Feeding the flock: Chaplain addresses spiritual needs

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scotty Sweatt
  • 916th Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  On Fridays, they finish work at their civilian jobs, run home, change clothes, and embark on what, in many cases, is a lengthy trip to Goldsboro to prepare for the drill weekend.

There's no time for much more than uniform preparation and sleep before arriving at their unit the next morning. They put boots on the ground and run for a long and busy two days, fueling the machine that is the 916th Air Refueling Wing.

But one question remains - who is refueling them? While activities abound, is something in place to address the spiritual needs of reservists as they give themselves fully to the job that their country calls them to do?

That blessing does exist in the form of our Air Force Chaplains, and now extends to the 916th in new and innovative ways to reach and provide for reservists, not only while deployed, but at home station as well.

The current chaplain of the 916 ARW, Lt. Col. Christopher Webb joined the unit in October 2013, continuing a legacy of quality chaplains at the wing.

Chaplain Webb comes from the Chaplains Corp College at Fort Jackson, S.C., and is the parish pastor of a Lutheran congregation near Asheville, N.C.

"It is important for reservist to be proactive about their spiritual fitness," said Chaplain Webb at a recent commander's call before providing some of the simplest ways to do just that for those in attendance. "We listened to input from throughout the wing using a needs-based ministry survey that addressed concerns of our airmen with regards to their spiritual concerns and needs."

Chaplain Webb adds that the office's newest and most exciting offering is the worship and communion service held at 7:30 on Sunday mornings of the UTA.

Chaplain Webb officiates the Protestant service, which is held at the base chapel, and Tech. Sgt. Tim Kelly, a 916th reservist who is also a Eucharistic Minister of the Catholic Church, officiates the Catholic service in the Bolen Room at the 916th headquarters building.

"As a Catholic, the foundation of our worship is to receive communion during our service," said Sgt. Kelly. "That is an obligation that we as Catholics must fulfill every Sunday."

Neither service lasts more than 30 minutes, and the time of 7:30 was designed to make them available and practical for all who wish to attend.

Chaplain Webb added that these programs are the commander's programs, and that there is strong support from the top down for ensuring these needs are met.

"We have to get the word out about these services," said Colonial Gregory Gilmour, Wing Commander for the 916 ARW adding that "faith and spiritual fitness is one of our four pillars."

Col. Gilmour is referring to the four pillars of fitness, as used in the Comprehensive Airman Fitness philosophy that has been established by Headquarters Air Force.

Chief Master Sgt. James Loper, 916 ARW Command Chief Master Sergeant added that the Air Force is able to define standards and expectations for the other three pillars of physical, mental and social fitness, but noted that spiritual fitness is the one that each airman must define for themselves, adding that supervisors need to take advantage of these opportunities to provide access to these resources to airmen under their care.

Tech. Sgt. Janell Johnson, Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge of Chaplain Operations for the 916th ARW describes the growth she has seen in the office since joining the unit. She has served with three different chaplains since and said that she has seen each bring their own special gifts to an office that is continually improving its effectiveness a unit.

"We now have our worship service and communion service on Sundays, conduct a "Lunch and Learn" program every Saturday of drill weekend at the dining facility, regularly engage in unit visitation as well as many other programs, and we have others in the works as well," said Sgt. Johnson.

Speaking about the new Sunday morning services, Sgt. Johnson added, "People have a lot on them, I think this gives a time when they can be encouraged, and that's important."

Sunday service at the base chapel marks the first time that a regular service, run exclusively by reservists, has been a regular part of the chapel services, and is growing in attendance each Sunday.

Services start at 7:30 a.m., both at the chapel and in the Bolen Room.

For more information please contact anyone in the 916th ARW Chaplain's Office, located next to finance on the first floor of the wing headquarters building.