CPE Application
OU Health
Oklahoma City, OK
July 22, 2024
To Whom It May Concern:
1. A reasonably full account of your life. Include, for example, signi cant and important
persons and events, especially as they have impacted, or continue to impact, your personal
growth and development. Describe your family of origin, current family relationships, and
important and supportive social relationships.
A. I was born on May 15th in Oklahoma City in 1995 but was raised in Tulsa, OK. I
come from a family of six, with an older brother, an older sister, and a younger
sister. My parents are still together, my father is a banker and my mother is a
primary school educator. I was raised in a Mainline Christian home, in the United
Methodist Church tradition. I entrusted my life to God, turning from my sin and
believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ at the age of six. I was later baptized and
con rmed into the church at the age of 13.
I mostly attended Jenks Public Schools, until I later transferred and nished my
high school education at Metro Christian Academy, an interdenominational,
evangelical private school in Tulsa. I went on to attend the University of Oklahoma
for my undergraduate studies. For much of my life, my faith was central to my
identity but never the driving force for who I was or becoming. Until my freshman
year of college, when I almost lost my life in a severe car accident that occurred on
the highway driving to Norman, OK during an ice storm.
From that moment on, I sensed God calling me to live fully and completely for His
glory and that He alone satis es the longing of my soul. It was a call to not be
lukewarm but on re for the Lord; loving the Triune God, His Word, His people,
and the people He is pursuing and drawing to Himself.
Shortly after this event, I met my wife, Olivia, and fell in love with her. She too
recently became passionate about her love for God and serving Him. She brought
me into a campus ministry called Cru (formerly Campus Crusade). I was then
mentored by the director, became very involved in the local church, and also worked
at a Christian summer camp during my college summers. Pastors, camp directors,
and campus ministers all impacted me and shaped me tremendously. They also
recognized gifting and aptitude for ministry.
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I went on to do a summer internship at a church in Oklahoma City leading their 5th
and 6th grade ministry. That summer, 2017, Olivia and I were married and after
being married for our senior year at OU, we served alongside missionaries in
Montevideo, Uruguay, for six weeks and then were commissioned by our church in
Oklahoma City to attend the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,
KY.
Olivia contracted a severe, life-threatening eating disorder while in Louisville and
we returned to Tulsa, OK, for her to receive inpatient treatment at the Laureate
Institute. For her to have the best recovery and support system, we stayed put in
Tulsa and I nished my theological education online. I worked in a few different
industries and all the while trained in pastoral ministry at our church, Mercyview,
as a pastoral resident from 2020-2024. My pastors modeled well how to shepherd
people.
During our time in Tulsa, we birthed our two children, Bear Thomas King (3) and
Mabel Ruth King (1). My children and my wife have taught me more about the
character and goodness of God than anyone or anything else. Our home has been
the greatest seminary I could ever ask for, for my heart and soul’s growth and
maturity.
In February of 2024, I was selected to become the Associate Community Director at
Frontline Church in downtown Oklahoma City. My role is to pastor and develop our
community group ministry and leaders, and soon become the sole director of the
community group ministry at our church. As someone with an aptitude for being
pastoral, hospital chaplaincy has always interested me, especially after our recent
health scare with our son almost having his life taken by an aggressive form of
pneumonia. I experienced rsthand the fear and pain that leads families to hold
onto the hope that faith provides. God cares for you and He carries you.
2. A description of your spiritual growth and development. Include, for example, the Spiritual/
Values-Based Orienting System into which you were born and describe and explain any
subsequent, personal conversions, your call to spiritual care, religious or spiritual experiences,
and signi cant persons and events that have impacted, or continue to impact, your spiritual
growth and development.
A. For much of my life I was a “baby” Christian in that I knew and believed an anemic
understanding of my Christian faith but did not have much depth to my belief and
practice. The biggest moment of growth in high school was when a teacher I
confessed sin to encouraged me to share my confessions with my own father, who I
had purposely hidden my sin and shame from. When I did and my dad showed me
grace, it helped me to see my Heavenly Father’s love for me and His grace.
In college, my wife’s zeal for God and her humble pursuit of people, especially the
outcast and downtrodden, continue to shape me. My mentor from Cru taught me
how to build relationships with people of all kinds and share the gospel and its
application as it pertains speci cally to them and their lives. I had camp directors
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teach me how to grow into being a man and pursue maturity and a life pleasing to
the Lord and not living for vain ambition or sel sh greed.
My pastors through the years have modeled and taught patiently caring for and
shepherding stubborn and stiff-necked people. We are all Israel in the wilderness,
and pastors are to lead with the same long-suffering and grace that God does; to
lead out of the abundant, unconditional love and grace of God.
Lastly, my seminary has taught me a great deal about how to read and teach the
Bible so that people would understand it, apply it, love it, and ultimately better love
God and their neighbor as a result of it. Seminary provided me with a well to draw
from regarding resources, and the wisdom of the past.
My call to ministry came about during college as I was leading people in my life into
a relationship with God or helping them navigate their lives of faith. Where many
people shy away, I feel compelled to move toward suffering and those who feel lost
or confused by life. For example, I was the only sibling to be brought into the issues
going on in my parent’s marriage and was leading them through that season since
they did not have a pastor to turn to (I also made sure they went to a professional
for counseling). As mentioned before, people recognized something in me and I
began to feel a desire and conviction that this was what I was going to give my life
to.
3. A description of your work (vocational) history. Include a chronological list of jobs/positions/
dates of employment and a brief statement about your current employment and work
relationships.
A. Crossings Community Church, Oklahoma City, OK, Summer Intern leading 5th
and 6th grade ministry (May 2017 - July 2017).
B. The Apple Store in Tulsa, OK, Sales Specialist (June 2019 - August 2020).
C. Union School of Theology, Tulsa, OK, U.S. Executive Assistant (August 2020 -
March 2022).
D. New York Life in Tulsa, OK, Service Leader/Operations Manager (March 2022 -
February 2024).
E. Frontline Church Downtown, Oklahoma City, OK, Associate Community Director
(February 2024 - Present).
• I report to the pastor for community and mission and work alongside 18 other men
and women who lead other ministry initiatives of our church. I lead the community
groups ministry for our church; shepherding our group leaders and training and
developing them/raising up new leaders.
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4. An account of a “helping incident” in which you were the person who provided the help.
Include the nature and extent of the request, your assessment of the issue(s), problem(s), and
situation(s). Describe how you came to be involved and what you did. Give a brief, evaluative
commentary on what you did and how you believe you were able to help. If you have had prior
and recent CPE, please attach a copy of a recent verbatim as your helping incident; and add to
the verbatim your own notes on how and what you learned from sharing this verbatim with your
educator and/or peers.
A. A memorable one was when my wife had anorexia nervosa back in 2019. Technically
she suffered from this illness going back to 2013, but it became severe and life-
threatening in 2019. This challenge was entirely new to me, and I tried helping her
regain a positive outlook on herself and encouraged her to go to counseling, but for a
while, she had only experienced biblical counseling. However, it became clear we would
need medical attention and the intervention of doctors, medication, and a treatment
program. I learned what was encouraging and helpful and what kind of language or
“helping” was not. I supported Olivia’s pursuit of healing, encouraging her, and
patiently going on the journey with her. I also made sacri ces to ensure she got the best
treatment and support beyond her time being treated inpatient. There were moments of
tough love to hold her to her treatment program and the direction of the medical team
while balancing that family cannot override or speed up the healing changes required
for someone to make improvements in this struggle. Ministerially, I was able to provide
ongoing prayer, Scripture reading, and spiritual discussion with Olivia to help her
navigate that season. I would make sure she had the books, resources, or materials that
would bring her hope and encouragement.
5. Your impressions of Clinical Pastoral Education. Indicate, for example, what you believe or
imagine CPE to be. Indicate if CPE is being required of you. Indicate any learning goals or
issues of which you are aware and would like to address in CPE. Finally, indicate how CPE may
be able to help you meet needs generated by your spiritual care practice or call to leadership in a
theological, spiritual, or values-based system. Indicate strengths and weaknesses that you have as
they relate to your spiritual care practice and your identity as a professional person. Indicate any
personal and/or professional learning goals and issues that you have at this time and how you
believe that CPE will help you to attain or address these learning goals and issues.
A. I do not know a formal de nition but I would estimate that CPE is educational
training to equip adults in ministry interested in chaplaincy. Speci cally in how
to navigate and serve people and their diverse spiritual needs amidst a moment
or season of the dark night of the soul. I would guess what is taught is how to
listen well and respond with spiritual shepherding regarding whatever needs are
voiced. CPE is not required for me but it is something I would like to obtain in
order to grow as a pastor and have the sacred opportunity to stand in the gap
with people in their hardest moments.
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Warm regards,
Corbin King
Associate Community Director, Frontline Downtown
cking@[Link] | 918.439.6649