Why you need to know Doug Clay: He's in charge of the Assemblies of God's 13,000 congregations in the U.S. as the Pentecostal denomination's 13th superintendent.
Clay was raised in the Christian church, and he feels a divine impression led him to become the leader of the Springfield-based Assemblies of God, the world's largest Pentecostal denomination with 69 million adherents.
Raised in Adrian, Michigan, Clay first came to Springfield in the 1980s to study at Central Bible College. After graduating, career prospects took him to Ohio for the next two decades, and he returned to Springfield in 2008 to become general treasurer for the Assemblies of God.
As general superintendent, Clay serves as CEO for the 680 employees at the Springfield headquarters, while also developing leadership within the church among its 67 districts. He also has influence globally on the executive committee for the World Assemblies of God Fellowship.
Clay succeeded George Wood, who served in the role for 10 years.
He admits his workload has changed "pretty significantly" since taking on the superintendent role, but he believes his past ministry work has prepared him.
Among his goals, Clay stresses biblical literacy for the Assemblies of God, challenging the next generation in church involvement and a quest to ensure healthy churches.
Calling himself a "church health enthusiast," Clay wants to see thriving Assemblies of God communities.