Getting There: Pastor Scotty Clark

In our blog series, “Getting There,” we ask professionals and experts what it takes to be successful and what kinds of advice they can offer. And, as we believe the concepts of curiosity, creativity and communications are vital to contributing to the success of any endeavor, we are also interested in knowing which they have utilized most often and how.

Pastor Scotty Clark

Sorrento, Florida

Scotty Clark is pastor at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Sorrento, Florida

Tell me about Hew Hope Missionary Baptist Church and BBQ ?

The BBQ has supported this church for over 30 years. The church was actually built across the road. It started in 1956. But they decided in 1979 to build a new church. A member donated the church property but when they walked it off, as they did back in those days, they walked it off the wrong way. So the church was built on the wrong lot. When they wanted to expand, they found that out. And there was dispute because one of the members of the church actually owned the adjacent property. So the person left the church and got upset because they wanted the property. So the church decided that they were going to purchase the property here. So they started selling barbecue

It actually started up at my mothers house. My mother is actually the one who came up with the idea. She came up with the idea to start fundraising as we needed money. We needed funds. So instead of asking people for donations, they decided to get out and provide service to the community to get some means to raise funds.

Who does the cooking?

My father was the original cook. It was him, the deacons and two or three others that got the cooking started. They built a pit right over there. That lasted for almost 20 years. We had a pit right in the middle. So we've been doing barbecue for a long time right here in beautiful Sorrento Florida. I love Sorrento.

These are smokers. This one was donated by a member. This one was donated by a member of the community. He came up and ate with us and asked if we needed anything. “You have quite a business coming through. I've got a cooker. If you like it, you can have it for the church.”

How do you use curiosity, creativity or communications?

We do a minimal amount of advertising. We put a couple signs out front by the road and that brings some people in. We tried to do a little bit of advertising but most people that live in Sorrento, they know we're out here, and a lot of them will come out and buy barbecue because they know it is to support the church. You've got a lot of good people here. They want to help the church. They know that the church is a vital role in the community.

Helping people to become better people. I'm the pastor here so I'm involved. I'm one of the cooks. I'm out here on Thursdays. My father is still cooking and he comes out on Fridays and Saturdays. So he and I you generally do all the cooking.