Chaplain Services

Monday:
Noon – Stories & Healing

Tuesday:
Noon – Recovery Talk

Wednesday:
Noon – Creative Spirituality

Thursday:
Noon – Praying of the Rosary

Friday:
9 a.m. – PTSD Spiritual Renewal
Noon – Word for the Weekend
1:30 p.m. – Islamic Prayer Service

Email OKCChaplainServices@va.gov or call 405-456-5138 to register or be put on the waiting list.

Monday:
2 p.m. – Men’s Spirituality
3 p.m. – LGBTQ+ Spirituality

Thursday:
9:30 a.m. – Grief Level II (ongoing)
3 p.m. – Women’s Spirituality
5:30 p.m. – Grief Level I alternates with Making Hard Decisions

Friday:
10:30 a.m. – Grief, Loss, Guilt & Shame
1 p.m. – Substance Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Spirituality Group

Staff-only groups are available on request.

• 3-6 months (or 3-month hybrid)
• Weekly Evening Class Schedule
• Summer Intensive or Extended Term

• Stipend
• 12 months with Clinical Rotation
• Weekday Class Schedule

• 12 months with Specialty Focus
• Weekday Class Schedule
• Available Specialties:
  • Hospice/Palliative Care
  • Mental Health
  • Substance Use/Addiction
  • Women Veteran’s Health

Chaplain Sam Binswanger was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He surrendered to the call of full-time ministry at the age of 18 and enrolled at Fellowship Baptist Bible College in Peoria, Illinois. He graduated in 1986 and later in 2007 earned a Bachelor Degree in Religion from Luther Rice Seminary. He is currently enrolled at Liberty University seeking to earn a Master of Divinity degree. Chaplain Sam has served in three different churches in Illinois, Texas, and Oklahoma. His positions have included an assistant pastor, family pastor and senior pastor. Chaplain Sam got a taste of chaplaincy work when he served as a chaplain with the El Paso Police Department in El Paso, Texas for almost five years. He and his wife, Joett, have been married for almost 38 years and have two adult children. Chaplain Sam is a fan of Star Wars, and he enjoys going to Disney World with his wife, children, and grandchildren. One of Chaplain Sam’s favorite quotes from author C.S. Lewis, is “God is good! God is for you! God is with God! God is in you! Press on in His Grace.”

Chaplain Fellow Jackie is an alumna of Mercer University's James & Carolyn McAfee School of Theology, receiving her M.Div. in May 2020. She is appropriately ordained, endorsed and affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (PAW, Inc). Chaplain Jackie served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Army, 3rd Infantry Division. Her chaplaincy area of focus is Advanced Palliative Care. She serves nationally within PAW, Inc. as a Health Professional/Chaplain and in the National Adjutant Corps. She is working toward her Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) at the University of Phoenix. Her passion for serving brought her to Chaplaincy, which provided her opportunities to serve those who served. Originally from Dayton, OH, she now lives in Douglasville, GA, and works in Oklahoma City, OK. A fun fact about Chaplain Jackie is her love for relaxing mandala coloring books.

Motto: Plan your work; Work your plan.

Chaplain Kenric Graham, a man deeply rooted in faith, has a remarkable journey that intertwines his spiritual commitment and service to the community. Born and raised in Lake City, South Carolina, Kenric’s early years were shaped by active participation in a church’s children’s ministry. At the tender age of fourteen, he embraced God into his heart, setting the stage for a lifelong devotion to the Word of God.

After serving in the United States Navy, Kenric’s spiritual journey took a significant turn in 2013 when he rededicated his life. Baptized and committed to living out God’s principles, he became a devoted member of Antioch Fellowship Church in Florence, South Carolina. There, he served diligently in various capacities, laying the groundwork for his future calling.

In 2016, a company relocation led Kenric to Frisco, Texas, where he joined New Life Community Church. His active involvement extended to launching the Transportation Ministry and a men’s ministry named “Iron Sharpens Iron.” Under the mentorship of the Senior Pastor, Kenric’s passion for ministry deepened, culminating in his ordination as a Deacon.

Now, answering the call to pastoral leadership, Kenric resides in Edmond, Oklahoma, and is interning in the CPE program at the OKC VA HCS. Kenric exemplifies faith through his words, conduct, unwavering faith, and love. His intense call to people who are hurting allows God to use him in a greater way to show the same comfort that God shows with everyone.

Chaplain Potter served 14 years in the United States Navy. After leaving the Navy, he desired to continue serving, so started his education toward becoming a Hospice/Palliative Care Chaplain. On his journey, he attended Liberty Theological Seminary received his Master of Divinity, and was ordained into the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He ministered at a church in Bowie Maryland and was called to serve in hospice. He became board-certified and specialty-certified in Hospice and Palliative Care and continued his education to receive a Master of Science in Thanatology, which is the scientific study of death and the practices associated with it, including the study of the needs of the terminally ill and their families.

He has been the Hospice/Palliative Care Chaplain at the Oklahoma City VA HCS since 2019 and serves in many different capacities.

• Co-facilitator of multiple national chaplain programs:
  • CORE: Chaplain Orientation Electronic
  • CAVE: Chaplain Advance Education for Hospice and Palliative Care Specialty
  • NAVAC: National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplain Committee for specialty certification.
• Preceptor for CPE students
• Coordinator of the No Veteran Dies Alone program
• Facilitator of the Bereavement programs including one-on-one and group programs
• For self-care, I play golf and spend time with my family

Dr. Wallace graduated from Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University) in Daytona Beach, FL, with degrees in mathematics and chemistry. She holds a Master of Divinity from Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, having graduated with honors. She also holds a Doctor of Education from Walden University in Minneapolis, MN.

Dr. Wallace became an ACPE Certified Educator in 2010. She was ordained as an American Baptist minister and served as Assistant Pastor at the Oakhurst Baptist Church. She currently attends both the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she served as Assistant Pastor, and Victory for the World Church in Decatur, GA.

Dr. Wallace is proficient in qualitative research and is widely published. She has worked for four VAs, as well as in private sector settings and hospitals. She has served as guest lecturer at the Interdenominational Theological Center. Before her career in ministry, Dr. Wallace worked as an engineer at NASA and spent twenty years at BellSouth (now AT&T) as an engineer, project, and product manager.

Dr. Wallace began her career in ministry after receiving the call in 1992. She completed her Chaplain Residency in 2002 and immediately began the process to become an ACPE Certified Educator. She has served in some chaplaincy capacity since January 2002. Dr. Wallace loves teaching CPE and lives by the African Ubuntu philosophy that “I am because we are,” signifying the importance of community and that no one person is responsible for their success.