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JTF Scott comes together for National Prayer Luncheon

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Sabrina Foster
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Scott Air Force Base, Ill. --  More than 250 Joint Total Force Scott personnel came together March 12 for a National Prayer Luncheon held at the Scott Club. 

Chaplain (Col.) Frank Yerkes, 375th Airlift Wing chaplain, provided the opening remarks for the luncheon. 

"Today we come together as a community despite our faith diversity," said Chaplain Yerkes. "Even though we all may have different religious backgrounds, we all are inspired to pray. Let this day be a reminder that it is our duty to pray," he said. 

Chaplain (Capt.) Dale Marlowe, 375th AW chaplain, agreed that we must take time out of our busy schedules and come together in prayer. 

"The National Prayer Luncheon is a time dedicated solely for JTF Scott to come together as a community to be inspired and challenged to leverage the ultimate source of communication we have - prayer," said Chaplain Marlowe. "It reminds us that we have one other weapon for winning the Global War on Terrorism. There is not a more powerful weapon than prayer." 

After lunch was served, the guest speaker, Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles Baldwin, Air Force chief of chaplains, shared a prayerful message titled "iPrayer" for all in attendance.
"It is great to be here," said Chaplain Baldwin. "Thank you JTF Scott for all that you do. This war could not be prosecuted without all the airlift wings around the world, and I'm just privileged to be here with you today." 

The focus of Chaplain Baldwin's message was iGod meets iNeeds through iPrayer. 

"A lot of times we may not be able to see the real needs of the world because we may think it's all about I or me," said Chaplain Baldwin. "God allows us to be a significant part of meeting the real world's needs. When we help others, we will be blessed." 

"iNeeds are only healed by iGods," said Chaplain Baldwin. "He knows our needs and He has given us a powerful gift - iPrayer. We are blessed to be able to pray anytime or anywhere we want and in the manner we choose. The most powerful communication in the universe is iPrayer." 

"iPrayer is available to every citizen on the planet, its user friendly, it's been around since the beginning of time and it's been operational ever since," said Chaplain Baldwin. 

The Air Force's top chaplain closed his message by stating three things that we should remember about iPrayer. 

"iPrayer is a gift that will bring us home," he said. "If we humble ourselves (iBad), worship Him (iPraise) and follow Him (iTrust), He will lead us through the storms of life. He will answer our prayers and show us great and many things." 

Col. Alan Hunt, 375th Airlift Wing commander, provided closing remarks for the luncheon.
"Prayer allows us to support our own Gods in our own way. It also allows us to accomplish the JTF Scott mission of leveraging technology, ingenuity and manpower."