Donald Clarke
Jr. Lead Pastor
Coupled with a love for God’s people, Pastor Donald F. Clarke, Jr. has a tremendous passion for the Word of God. Since childhood, Pastor Don has always felt the call of God upon his life and has had a heart for ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the mere age of 6 years old, he boldly announced to his mother, “I want to preach like my father and sing like Jimmy Swaggart!” And that is exactly what he did and what he continues to do today.
Under the leadership of his father and mother, Bishop Dr. Donald F. Clarke and Pastor Dr. Helga’s Clarke, Pastor Don began his ministry as the youth pastor of Harvest Fire Worship Center’s “Joshua Generation.” During his 8-year tenure as youth pastor, God used him mightily to build a powerful and vibrant youth ministry that heavily impacted and ignited the lives of many teenagers and young adults.
Currently serving as the Lead Pastor of Harvest Fire Worship Center, Pastor Don aims to faith, family and future. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and support of the Harvest Fire Leadership Team, Pastor Don’s heart is solidifying the faith, strengthening family systems and securing the future of God’s people. Pastor Don ministers extensively throughout the United States and has spread the gospel as far as Ghana, Africa.
Pastor Don is also a songwriter and author. He has written a book entitled The Thankful Life and co-written with the two-time Grammy nominee, Canton Jones, on the hit single “Livin’ Clean.”
Pastor Don received his Associate in Arts from Broward Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the American Intercontinental University, and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary.
Pastor Donald Clarke, Jr. is the proud father of his twelve year-old son, Elijah Peter Clarke.
Bishop Dr. Donald F. Clarke
Bishop Dr. Donald F. Clarke, Sr. is the Overseer/Founding Pastor of Harvest Fire Worship Center, Inc., and President of Harvest Fire Outreach International, both located in Miami Gardens, Florida. Saved at the age of twenty-three in New York City, he did a 180 degree turn around from the life he knew to become a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. He attended and graduated from Manhattan Bible Institute in 1977 and in 1978 was called to the ministry along with his wife, Helga.
Prior to his conversion Bishop Clarke, a graduate of City University of New York, worked in the Banking industry. In 1986, he began his solely owned company Asset Based Lending Consultants and Don Clarke Enterprises with branches in London, England and several major cities in the United States, including New York, Tampa and Atlanta. Noted for his energy, teaching style and years of experience on banking principles he is sought out to lecture on Corporate Financial Lending Disciplines worldwide and is an expert witness on banking fraud cases.
He has been noted in the “Who’s Who in Business” magazine and has been awarded the Lifetime Instructor of Excellence by the Commercial Finance Association, New York. His clientele is inclusive of General Electric Commercial Finance, (Chicago, Connecticut, and Sydney, Australia) Bank of Ireland (Dublin, Ireland), Hong Kong Shanghai Bank (HSBC), New York City and National Bank of Canada.
Bishop Clarke has authored a textbook on Asset Based Lending Disciplines that was published in 2006 and is being utilized for continuing education purposes by major global lending institutions such as JP Morgan Chase and Textron Financial Services. Mr. Clarke has been twice quoted in the Wall Street Journal as an expert on Asset Based Lending Disciplines. He also authored “Waging Successful Spiritual Warfare” which was published in 2007. He has also served on the Board of Directors of Camillus House, Miami, Florida and presently sits on the Board of Directors as Finance Chairman of Window International (WIN) Colorado Springs, Colorado.
As Pastor and CEO of Harvest Fire Worship Center and Harvest Fire International Outreach Ministries with ministries catering to the whole man, he has spoken on several continents including Asia and particularly India 2006 where over 10,000 were converted to Christianity. Bishop Clarke has appeared as a guest on Trinity Broadcasting Network (“TBN”) local and international Praise The Lord programs.
In 1997 Bishop Clarke received an honorary Doctorate degree from Omega Bible Institute and in June of 2006 received the Jaycees Humanitarian Award primarily for his work among the homeless from The Miami Rescue Mission where he has mentored men and women back to productive lives.
Bishop Clarke has been married to his wife, Dr. Helga Clarke, for over forty years and is the proud father of four children and nine grandchildren.
In 1989, a new facility geared to seat 125 persons, was constructed. Having experienced solid exponential growth in the years following, the Pastors and Leadership purchased the adjacent lot contiguous to it. Thus, in 1994 construction began on the church’s present multifaceted facilities, completing them in 1998. The total cost was approximately $1.4 million with about $1 million donated by about 200 members over the 4-year building period.
In 2002, the church name and affiliation changed from the Church of the First Born to Harvest Fire Worship Center, Inc. Currently, Harvest Fire Worship Center, Inc. operates under the auspices of Bishop Donald & Dr. Helga Clarke and Lead Pastor Donald Clarke, Jr. Today, Harvest Fire Worship Center, Inc. strives as a multi-cultural church with a proactive group of Elders and Deacons providing strong middle-management infrastructural support. It is a church of energetic worship and active community involvements, with a strong emphasis on fellowship among brethren. Harvest Fire Worship Center is a place where interpersonal relationships are advanced, families are nurtured, and members are encouraged to maximize excellence through continued education, life skills and training.
Dr. Helga Clarke
Dr. Helga A. Clarke, is Co-Overseer/Founding Pastor of Harvest Fire Worship Center in Miami, Florida. It is here that her husband, Bishop Donald F. Clarke serves as Overseer and her son Pastor Donald Clarke, Jr. serves as Senior Pastor. She is the co-founder of Daughters of Destiny International, a ministry that caters to women of all ages through various mentorship programs, enabling women to reach their full potential in Christ. She is not only a student of the Word but continues to enhance herself academically.
In her quest, she has accumulated various certificates and degrees. She holds degrees in Ministry with Honors from South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary in Deerfield Beach, Florida as well as Omega Bible Institute and Seminary in LA, and a Diploma in Ministry Training and Development from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is also a member of the American Associates of Christian Counselors (AACC) and is a nurse by profession.
Recognizing her knowledge, impartation of the Scriptures, and her empathy towards hurting and abused women, she is in much demand to speak at women’s conferences, seminars, and retreats. She has spoken not only in the United States and Canada but in India, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and other countries. She has a heart for missions and has been on several international mission trips with Window International, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dr. Helga also travels extensively with the Mission’s Ministry of Harvest Fire International Outreach Ministries. She is the founder of Beyond Limitations Coaching Group. It is within this sphere that she aims to empower women to move beyond the normalcy of daily life into a life of passion, purpose, and destiny.
Dr. Helga Clarke is also the author of Forgiveness Is Not An Option where she shares her story and that of others who have chosen forgiveness over despair and love over hate. Dr. Helga empowers her readers to leave the past behind and awake to the dawning of a new day.
Dr. Helga served as the former Vice-President of Intercessor’s Network of Miami International, a ministry that focused on spiritual warfare and intercessory prayer. Today, Dr. Helga passionately teaches intercession through strong impartation and practical application. She also hosts a monthly radio show on WAVS where she teaches her listeners the practical and spiritual concepts of living a life beyond limitations.
Dr. Helga has been married to Bishop Donald F. Clarke for forty years and has served alongside him since the inception of the ministry. She is the mother of their four wonderful children and the grandmother of nine.
Our History
The Clarkes responded to God’s instructions and gave up everything to follow His leading. In 1978, with the support of his expectant wife, Helga, Donald Clarke, Sr. resigned his job as a junior executive at Irving Trust Bank in New York City. Subsequently, on Good Friday, the newly married couple left New York and began their eventful journey to Florida. It is there that they became the pastors of the Miami, Florida branch of the Church of the First Born.
Despite the numerous setbacks, the Clarkes, with the help of God weathered the storms as they came. The first service was held at a store front building with three faithful – the one convert plus the Clarkes. In the ensuing months, the Church of the First Born’s place of meeting went from one location to another. That is until 1982, when the church purchased the first installment of several pieces of property that would become the permanent home of present-day Harvest Fire Worship Center. The first worship facility was a rather primitive mobile home but God’s manifested presence was always evident.
In 1989, a new facility geared to seat 125 persons, was constructed. Having experienced solid exponential growth in the years following, the Pastors and Leadership purchased the adjacent lot contiguous to it. Thus, in 1994 construction began on the church’s present multifaceted facilities, completing them in 1998. The total cost was approximately $1.4 million with about $1 million donated by about 200 members over the 4-year building period.
In 2002, the church name and affiliation changed from the Church of the First Born to Harvest Fire Worship Center, Inc. Currently, Harvest Fire Worship Center, Inc. operates under the auspices of Bishop Donald & Dr. Helga Clarke and Lead Pastor Donald Clarke, Jr. Today, Harvest Fire Worship Center, Inc. strives as a multi-cultural church with a proactive group of Elders and Deacons providing strong middle-management infrastructural support. It is a church of energetic worship and active community involvements, with a strong emphasis on fellowship among brethren. Harvest Fire Worship Center is a place where interpersonal relationships are advanced, families are nurtured, and members are encouraged to maximize excellence through continued education, life skills and training.
