cpe

Everett Lee Caldwell is the President and founding Archbishop of the Worldwide Fellowship of Independent Christian Churches.

As the youngest of a large family of nine children who grew up in poverty in Arkansas, he learned quickly how to begin making a living. Though his parents could not read or write, Everett was determined to go to church where he learned how to read by reading scripture. Within the nourishing care of the black church, he came to the Lord at the tender age of 9. He became a deacon at age 12 and started preaching at age 13. Despite his continued economic struggle, a bishop prophesied that a “mighty call” was on this young man.

At age 19, he joined the Marine Corps and was stationed in Japan for a year. He received his Combat Training Certification of the Infantry school and Legal Service Specialist Certification from the Legal Service Support School. He was awarded include the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Reserve Service Medal.

During this time, he earned an A.A. in Arts with Phi Theta Kappa (Honors) at Coastal Carolina Community College. He earned the Phi Theta Kappa Award of the International Scholastic Society President List (CCCC).

Afterwards, he attended University of North Carolina where he received his B.A. in Philosophy and Religion with Omicron Delta Kappa (Honors) and Cum Lade. The president was surprised when he discovered that in the first time in the history of the school one student was simultaneously and independently nominated to receive the academic award in two different departments. He received the Philosophy and Religion Minority Academic and Leadership Award (UNCW) and also received the College and Arts & Sciences Award (UNCW).

Other awards he received include the Campus Diversity Minority Student Leadership and Academic Award (UNCW), Omicron Delta Kappa Award of the National Honor Scholar Society (UNCW), Non-Traditional Student of the Month Award (UNCW), Senior Sankofa honored graduating Black students Award (UNCW), and the National Chancellor List Award.

In 2009 he was commissioned as a U.S. Army Reserve Chaplain for 256th Combat Support Hospital. He obtained the Army Combat Medical Pastoral Care Expert Skill Identifier, the Hospital Ministry Skill Identifier, and the Suicide Prevention Skill Identifier (ASSIST). He also obtained the LINKS Instructor Certification, Family Wellness Instructor Certification and Military Chaplaincy Diploma from the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School.

He received his M.A. in Religion and Philosophy with Honors from Ashland Theological Seminary (Ashland, OH). During this time, he received the Minority Student Leadership Award. He also completed his Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary under the leadership of Rev. Dr. William H. Myers at ATS. His doctoral dissertation is called “Discovering how African American male soldier’s self-esteem is diminished through the perspective of African American male chaplains and how African America male chaplains help to restore it in the 807th Medical Command of the U.S. Army Reserve.” It is in seminary where he also met his wife, Kristen Caldwell.

He completed 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education at the ACPE site of St. Vincent Medical Center. In discovering he also had a counseling skill for helping chaplains with their own pastoral care self-awareness, he also served as a CPE Supervisor for The Institute for Clinical Pastoral Training.