A New Chapter: Becoming a Board-Certified Chaplain

Over 15 years ago, I began to sense the calling of God on my life. I found myself serving in many different ministries, including children's, women's, and worship ministries. I even spent four years working as an administrative assistant for a church. It was during that time that I felt God leading me to go to seminary. I had no idea what would be on the other side as I took that leap of faith.

By the middle of my first year, I quit my job at the church and went to school full-time. I completed my MDiv in 2022 and was blessed to begin a year-long chaplaincy residency. During that season, I laid every other form of ministry down and focused on healing. I discovered there was trauma from my personal past, as well as ministry wounds, that needed attention. I am so grateful for that time.

By the end of 2024, I heard the Lord speak to me about ministry beyond chaplaincy, and by early 2025, I began to shape and develop what He spoke to me. That vision is still evolving in real time as a supportive ministry for women around the world. It utilizes every gift God has given me, including chaplaincy.

Also in 2024, I accepted a part-time role as an overnight staff chaplain. One of the requirements of the position is becoming board-certified within the first two years. I began writing and submitting my materials by the end of 2025. Once I completed that submission, I heard the Lord remind me to finish my coloring book. I got started the very next day. I published the first edition this past January and then completed my board certification interview in April 2026.

This past weekend, I traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, to attend my first chaplaincy conference and officially be recognized among my peers as a Board-Certified Chaplain. As I think about hearing my name called and walking across that stage, seeing the genuine love and support of my team and so many other leaders, it healed me in ways I did not expect. It also reminded me of how far I have come and that I was surrounded by people who had walked a similar path and understood what it took to accomplish this goal.

One thing I learned is that you absolutely must celebrate, which is why this post is so long. With that being said...

I am proud of myself for being obedient to God's voice, which led me so far away from everything and everyone that was familiar to me. He shaped me and molded me into the minister HE wanted me to be, and HE gave me—and continues to give me—a yes and amen to the work I am doing for HIS GLORY.

I am honored to serve as an ordained Christian minister in a clinical setting. My faith informs the support I provide not only to fellow believers but also to those whose beliefs may differ from my own. I have learned to show up unapologetically in my calling while remaining deeply committed to serving every person with compassion, dignity, and respect. Whether I am praying with a patient, sitting quietly in their grief, or simply listening to their story, I am grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside people during some of life's most difficult moments and to treat them with the dignity, respect, and care every human being deserves.

And while I may not be standing in a pulpit preaching a sermon, I am confident that my life is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through everything that I do. Jesus called His followers to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love their neighbors as themselves (Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:30-31). He called us to serve others with humility (Mark 10:43-44; John 13:14-15), to care for the hungry, the sick, and the hurting (Matthew 25:35-40), to love and forgive as He has loved and forgiven us (John 13:34; Matthew 6:14), and to go into the world making disciples and sharing the good news (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15).

I have learned that these commands can be proclaimed from a pulpit and lived out in a hospital room, and both are beautiful expressions of God's work in the world. Understanding this truth has helped me embrace—and even take pride in—the unique path God has laid out for me. Along the way, I have discovered that God never asked me to fit a particular ministry mold. He simply asked me to let my light shine before others, to walk in obedience to His leading, and to trust that others would see His work through my life and give glory to Him (Matthew 5:16).

PRAISE THE LORD FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE. HE HAS OPENED DOORS THAT NO ONE CAN SHUT (Revelation 3:8). HE HAS MADE ROOM FOR THE GIFTS HE HAS PLACED WITHIN ME (Proverbs 18:16). HE HAS SHAPED ME AND MOLDED ME FOR HIS PURPOSES (Isaiah 64:8). HE HAS TURNED MY MOURNING INTO DANCING AND CLOTHED ME WITH JOY (Psalm 30:11).

I HAVE TASTED AND SEEN THAT THE LORD IS GOOD (Psalm 34:8), AND I KNOW THAT HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER (Psalm 136:1).

As I celebrate this milestone, I am reminded that the title and letters that now follow my name are not the story themselves. Rather, they reflect the faithfulness, grace, and provision of God throughout the journey.

I have intentionally chosen to identify myself as a Minister. For me, minister speaks less about a title and more about a calling. It reminds me that I am first and foremost a servant within my Christian community and beyond.

The credentials that now accompany my name are not markers of status, but reflections of vocation: Minister speaks to my calling to serve, M.Div. to my theological preparation, and BCC to the professional certification that affirms my work as a chaplain. Each serves as a reminder of the responsibility to steward these gifts with humility, compassion, and integrity.

And yes, I will proudly sign this post:

Min. Steph D. Clark, M.Div., BCC

With Humility and Gratitude,

Steph