Claypoole commissioned as Navy chaplain

EL DORADO — In front of a congregation full of first responders, church members and co-workers, Sterling Claypoole was sworn in as a naval officer and chaplain to the Navy Reserves and given his commission by Lt. Brynn Turner at Immanuel Baptist Church, where he is an Intentional Associate Pastor, on Sunday, April 30.

“It is an emotional moment for me, to follow God’s ministry and serve as a chaplain,” said Claypoole. “I am following what God had placed on my heart for several years and has shown me the way to seven months ago.”

Lt. Turner has recently become a recruiter for the Navy and Claypoole was the first person she had ever recruited, a fact that both Turner and her boss are proud of.

“The process of becoming a naval chaplain is exceptionally difficult, and he was one of the quickest people from start to finish to get into the Chaplain Corp,” Lt. Turner explained.

The Navy Chaplain Corp., which was founded in 1775, serves the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. Claypoole will be the chaplain for the 1st battalion, 23rd Marines and 4th division. He will be able to minister to around 1000 Marines.

“I got a thousand hard headed people, and some of you have given me some practice with working with hardheaded folks,” Claypoole joked. “I will serve one life at a time.”

Because of the qualifications for becoming a chaplain, they are hard to find for the military.

“Less than one percent of the current U.S. population qualifies to be part of the military and have a drive to join. Chaplain’s are even harder to find,” said Turner.

Chaplains are there to provide support for not only those of like faith, but any serviceman.

“They do so much more than hold a church service,” Turner said.

Claypoole says that his goal is to serve with honor for God, family, the military and for his community.

Luke 7:10, “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch,’” is the verse that Claypoole has adopted as his Commission verse.

Claypoole is a native of El Dorado and south Arkansas. A graduate of El Dorado High School and South Arkansas Community College, he has a degree in psychology from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. He continued his education in Texas and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with master’s degrees in religious education and counseling.

Claypoole is a certified trauma service specialist, a certified trauma responder and a professional trauma counselor in the State of Arkansas. He has worked as a professional firefighter and police officer in both Louisiana and Arkansas. He has served as senior chaplain for the United States Marshal Service in the state of Arkansas and as the disaster relief coordinator for both the feeding and recovery units for the Liberty Baptist Association.

Haley Smith can be emailed at [email protected]. Follow her on Facebook and twitter at @hsmithEDNT.

Haley Smith can be emailed at [email protected]. Follow her on facebook and twitter at @hsmithEDNT.

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