginning their junior year of college, Steve was living with family, raising his son, and delivering pizzas.

For educators, we must prepare ourselves now, knowing that kids will make poor choices. It ought not to surprise us when kids don’t act like adults. Although we should maintain high expectations, we should not be overcome or overwhelmed when a child’s true nature reveals itself. Steve’s story shows that setbacks are not eternal.

God does not allow for waste.

God does not allow for waste.

Lesson #2: God Pursues You

“As I look back,” Steve says, “I know God was pursuing me the whole time. I was overthinking everything, including my relationship with God, around the time I had my son.” Because Steve knows what it is like to be a prodigal son, he is more able to demonstrate compassion and understanding, because God has done that to him in Christ. God brought the right people to Steve at just the right points in his journey so he was able to take the next step. “I know that God does not allow for waste.”

God has taken Steve’s life and formed him into a God-honoring business owner and real estate agent. He comes alongside those that he serves to make the most significant financial decision that they have. “It is both emotional and personal,” he says. “Coming alongside someone during their journey is a pleasure, and I don’t take it lightly.” Steve is not after a profit only. Instead, he wants to make a difference in peoples’ lives through the home buying process.

This is a critical understanding for educators who believe in the sovereignty of God. Our Father in Heaven redeems our entire lives in Christ, including our poor choices. Genesis 50:20, “You meant it for evil, but I meant it for good.” Those who crucified Christ thought it was the end of the story, but God showed that the cross meant to kill was our victory. God does not allow for waste.

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.”

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.”

Lesson #3: Never Stop Learning

What Steve lacks in a college degree he makes up for in a relentless drive to learn and serve his clients with excellence. He places a high priority on education and training and even has his own coach so he can continually improve. “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way,” he says. Steve is always searching for someone who has already solved the challenges he faces in his world. He looks to those beyond him to cast a bigger vision for what he could be and how he could better serve people.

This attitude is essential for educators, as well. We must never stop learning and becoming adults who are worthy of imitation as we teach and train the next generation. Especially for those in classical conversation, we believe that we stand on the shoulders of giants and are part of the Great Conversation where the minds of the past and present are in a constant refining process.

In the last two years, Steve Clark has helped nearly 200 families buy, sell, and build homes with amazing results. In 2015, he was the #1 MIBOR Individual Agent out of more than 7,000 agents, having sold over $24 million in sales. In 2014, he was the #1 RE/MAX Individual Agent in Indiana, having sold over $22 million. 

As Head of School at Coram Deo Academy, Dave Seibel aims to cultivate a generation of scholar-disciples who are passionate about learning. He is husband to Brooke and father of three future Coram Deo students. He is a graduate of Wabash College, Marian University and in final Master of Divinity course at Southern Seminary.