Craig Williams ’16
Posted on: October 26, 2023
History
Occupation: Hospice Chaplain
Working to reach those in crisis, NGU’s 2022 Young Alumni Award honoree Craig Williams serves as a Chaplain at Interim Hospice and in the National Guard.
A 2016 graduate of North Greenville, Williams received his Bachelor’s in History before pursuing a Master’s in Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary.
“I knew I wanted to get into ministry, but how that was going to flesh out was kind of up in the air,” he said. “I met a National Guard chaplain while I was in high school on a mission trip, and he planted that seed that grew into a calling.”
Williams joined the National Guard in high school and began pursuing a career of service.
“If I would’ve chosen a path for my life, I probably just would have enlisted and skipped school. But God, in his providence, had other ideas. And he’s the boss here,” he said.
Williams was commissioned as an officer in the South Carolina National Guard, Second Lieutenant, and was ordained for Gospel ministry from Easley First Baptist in 2017.
Since starting his work as a Chaplain in 2020, Craig has served an average of 40 patients and their families. He is also the leader of GriefShare, a grief support group, at the Grace Church Powdersville campus as part of the Care and Recovery team.
“It’s very heavy,” Williams said of working in hospice. “I’m fortunate to work with a very good team. They make my job a lot easier. You get close to families and meet a lot of really good people. It is sad to lose people, but for those that have faith in Christ, I get to see them again one day.”
Williams said the job comes with many rewarding moments.
“I just had a patient of mine transfer. He did a lot of mission work, and we had a lot of similarities,” he said. “On my last visit, I shook his hand and gave him a hug. I told him we wouldn’t see each other again until we’re on the other side. It was almost cinematic. You always hope for a really good goodbye, and that was one of those moments. It’s crazy I get paid to do this. I would do that for free. To be able to speak truth into people’s dark moments, that’s what it’s about.”
Williams said he will continue to serve others and follow where the Lord leads.
“I understand that I am the creature and God is the creator. A good part about working in hospice is that you’re reminded of your mortality every day,” he said. “We know that one day, we’ll stand in front of Christ and give an account. The way I see it, we all have to get scarred in life so you might as well get scarred for the kingdom. We’re called to go forth and multiply and preach the Gospel.”
