Changes

Following his seminary graduation in 1988, Clarke accepted a call to serve as music and youth minister at First Baptist Church in Earlington in Hopkins County, Kentucky, a position which he retained until 1999. He was then music and youth minister at Marion Baptist Church from 1999 to 2003 in Marion in Crittenden County, Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marionbaptistchurch.com/about-us-history.asp|title=History |publisher=Marion Baptist Church website|accessdate=September 23, 2021}}</ref>

Following his seminary graduation in 1988, Clarke accepted a call to serve as music and youth minister at First Baptist Church in Earlington in Hopkins County, Kentucky, a position which he retained until 1999. He was then music and youth minister at Marion Baptist Church from 1999 to 2003 in Marion in Crittenden County, Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marionbaptistchurch.com/about-us-history.asp|title=History |publisher=Marion Baptist Church website|accessdate=September 23, 2021}}</ref>

The Clarkes' interest in horses grew when their youngest child Laura began riding horses and competing in youth events of the American Quarter Horse Association. Clarke realized there was a lack of ministries in the equestrian community, and noted that horse enthusiasts were often absent from church on Sundays because of competing weekend events. In October 2003, Clarke believed that God was calling him and his family to take his ministry to the equestrian community. Since January 2004, Clarke has been taking his cowboy church to horse enthusiasts on the road. He is classified as a missionary through the Southern Baptist Mission Service Corps. In 2009, he organized worship services at nearly thirty equine events in Kentucky, [[Tennessee]], [[Mississippi]], [[Illinois]], and [[Missouri]]. He also spoke at more than forty churches. Clarke said that horse show managers have never discouraged his ministry.  Clarke and his wife minister together: they sing, preach, give testimony and devotionals and distribute [[New Testament]]s, gospel tracts, and bottled water with scripture verses attached. In the fall of 2010, they ministered at the FEI World Equestrian Games in [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]], Kentucky.<ref name=burna/>

The Clarkes' interest in horses grew when their youngest child Laura began riding horses and competing in youth events of the American Quarter Horse Association. Clarke realized there was a lack of ministries in the equestrian community, and noted that horse enthusiasts were often absent from church on Sundays because of competing weekend events. In October 2003, Clarke believes that God was calling him and his family to take his ministry to the equestrian community. Since January 2004, Clarke has been taking his cowboy church to horse enthusiasts on the road. He is classified as a missionary through the Southern Baptist Mission Service Corps. In 2009, he organized worship services at nearly thirty equine events in Kentucky, [[Tennessee]], [[Mississippi]], [[Illinois]], and [[Missouri]]. He also spoke at more than forty churches. Clarke said that horse show managers have never discouraged his ministry.  Clarke and his wife minister together: they sing, preach, give testimony and devotionals and distribute [[New Testament]]s, gospel tracts, and bottled water with scripture verses attached. In the fall of 2010, they ministered at the FEI World Equestrian Games in [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]], Kentucky.<ref name=burna/>

Clarke named his ministry "Happy Trails Ministry," which he established in 2004 in Burna in Livingston County in western Kentucky. He adopted the name from the [[Roy Rogers]] and [[Dale Evans Rogers]] song, "Happy Trails."  During the week, he operates a riding stable with his sister, Lori Clarke.<ref name=burna>Danna Prather, "Happy Trails Pardner: Kentuckian hands reins to Christ, now shares gospel on horseback," ''The Western Recorder,'' April 27, 2010; no longer on-line.</ref>  

Clarke named his ministry "Happy Trails Ministry," which he established in 2004 in Burna in Livingston County in western Kentucky. He adopted the name from the [[Roy Rogers]] and [[Dale Evans Rogers]] song, "Happy Trails."  During the week, he operates a riding stable with his sister, Lori Clarke.<ref name=burna>Danna Prather, "Happy Trails Pardner: Kentuckian hands reins to Christ, now shares gospel on horseback," ''The Western Recorder,'' April 27, 2010; no longer on-line.</ref>