Life at an Intersection

Chaplain Clarence LeMasters (1951), U.S. Navy, received a B.D. from Asbury Seminary, Kentucky campus.

 An early-teenage boy listened to a preacher one Sunday morning. A few days after, he sat in his school classes, reflecting upon the pastor’s words, and looking out the window. He thought about the sermon and wondered, “Does God really want me to be a preacher?" Finally, he believed God really did want that and he made a commitment to follow the call.

 This was obviously different from what the other children in his classroom were thinking about. World War II was in progress, and as the teenager drew close to completing school, the nation drew in young heroes with the draft. The WWII draft operated from 1940 to1947, and during this time, more than 11 million men had been inducted into military service.

 This young man would not be among them, for he was granted a deferment to attend college and seminary. By the end of his studies in 1951, he had acquired a college degree from Asbury College, an Asbury Theological Seminary degree, and a newly-wed status as well. The idea of military chaplaincy had taken root in his mind and heart, but it would not grow until a few years later. In the mean time, he served parishes while in seminary. One of the parishes stood out in particular- the little church called Ebenezer. It was a bi- monthly charge, with thirteen members in regular attendance. This was the beginning of his active ministry in Indiana, and he went about serving the Lord as he was called to do in childhood.

 Later, the man had an opportunity to transfer to Minnesota. While gaining pastoral experience by driving the lonesome prairie roads of Northwest Minnesota for his circuit, he wondered about settling into singular ministry. He asked God, "Where do you want me to be?" In 1958, he was given a single church parish. At the time, he was District Chairman of Evangelism, and also served on the Conference Board as dean of the Senior High Youth Camp. His wife was also serving as District President of the WSCS, and their ministry in the community quickly grew. His two little children could walk to school a block and a half away. College students gathered at the new parsonage every week. The church was full every Sunday, and the congregation had plans for a new building. What more could a young minister ask for? Still, something about his childhood calling seemed unsettled.

 To take the edge off his uneasiness, he joined The United States Naval Reserve. While attending a Sunday presentation of Handel's Messiah, he wrote two columns on the back of the program. One was titled, "Should I go?" and the other was "Should I Stay?" As he wrote, the "Should I Stay?" column filled up quickly, but the "Should I go?" column had only one entry- "That is what God wants."

 The man wrestled with this until a few days later when his wife said to him, “Send in those papers for active duty- you won't be happy until you do, and I can't live with you the way you are!"  This was the Saturday after Christmas Day, in 1958.

 Seven months later, he donned a Naval Officer’s uniform and underwent the long process of becoming a United States Navy Chaplain. After a few months into the first assignment had gone by, the man and his wife found themselves relaxing in their home, thinking about the journey.

 One of them said to the other, "Do you remember how we used to feel God wanted us someplace and we didn't know where?"

 The other answered, "We are there."

 So began his new life in Chaplaincy. The Navy led them up and down the East Coast, from as far North as Newport, Rhode Island, all the way down to Orlando, Florida. He was stationed for two years in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (1962-1964), and Keflavik, Iceland (1966-1968). Two tours of duty aboard ship took this chaplain to far away places in Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Chapels in Kansas and Virginia added a pastoral role to the ministry with Sunday Schools, and choirs, and he returned to the states in services there. Some of the last years were spent in senior/supervisory roles, and he considered his task to be a pastor to young chaplains as a priority in a long list of administrative responsibilities.

 His last positions in the Navy took him across the Atlantic once more, to bases in Scotland, Iceland, Sardinia, and Greece, wherein he preached to English speaking congregations. He spoke in the cathedral in Aalborg, Denmark, for the Danish American Fourth of July Celebration, participated in special services in The Washington National Cathedral, and preached one Sunday in The Royal Naval Chapel in Greenwich, England.

 High times and low times came, and there were times when the only place to go was, “…to my Lord," and ask, "Precious Lord, take my hand, and lead me on.”

All along, his faithful family was right there with him. Sometimes, he would look back and say to his wife, "Vera, this is a long way from Little Ebenezer on a Sunday afternoon in Indiana." The two little children grew up to be wonderful adults. His oldest daughter, Diane, married Mr. Edward Knippers, and followed in service as President of The Institute on Religion and Democracy, until Our Lord called her home to with Him. His younger son, Douglas, followed his father into the Navy, and recently retired as a Navy Captain.

This is the true life story of Chaplain Clarence E. LeMasters, United States Navy. He currently resides in Fairfax, VA, and is parish administrator of a large church there.