About us
Clay Olsen
Pastor Clay has been faithfully leading the Chapel by the Sea family since 1987. He earned a Pastoral Ministry degree from Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska, and holds a Master of Theology degree from Covington Theological Seminary. He first served as a Pastor in South Dakota, and has also ministered as a Prison Chaplain in affiliation with the Prison Fellowship Ministry.
Pastor Clay and his wife, Sharon, happily married for 47 years, have two daughters, both of whom are married. Sara and her husband Todd Gealy, along with their two sons, Will and Max, and daughter, Samantha, serve as teachers at North Raleigh Christian Academy. Beth and husband Brian Bernhardt, along with their three daughters, Olivia, Eden, and Emma, live in Escanaba, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, where they serve in their church and community. Pastor Clay and Sharon’s son, Nate and wife Michaela, and ‘grand dog “Champ”’, live in Swansboro and serve at the Chapel and work in the Physical Therapy profession.
Pastor Clay is first a ‘Student of the Scriptures’ and then secondly a ‘Teacher of the Scriptures.’ Developing disciples is his passion. Time with family and church family is his joy. And whacking the tennis ball, along with historical reading, and working out in his ‘Gold’s Garage Gym’ are his hobbies. His constant amazement is the grace of God in Christ the Savior.