Clayton Chamberlain started following Christ when he was 42 years old. Then for the next few years, he grew in head knowledge, but not as quickly in spiritual submission and obedience.
Then one day, when he and his wife Celia were earning their respective master’s degrees at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Clayton had an epiphany about his life. He saw himself sitting in the backseat of a car holding a toy steering wheel. It was in that moment that he realized he’d been trying to control everything, but a good and loving Father was at the wheel.
Clayton told Celia that day that he could see them serving as missionaries. She laughed in response. They had small children and it seemed impossible to her. But that summer, God started showing her that it was more than possible for them to serve overseas, and soon they were on track to go.
Through a series of events, Clayton and Celia eventually joined Team Expansion as missionaries in Mongolia. They lived and served in Darkhan, where they taught at a university while connecting with students and the community.
Despite being a natural introvert, Clayton would talk to everyone in Darkhan. He made friends with students, vendors, and neighbors. He even visited a coffeeshop owner so regularly that she named his favorite carrot cake for him! Clayton’s time in Mongolia was marked by generosity, kindness, and Christlikeness.
On June 19, 2021, while Celia and their children were settling their oldest son at his new university in the States, Clayton unexpectedly suffered a fatal heart attack in Mongolia. Clayton leaves behind a legacy of faithfulness, obedience, and generosity. He is survived by his wife Celia, and their children Cameron, Connor, and Coral. It is with deep grief and unending joy that Team Expansion celebrates his life, legacy, and the work that God did through his obedience.
Please join us in praying for Celia, Cameron, Connor, and Coral, as they move forward without their beloved husband and father. And continue to lift up the people Clayton impacted in Mongolia, that their eyes will be opened to the Gospel to which he dedicated his life.
