ABHMS welcomes Clifton Strain as CFO, ushering in new era of financial leadership
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 12/09/2024)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) proudly announces Clifton (Cliff) Strain as the organization’s new chief financial officer and treasurer. He will officially assume this vital role upon the departure of Michaele Birdsall, who is retiring at the end of December after 17 years in that position.
“Cliff’s selection marks a significant moment for ABHMS,” said Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Haggray. “His exceptional financial background, coupled with his deep commitment to faith and community, equips him to lead ABHMS through a dynamic period of growth and innovation. As we bid farewell to Michaele, whose years of faithful service have been a cornerstone of our ministry, we are profoundly grateful to welcome Cliff to the LAMB [the Leadership and Mission Building, ABHMS’ home office]. His vision and leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our mission in the near term and guide us toward a flourishing future in service to God’s kingdom.”
For Strain, this position is more than just a professional move. It fulfills a personal calling to integrate his expertise in finance with his faith and passion for community service. “I’ve always wanted to bring my professional life and my commitment to serving others together in one place,” he said while reflecting on his path to ABHMS. “I am honored to be part of an organization with such a profound devotion to community and faith.”
Strain’s talent for managing money manifested at an early age when he developed a childhood habit of lending his allowance to family members. “I was known for having money on hand,” he explained. “I charged interest and always made sure they paid me back.” Further, these lending practices “yielded a handsome, sometimes usurious return,” Strain added with a chuckle. This formative experience with “banking” not only revealed an aptitude, drive, and entrepreneurial spirit but also planted the seed for what would later blossom into a love for finance, particularly investment banking.
After graduating from high school, Strain attended Morehouse College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and, importantly, gained the attention of Dr. John Williams, the head of the business department. Strain described Williams as a mentor whose guidance made business disciplines “fun and accessible.”
Strain also credited Williams with adding another level of sophistication to Strain’s thinking about business, which involved adopting a simple change in perspective. Explained Strain: “In order to be a producer, you have to think like one. Dr. Williams taught me to abandon the vantage point of a consumer in favor of a producer’s vantage point. For example, when you walk into a room, don’t just turn the lights on—think about how the lights work, how much it costs to produce all of the various aspects of the entire lighting system, and where the electricity comes from.”
As a newly minted Morehouse graduate, Strain entered the workforce, joining the capital markets division of Chemical Bank (now a part of JP Morgan Chase). After a couple of productive years there, he was primed for Harvard Business School, where he pursued an MBA. After graduating, Strain advanced rapidly in his career, going on to earn senior positions in firms that included Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and CIT Financial Services (now a division of First Citizens Bank), where his work focused on capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity.
Strain admits to taking pride in fostering growth for both companies and individuals. “I loved helping companies grow and thereby create enterprise value,” he said. “However, it was even more fulfilling to see how those gains trickled down to everyone, not just executives.”
While he valued his career successes, however, Strain began to sense a calling toward something more profound. Active in his church and community, he was instrumental in endeavors such as funding water wells in Ghana, establishing food pantries that now serve hundreds weekly, and creating Freedom Schools. This fueled his intent to find a way to unite his business acumen with his passion for community service, and he found the ideal convergence in ABHMS.
As ABHMS’ new CFO-treasurer, Strain envisions drawing upon his expertise in investment banking to extend the organization’s reach and strengthen its content platforms in publishing, education, and community outreach. “I want ABHMS brands—Judson Press, ministrElife, the Center for Continuous Learning, and Space for Grace—to achieve their highest potential,” he said. He also foresees expanding initiatives aimed at delivering needed services to vulnerable communities and marginalized populations in collaboration with missional partners.
While acknowledging that churches and faith-based organizations face significant challenges today, Strain believes “a difficult mission doesn’t mean we stop moving forward. Sometimes a fresh perspective can reveal new opportunities for growth and renewal.”
He then shared a personal anecdote for emphasis: “During my time at Morgan Stanley, we had invested in Marvel Entertainment bonds, which we later converted into an equity position. Comic books were out of favor at the time, so our investment seemed unlikely to yield much. However, new leadership at Marvel ambitiously revitalized its superhero lineup. This bold strategy led to a series of billion-dollar blockbuster films and transformed Marvel into one of the most successful entertainment franchises in the world. The moral of the story: Keep plugging away and remain faithful, and God will provide.”
Although he has lived most of his adult life on the East Coast, Strain still considers himself a Californian at heart, having grown up in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He also credits his West Coast upbringing for the relaxed yet energetic spirit that continues to infuse his work and personal lives, which, he says, “have family at the core.”
Strain is a dedicated husband and proud father of three sons. His wife, the Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain, is the general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA. His two older children have charted their own paths in entertainment and high tech, and his youngest is a university student. When he speaks about his family, Strain does so with pride and affection. He also views his role as a nurturing parent of self-reliant adults as his most important legacy.
Continuing on the topic of his legacy, Strain said, “I also want to be remembered for my integrity and positive impact, both at home and in my work. I believe in doing what’s right, and being transparent about it, even when it’s challenging.” This lifelong dedication to integrity and transparency will be at the forefront of Strain’s work at ABHMS, where he aims to steward financial resources wisely, supporting programs and initiatives that align with the organization’s mission to build the Kingdom and foster community resilience.
When he is not at work, Strain enjoys pastimes that reveal interests in e-books, cooking, and sports. He was recently delighted by the audio biographies of Stevie Wonder (“The Wonder of Stevie”) and Maurice White, a founding member of Earth, Wind & Fire (“My Life with Earth, Wind & Fire”). In the kitchen, Strain expresses his culinary passions, a hobby his family greatly appreciates. And the self-described sports enthusiast plays golf when time permits and occasionally attends basketball games and soccer matches, a sport he learned to love through his sons, who played in their school years.
Strain appreciates that his new calling marks a meaningful transition for ABHMS. “Michaele has left big shoes to fill,” he acknowledged, adding, “Her work exemplifies what it means to be a true ambassador for ABHMS’ mission and a faithful steward of its precious resources.” Yet, Strain is undaunted by the challenge before him, vowing to build on her accomplishments but in a way all his own. “I will have different approaches to things,” he said, “but being ABHMS’ CFO aligns perfectly with my lifelong desire to bring my extensive professional skills together with my community and faith-based pursuits.”
ABHMS is excited to welcome Strain as he begins this new chapter. With his formidable experience, dedication to service, and deep commitment to the organization’s values, he is poised to make a lasting impact on ABHMS and the communities it serves.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.
