Base chapel reaches beyond Sunday worship

Published July 22, 2010
By Steve Hoffmann
81st Training Wing Public Affaris

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Keesler Chapel offers a wide range of programs and services throughout the week that allow base personnel, students and retirees to get connected and build relationships with others and their God.

The chapel is very careful not to endorse one religion over another but rather to foster the spiritual and emotional well-being of all Airmen, their families and other Defense Department personnel, whatever their religion.

The mission of the Air Force chaplain core is summed up in the phrase "Glorifying God, Serving Airmen, Pursuing Excellence." That's exactly what Chaplain (Col.) Clifton Perry, the new commander of the chaplaincy at Keesler, hopes to continue. "My vision is to offer quality worship, services and counseling."

The chapel program at Keesler consists of two branches. One offers pastoral care to technical students and their families and serves the base's permanent residents.

Most of the programs and services targeted toward students can be found at the Fishbowl Student Center at the Levitow Training Support Facility. There are five chaplains that provide ministry and counseling, along with other service providers such as the airmen and family readiness center and the military family life counselors.

Chaplain (Capt.) Charles Mallory heads the "Pizza and the Padre" program which discusses a different world religion each week. Pizza and the Padre offers a safe environment where students can feel free to openly discuss what they believe in or don't believe.

"Our goal is not to persuade them one way or the other, but to help guide them along their own path of discovering their faith," said Chaplain Mallory.

"Pizza and the Padre" often features guest speakers and spiritual leaders from different faith groups in the local community to help compliment and enrich the experience.

Other programs, such as Bible studies, prayer and discussion groups, are designed to help guide students in their military life.

Ministry to the Keesler community and permanent party residents involves pastoral care with a variety of interactive programs and services, as well as regular worship services.

"We want to help people in a proactive way," said Chaplain Perry. "So many times we see people when things get bad. Our numbers are highest when we're deployed. When couples are knee-deep in marriage or parenting problems, that's when they come to us. But the chapel exists to walk with people and help them before, during and after things get bad."

The Haven dormitory ministry is one such place where the chapel reaches out to Airmen in a setting other than church. The Haven is a communal area in one of the permanent-party dorms where single residents can hang out in a safe, comfortable environment, talk and make new friends. With meals offered every Sunday night and various prayer groups meeting throughout the week, The Haven provides the opportunity for Airmen to support each other emotionally and spiritually as they make their way through Air Force life.

"A good chapel program always has its fingers around the base taking the pulse of morale," said Chaplain Perry.

There are chaplains on staff who are trained to lead classes in SafeTALK, a suicide prevention program now being used by the Air Force. SafeTALK is a three-hour class designed to train Airmen how to listen for and recognize signs that other Airmen may be contemplating suicide.

This class is offered at the Levitow Training Support Facility and is another example of how the chapel is taking a proactive approach to the emotional and spiritual well-being of Airmen.

"Don't get me wrong," said Chaplain Perry, who is ordained to lead worship, liturgy and serve rites. "Worship is a fundamental cornerstone of what we do."

Worship services for a variety of faiths both on and off base are offered on a regular basis. There's an Islamic prayer room, an area synagogue where Airmen of the Jewish faith are referred, an Orthodox priest on staff, daily Catholic Mass, a gospel service and both contemporary and traditional Protestant worship services on Sundays.

"I inherited a good program and I want to make it better," Chaplain Perry said about his new role. "I'm like a runner in a relay. The runner before me ran fast. My job is to take the baton and run faster and stronger."