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Born in 1941 to a family of nine children, Clairie Monokian's early childhood was nomadic. Her family's frequent moves among the Caribbean islands left her early education fragmented. She withdrew into herself, developing feelings of inadequacy that remained for years. Her few bright memories of childhood stemmed from her loving and devout grandmother, and from her joy in caring for small animals.
Sexually abused by her father during her early teen years, Clairie grew bitter. After continued abuses, she plotted to kill her tormentor, but was delivered from her suffering at a tent revival where she first heard the message of Christ's salvation. She developed a "bubble of joy" that protected her. Shortly thereafter, she led several of her family members to Jesus Christ. |
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With great hope for the future, Clairie left home to study nursing in England. After two weeks there, she was raped and impregnated by a hospital employee. She became angry with God, and developed a deep-seated loathing for males. Alone, without support, she began to lose faith.
Her money and passport confiscated, she was placed in a psychological care unit, then in an abusive home for unwed mothers. Secretly she prayed for a son, believing that she could not bear to have a daughter who would be pursued by men. Following a painful 66-hour labor, Clairie gave birth to a son, Simon. She was promptly notified by Social Services that she must leave the country without her child, who was is a citizen of England. To keep her son, she was forced to marry her attacker.
Only Clairie's joy in her son maintained her for the next three years. On the advice of a doctor who saw that home life was destroying her son, Clairie secretly sent him away to live with her family. Her abusive husband threatened her life if she did not return him to England. Her physical and emotional conditions worsened.
The issue of Simon's custody led to a lengthy court battle, which she finally won. Clairie seldom paid much credit to God; still, He was at work in her life. In the years that followed, Clairie was driven to compete with men and prospered professionally. Finally recognizing her son's need for a father, she agreed to marry a long-term co-worker. This relationship ended when the man proved to be of a different sexual orientation.
Her health continued to decline. A series of medical problems convinced her of the need to die. After making sure that her son was financially secure, she attempted to take her own life. God did not agree; she was found unconscious and saved by a friend.
After visiting relatives in Texas, Simon remained in the United States of America. With little to keep her in England, having lost most of her possessions in the divorce, Clairie decided to follow her son to Miami. Without a work visa, she did odd jobs for $20 per week. Again, Clairie wished to take her life; but she could not until she made peace with God.
Choosing a local church from the telephone book, she attended a service to make final peace with God. But God had not abandoned her. Awed by the love of the congregation, who gave her a financial offering, Clairie was filled with peace and with the Holy Spirit. Feeling that God was finally in control, she used half of the offering to buy food for world missions.
Clairie's life began anew. She was miraculously healed of her physical problems and soon resumed nursing at a local hospital. As her life in Christ grew, she began to reach out to area youth. After a three-day prayer vigil, Clairie, with the approval of her son, agreed to take on the church's youth ministry. Out of that ministry was the birth of R.O.C.K Ministries.
Like Job, Clairie has waited on the Lord. With His direction her life has been transformed into an example that youth truly believe in. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His sustaining power, Clairie graduated from Miami Christian College in 1986 and from International Theological Seminary in 1989 with a PhD degree.
She gave up nursing and dedicated her life to full time ministry. Feeling the compassion for the lost and the homeless, and a dream from the Lord in 1987, Clairie became Executive Residential Director of Rock Lifeline, home for the homeless.
After seven years of living with the homeless and the drug addicts as resident director of Rock. Lifeline, the Lord relocated Clairie with her husband, Michael, to Sarasota, Florida where they organized several community outreaches. Then, Clairie and her husband became the outreach Pastors of the Rock of Sarasota.
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