Clay is a lifelong part of Big Hatchie, having been born and born again while a part of Smyrna Baptist Church.  He graduated from the University of Memphis in 1985, and upon graduation began serving Big Hatchie churches in Youth Ministry.  He has served as Youth Director for Smyrna, Henning (now Victory), Oak Grove, and Garland Baptist churches.  He was also Associate Pastor at Garland Baptist, and most recently was Pastor of Western Valley Baptist from 2006-2016.  Clay and his wife Lana have 5 children and live in Burlison.

Cindy James began working at Big Hatchie as the Billing Coordinator for the Counseling Center in March of 2003 and in March of 2004 began her new position as Ministry Assistant to the Director of Missions. She and her husband, Byron and three children, moved to the area the summer of 2002 appointed by the North American Mission Board to plant a church in the Atoka/Brighton area. She and her husband serve in that church, Hope Community, that constituted in 2007.