Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Betty Y. Boomer | Airforce Capt. Laurelee Ozzello, 161st Air Refueling Wing Chaplain, (left) along with...... read more read more
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KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Soldiers, Airmen, Civilians and Family members joined spiritual leaders and local pastors within the Kaiserslautern Military Community for a morning of faith, fellowship and spiritual uplift during a prayer breakfast held at the Vogelweh Military Complex Oct. 13.
The audience of more than 300 included men and women from different backgrounds, different ranks and different religious beliefs, who came together as one community for a common purpose – to reflect for the need for spiritual strength amid the world’s turbulence.
A tradition throughout the military, the prayer breakfast helps connect service members with the community and bring military and Family members of all beliefs together to celebrate their faith by breaking bread.
Retired Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Carver, currently serving as the executive director of chaplaincy services for the North American Mission Board, was the guest speaker and began the ceremony by thanking Soldiers, Airmen, and Civilians for taking time out for a morning of worship.
After serving the country for 38 years, Carver told participants, he missed “living the dream” and missed the opportunity of going to work every day with heroes. He also discussed the big picture.
“It’s a critical time in the history of our nation and our world, trying times, and now we get to recharge ourselves spiritually,” he said.
Carver sang a number of hymns as a testament to his faith and when he finally stepped to the podium, told the story of Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, a quadruple amputee injured by an improvised explosive device during his 2012 tour to Afghanistan.
Mills, now a motivational speaker and author of “Tough as they Come,” wrote that when he woke up in Walter Reed Medical Hospital missing his limbs, wondering if he would be considered less of a man, he found a scripture on his bedside chest. Angry and upset that some chaplain had left the message at a time in his life when he felt alone, Mills said the message provided no consolation, but rather made him want to die.
Carver turned the story into a lesson for his audience.
“Many of our troops may feel alone, separated, isolated and unprotected by God,” he said. “I would imagine in this room that someone may feel like they have no friend in this world.”
The verse sitting on Mills’ table came from Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Carver told his audience the presence of God will always remain with them.
“God knows your APO,” he said. “I hope you look beyond your problems and circumstances, and realize God is present here with you.”
Army, Air Force and community participants alike agreed the breakfast was as uplifting as it was delicious.
“Chaplain Carver took us on a journey, where we could empathize and understand the pain some of our service members goes through,” said Air Force Col. Donnette Boyd, the 86th Airlift Wing chaplain. “In the end he gives us a message of hope and resiliency.
Army participants were equally delighted.
“I think the Lord was pleased with our prayer breakfast,” said Chaplain (Col.) Scott Hammond, the 21st Theater Sustainment Command chaplain. “It was a community event and I think the community was well represented.”
“Even though we see all the chaos around us, I believe faith is the foundation of all the other pillars,” he added. “If we can help our people establish that foundation, then it complements the whole resiliency factor.”
| Date Taken: | 10.13.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2016 08:25 |
| Story ID: | 212541 |
| Location: | KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, DE |
| Web Views: | 170 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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