Meet the Founder...
As one of the next greatest influences in the World of Gospel Music and Music Ministry, an anointed minister, songwriter, arranger, teacher, director, vocal coach, organist, instructor, and music leader, Meachum L. Clarke has molded over 25 years of musical experience and ministry excellence into the start of what will be one of the most awesome pillars in music ministry for generations past and to come!
Born in Lakeland, FL, Clarke began cultivating and developing his love for music at the early age of 5. Whether it was playing instruments (drums, keyboard, & organ), singing, or simply listening with great analysis, Meachum uncompromisingly pursued the unwrapping and found the strength and passion to explore his musical gift and eventually began developing musicians, singers, and choirs; educating them on the importance of music ministry. His ability to respectfully transcend denominational divides to bring singers and musicians together in unity, focused for ONE purpose, affords him the great opportunities and venues to further develop ministry through music to be uncluttered and pure unto God.
As the youngest of 4 children (with 2 brothers and 1 sister) to Mary & Willie F. Clarke Sr., Meachum started his musical journey playing drums or simply beating on everything he thought could produce a sound. It was at the age of 7, when he was accepted into Rochelle School of the Arts. Meachum, as a young person, began to couple the raw nature of his gift with the discipline and formal instruction. This was just the start of this awesome journey of music ministry for Meachum.
In high school, with the mastery of 10 instruments under his belt (piano, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tenor sax, baritone sax, bass clarinet, percussion, and his principle instrument – TUBA), he served as Head Drum Major of the Lakeland Senior High School Dreadnaught Marching Band. The band received their 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th Straight Superior Rating under his tenure. In conjunction with his scholastic endeavors, he successfully managed to serve faithfully in his church as organist, choir director, and administrator.
Meachum went on to be accepted to Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University where he majored in Music Education. It was there also that Meachum, served as Music Director, President, and a Director of the world Renown FAMU Gospel Choir. “That was where the real ministry started for me!” he says. Under his tenure there the choir accomplished many achievements to include singing with gospel artists such as James Hall, Dorothy Norwood, and also to appear on WORD NETWORK live from the Bobby Jones Gospel Industry Retreat in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in addition to traveling across the nation in ministry.
As his understanding of music increased, so did his passion for pleasing God. Meachum began devoting more and more time to studying the bible and the kingdom assignment attached to his gift of music. He became Assistant Minister of Music at St Mary Baptist Church. He later received the call from God to become a full-time Minister of Music at the Greater Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, under the pastor and maestro Dr. Craig P. Riley, while still fervently fulfilling his scholastic endeavors.
“This was my first transition. Honestly, I was absolutely fine where I was, but through this, God put me in a place of continual pursuit of Greater Glory unto him!” he continues “All my life I had been the quick learner who, in a sense, never had to struggle with challenges. I thought I had mastered it, but God taught me through this, first, how to know, listen for, and obey the voice of GOD, and secondly, how not to get too comfortable or complacent. I know now that I must incessantly go in pursuit of the gift and lifestyle that witnesses to the excellence of God’s Glory”
God continued to develop and transition Meachum, both personally and within ministry. Meachum was now faced with making the decision to pursue an even greater level of God’s will. After great prayer and seeking clarity of God’s voice, Meachum finally yielded and made the move from Tallahassee, FL. to Jacksonville. While in search of a ministry covering, Meachum visited St. Paul Baptist Church with absolutely no intent to neither join the church nor become active within the Music Ministry. Shortly following, Meachum became active within the church as just a part-time musician and shortly after, within weeks, became the Minister of Worship and Fine Arts Ministry building an almost deceased music ministry of about 70 members to a well-rounded Music & Fine Arts ministry consisting of a total of approximately 380+ singers, musicians, actors, dancers, choreographers, poets and play writes. There, he also gave leadership to the administration and overall movement and management for the Worship Ministry components: Music, Fine Arts, Ushers, Security, Intercessory Prayer, Health Care, Armor Bearers, Media, Altar Workers, and etc. He, quite frequently, travels abroad with his Pastor, partnering in divine moments of ministry.
Surpassing most modern expectations and creating a far greater epitome of what a Minister of Music should be; Clarke has introduced many aspects of fine arts to his church such as its Annual Christmas Cantata (which yields stand-room-only attendance). Along with his notable list of music and ministry accomplishments and distinctions, Clarke has accompany, collaborated with, and/or ministered before many remarkable musical artists, spanning a broad array of music, including James Hall, Karen Clark-Sheard, Steve Lawrence, Sha’ Simpson, Tramaine Hawkins, Dorothy Norwood, Sheri Jones-Moffit, Helena Barrington, Vickie Winans, S. Lamar Simmons, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Datisha “TiKi” Pickett, Jonathan Nelson, Shea Norman, Beverly Crawford, Marvin Sapp, Daryl Coley, VaShawn Mitchell, Donnie McClurkin, Stephen Hurd, Tasha Cobbs, Byron Cage, Dr. Judith Christie-McAlister, Kim Burrell, Jason Nelson, Bishop L. Spencer Smith, as well as being privileged to perform before the Nation's First Lady, Michelle Obama.
In addition to his ability to seamlessly bridge the gaps between tradition and contemporary gospel, classical training, fundamentals of voice, and hymns, He is greatly known for his unparallel ministry structure development, choir training, Levitical training, worship expositories, and leadership capacity.
Now as the Music Director of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, Meachum accepts and understands his true purpose and that he is, first and foremost, called to live a life pleasing and fulfilling the plans God has set for him with extreme humility (1 Peter 5:6 that states, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” - It is with this maturity and focus that solidifies the platform and bolsters Clarke’s sure global success.
Born in Lakeland, FL, Clarke began cultivating and developing his love for music at the early age of 5. Whether it was playing instruments (drums, keyboard, & organ), singing, or simply listening with great analysis, Meachum uncompromisingly pursued the unwrapping and found the strength and passion to explore his musical gift and eventually began developing musicians, singers, and choirs; educating them on the importance of music ministry. His ability to respectfully transcend denominational divides to bring singers and musicians together in unity, focused for ONE purpose, affords him the great opportunities and venues to further develop ministry through music to be uncluttered and pure unto God.
As the youngest of 4 children (with 2 brothers and 1 sister) to Mary & Willie F. Clarke Sr., Meachum started his musical journey playing drums or simply beating on everything he thought could produce a sound. It was at the age of 7, when he was accepted into Rochelle School of the Arts. Meachum, as a young person, began to couple the raw nature of his gift with the discipline and formal instruction. This was just the start of this awesome journey of music ministry for Meachum.
In high school, with the mastery of 10 instruments under his belt (piano, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tenor sax, baritone sax, bass clarinet, percussion, and his principle instrument – TUBA), he served as Head Drum Major of the Lakeland Senior High School Dreadnaught Marching Band. The band received their 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th Straight Superior Rating under his tenure. In conjunction with his scholastic endeavors, he successfully managed to serve faithfully in his church as organist, choir director, and administrator.
Meachum went on to be accepted to Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University where he majored in Music Education. It was there also that Meachum, served as Music Director, President, and a Director of the world Renown FAMU Gospel Choir. “That was where the real ministry started for me!” he says. Under his tenure there the choir accomplished many achievements to include singing with gospel artists such as James Hall, Dorothy Norwood, and also to appear on WORD NETWORK live from the Bobby Jones Gospel Industry Retreat in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in addition to traveling across the nation in ministry.
As his understanding of music increased, so did his passion for pleasing God. Meachum began devoting more and more time to studying the bible and the kingdom assignment attached to his gift of music. He became Assistant Minister of Music at St Mary Baptist Church. He later received the call from God to become a full-time Minister of Music at the Greater Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, under the pastor and maestro Dr. Craig P. Riley, while still fervently fulfilling his scholastic endeavors.
“This was my first transition. Honestly, I was absolutely fine where I was, but through this, God put me in a place of continual pursuit of Greater Glory unto him!” he continues “All my life I had been the quick learner who, in a sense, never had to struggle with challenges. I thought I had mastered it, but God taught me through this, first, how to know, listen for, and obey the voice of GOD, and secondly, how not to get too comfortable or complacent. I know now that I must incessantly go in pursuit of the gift and lifestyle that witnesses to the excellence of God’s Glory”
God continued to develop and transition Meachum, both personally and within ministry. Meachum was now faced with making the decision to pursue an even greater level of God’s will. After great prayer and seeking clarity of God’s voice, Meachum finally yielded and made the move from Tallahassee, FL. to Jacksonville. While in search of a ministry covering, Meachum visited St. Paul Baptist Church with absolutely no intent to neither join the church nor become active within the Music Ministry. Shortly following, Meachum became active within the church as just a part-time musician and shortly after, within weeks, became the Minister of Worship and Fine Arts Ministry building an almost deceased music ministry of about 70 members to a well-rounded Music & Fine Arts ministry consisting of a total of approximately 380+ singers, musicians, actors, dancers, choreographers, poets and play writes. There, he also gave leadership to the administration and overall movement and management for the Worship Ministry components: Music, Fine Arts, Ushers, Security, Intercessory Prayer, Health Care, Armor Bearers, Media, Altar Workers, and etc. He, quite frequently, travels abroad with his Pastor, partnering in divine moments of ministry.
Surpassing most modern expectations and creating a far greater epitome of what a Minister of Music should be; Clarke has introduced many aspects of fine arts to his church such as its Annual Christmas Cantata (which yields stand-room-only attendance). Along with his notable list of music and ministry accomplishments and distinctions, Clarke has accompany, collaborated with, and/or ministered before many remarkable musical artists, spanning a broad array of music, including James Hall, Karen Clark-Sheard, Steve Lawrence, Sha’ Simpson, Tramaine Hawkins, Dorothy Norwood, Sheri Jones-Moffit, Helena Barrington, Vickie Winans, S. Lamar Simmons, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Datisha “TiKi” Pickett, Jonathan Nelson, Shea Norman, Beverly Crawford, Marvin Sapp, Daryl Coley, VaShawn Mitchell, Donnie McClurkin, Stephen Hurd, Tasha Cobbs, Byron Cage, Dr. Judith Christie-McAlister, Kim Burrell, Jason Nelson, Bishop L. Spencer Smith, as well as being privileged to perform before the Nation's First Lady, Michelle Obama.
In addition to his ability to seamlessly bridge the gaps between tradition and contemporary gospel, classical training, fundamentals of voice, and hymns, He is greatly known for his unparallel ministry structure development, choir training, Levitical training, worship expositories, and leadership capacity.
Now as the Music Director of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, Meachum accepts and understands his true purpose and that he is, first and foremost, called to live a life pleasing and fulfilling the plans God has set for him with extreme humility (1 Peter 5:6 that states, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” - It is with this maturity and focus that solidifies the platform and bolsters Clarke’s sure global success.