Rough Rider Soldier to continue minister's work

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, Sgt. 1st Class Bradley McNair and Master Sgt. Ronnie Fauntleroy, are appointed to the assist minister and minister positions at Transformation Chapel, Forward Operating Base Marez. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of the 27th BSB)  

MOSUL, IRAQ

03.21.2007

Courtesy Story

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division Public Affairs

By 1st Lt. Kendra Evers
27th Brigade Support Battalion

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq - During the Feb. 18 gospel service at Transformation Chapel on FOB Marez, the stole that ministers wear during church services, signifying their authority to lead the people of God, was passed on to Master Sgt. Ronnie Fauntleroy, support operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge, 27th Brigade Support Battalion.

The previous minister of the services worked for the company Kellogg, Brown, & Root (KBR), and was returning home after his tour of duty.

Fauntleroy was licensed and ordained as a minister in 1999 while he was stationed at Fort Drum, NY. He was also licensed as an elder in 2003.

Spc. Michael Lewis, B Company, 27th BSB, attended the service and said he was excited to be there for the event.

"Master Sgt. Fauntleroy is a great man of God and he deserves this position," Lewis said. "It's a great opportunity for him to expand God's kingdom."

Many of the Soldiers said they were glad to have Fauntleroy there to be able to continue the services and conduct them the way they had been, including Pfc. Yesenia Harris, B Company, who commented on the blessings she's experienced from Fauntleroy.

"He's doing this from his heart, and that really means a lot," she said. "It's more comfortable, in a way, to talk to him because he is an NCO, and he knows what it was like to be a young Soldier."

Fauntleroy accepted the position, along with Sgt. 1st Class Bradley McNair, who is his assistant. They were nominated by the church, but the final decision came from Chaplain (Maj.) Mitchell Butterworth, senior chaplain, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Fauntleroy ministers at the gospel service held Sundays at 3 p.m. in the Transformation Chapel.

• Date Taken: 03.21.2007
• Date Posted: 03.21.2007 11:07
• Story ID: 9548
• Location: MOSUL, IQ