TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Tinker AFB Chaplain Corps is launching a special six-week sermon series on Sunday focusing on the “Spiritual Health of the Warfighter.”
Major Paul Joyner, 72nd Air Base Wing deputy chaplain, said the sermons are inspired by verses in Ephesians 6:10-20 about the “armor of God.” The broad message is that everyone on base whose work supports active-duty Airmen and Sailors are warfighters, too.
“We’re going to encourage folks that aren’t necessarily the actual warfighter on base that they are absolutely in spiritual warfare,” Chaplain Joyner said.
Last week, the chaplain enlisted congregants to pray 10 minutes a day for the varying members of Team Tinker. The “Airmen Focused Prayer Teams” have set aside prayer days for active-duty warfighters, government employees, contractors, Sailors, civilian and military commanders and state, local and national leaders.
The series grew from an idea by Chaplain (Capt.) Kory Capps about fulfilling one of the Chaplain Corps’ missions - to develop spiritually fit Airmen to fly, fight and win.
“This is targeted at building morale and the heart, the soul, of the warfighter and those supporting the warfighting effort,” Chaplain Capps said. “Part of the vision when we started talking about it was to do a sermon series, but also push beyond that. How we can spread this message at a commander’s call, a CAF briefing, or in a sit-down discussion with folks?
“We’re starting it here at the chapel, but this is just the hub,” Chaplain Capps said. “We want to push this out to where we’re engaging people at all different levels with an uplifting message.”
Chaplain (Maj.) John Key will begin the series this Sunday at the 11 a.m. chapel service. Chaplains delivering the other weekly sermons will be (Capt.) Bill Mesaeh, Chaplain Capps and Chaplain (Capt.) Matthew Mendenhall. Call the chapel at 734-2111 for more information