Chapel services lends a hand

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE, Alaska --  Base Chapel Services help build morale amongst Airmen and their families by building ties with Eielson's community through various services and programs available.

Members of Chapel staff work alongside several agencies that dedicate their services and resources to benefit the Eielson community.

These agencies are known as help agencies, which strive to improve overall climate and morale of individuals who live on the installation. They include organizations like Base Chapel Services, Airman and Family Readiness Center, and similar organizations.

"As a Chaplain, my staff and I perform a climate or need assessment of the base," said Chaplain (Capt.) T. Daniel Warf, 56th Fighter Wing Individual Mobilization Augmentee, a reservist temporarily assigned to Eielson. "Together we determine how we can meaningfully connect to servicemembers and better meet their needs."

According to Chaplain Warf, some of the base commander's daily decisions affect people's lives. Chaplains and their staff can be an important resource to base leadership and the choices they make every day.

"The Chaplain Corps concerns itself with people," he said. "We visit units all over base and are focused on touching lives. We often ask ourselves how we are impacting the lives of those on base."

In addition to worship services the base chapel also holds counseling sessions.

"A certain uniqueness that Chapel Services can attest to is privileged communication, it's 100 percent confidentiality according to the UCMJ," said Chaplain Warf. "As Chaplain anyone can come to me and share anything they want to with the guarantee that it doesn't leave this office."

In addition to a service-oriented staff with helpful counseling, worship is provided to ensure the exercise of religious freedom.

Customarily, services are held on Sunday. The Base Chapel at Eielson holds a blended Protestant Service and a Catholic Mass, as well as additional accommodations for people of other religious backgrounds.

According to Chaplain Warf, a blended Protestant service organizes similar perspective faiths like those of Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian to name a few.

These are not the only religious services and programs the Base Chapel offers to the community. Chapel services also offers religious education to include Summer Vacation Bible School, Children's ministries, Protestant Men of the Chapel, Protestant Women of the Chapel, and several others.

"As Airmen, religion and spiritual understanding are an important element to our mission on Eielson," said Chaplain (Maj.) Paul Sutter, 354th Fighter Wing. "We try to provide a safe haven for anyone to exercise their freedom of religion regardless of his or her perspective faith."

For Eielson's community, the Base Chapel and the numerous helping agencies offer an invaluable resource that strives for the improvement of Airmen and their families. Available services like this can provide a helping hand in an Airman's greatest time of need.