Pastor Clifton Turner: The Path Less Measured - Building a Ministry of Authentic Connection in the Heart of Colorado Springs

Pastor Clifton Turner Jr.'s story unfolds not as a tale of traditional entrepreneurial success, but as a testament to the power of authentic leadership and unwavering faith. His journey challenges conventional metrics of achievement and offers profound insights into what it truly means to build something meaningful in service of others.

Early Foundations
Raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, by a single mother and grandmother, Turner's early life was steeped in faith and community values. His first paying job as a bagger at Kroger's Grocery Store would be the beginning of a diverse career path that included roles as a waiter, industrial construction worker, and security supervisor at ConocoPhillips Oil Refinery.

Each position, though seemingly unrelated to his current role, laid crucial foundational stones for his future ministry. "I worked in industrial construction for about 15 years," Turner recalls. "I started out as just a laborer, then was able to move over to a different craft, the iron workers, as a helper. Then I was able to get into instrumentation, which works very close hand-in-hand with electricians." This progression taught him valuable lessons about building from the ground up and the importance of strong foundations - principles that would later prove invaluable in ministry.

The Call to Ministry
While working in various industrial roles, Turner felt an increasing pull toward ministry. "Ministry starts long before you ever get to the place that you think it begins," he reflects. "I didn't realize that at first." His initial exposure to ministry came through running the Pentecostal Student Center near McNeese State University, where he served for five years.

The Leap to Colorado
In 2010, Turner made a decisive move that would reshape his ministry and challenge everything he thought he knew about success. He left a thriving congregation of 800-plus members in Louisiana to take over Life Church CS in Colorado Springs, which had just 21 voting members at the time. "I was at a large church in Louisiana, that I was raised at, that I was in leadership at," Turner shares. "Never thought I would leave Louisiana, but God had different plans." This decision marked the beginning of a journey that would test his faith, resilience, and understanding of success.

Challenges and Growth
The path hasn't been linear. Life Church CS experienced cycles of growth and contraction, reaching 60-plus members before facing significant setbacks. "The Lord told me he was fixing to shake the church up," Turner recalls. These "shaking up" periods occurred multiple times, each bringing the congregation back to smaller numbers but ultimately strengthening the core community. The COVID-19 pandemic presented perhaps the greatest challenge. While many churches didn't survive the pandemic, Life Church CS adapted and persevered. "Our congregation, though it is a small community, it's very diverse in age and ethnicity, culture," Turner explains. "They have been willing to endure and persevere and stick together through the hardest of times."

Leadership Philosophy
Turner's approach to leadership is grounded in simplicity and authenticity. He's developed what he calls a simple principle: "Simple doesn't mean easy, difficult doesn't mean impossible. I have to be intentional because it won't happen accidentally." This philosophy has guided him through various transitions, including the church's current meeting arrangement at a funeral home where he works as support staff. His leadership style emphasizes relationship over numbers. "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," he says. This approach has helped him connect with people who have what he calls "frustrated faith" - individuals who are "not tired of Him, but they were tired of church and religion."

Lessons Learned
One of Turner's most profound realizations has been about the nature of success itself. "Success is not a destination," he explains. "The true definition of success for me now has become not in numbers. It has become in how well I am in being obedient to what God is calling me to do." This shift in perspective has allowed him to appreciate the value of smaller, more meaningful victories. "Sometimes winning is being able to endure," he reflects. "Tough times don't last, but tough people do. And it takes tough times to become a tough person."

Community Impact
Turner's vision for Life Church CS extends beyond traditional church metrics. He aims to provide "a fresh demonstration of Christianity" in his community. "A lot of times people are always hearing or being exposed to a new spin or a new definition of Christianity," he explains, "when what we really need is just a fresh demonstration of Christianity. And that's just love God and love people." His work extends into various community roles, including serving on the board of Peak Vista Community Health Centers and working with Mothers of Murdered Youth. These connections allow him to serve the community in ways he never initially imagined.

Advice for Others
For those considering a similar path - whether in ministry or entrepreneurship - Turner offers several key insights: • "It's not about being qualified. It's about being called." • "Listen a lot more than you talk... Listen to understand, and speak to be understood, not just to be heard." • "Put the same effort, the same time, the same passion, regardless if it's one person or a thousand people." • "Don't change your mind about taking the journey... stay true to the journey of life."

Future Vision
Turner's vision for the future remains focused on authentic connection and service rather than traditional metrics of success. He sees his role as helping people move from frustrated faith back into "a fervency of faith." His goal isn't to build the biggest church but to build the most meaningful connections. "We just want to try to do our part to be a real blessing to our community," he says, "an asset to the community, and just take the journey of faith with them, and not try to tell them what to do or how to do it, but to just walk with them."

Legacy in the Making
Pastor Turner's story demonstrates that entrepreneurial success isn't always measured in traditional metrics. Sometimes, it's measured in lives touched, faith restored, and communities strengthened. His journey from a basketball-loving youth to a community-focused pastor illustrates how our early experiences shape our approach to leadership and service. As he continues to lead Life Church CS, Turner's impact extends far beyond the walls of any building. His story reminds us that true success often looks different than we initially imagine, and that the most meaningful achievements often come through staying true to our calling, even when the path isn't clear. "It's not going to be easy," he concludes, "but it's going to be worth it. The question is, is it going to be worth it?" For Pastor Turner and the community he serves, the answer is a resounding yes.