Photo By Sgt. Jason Mikeworth | Worshipers clap along with the choir during the weekly gospel service at the Sustainer...... read more read more
Deployed Soldiers put many aspects of their lives on hold, but the post chaplain for Logistical Support Area Anaconda works to ensure celebrating their faith isn't packed up awaiting their return.
Maj. K. Llewellyn "Chappie" McGhee, a chaplain with the 35th Area Support Group, heads one of the largest congregations in Iraq with energetic non-denominational gospel services that pack worshippers into the Sustainer Theater week after week.
"I always try to preach to get a response out of people," McGhee said. "A lot of people are going through something, whether it's here or back home, on a day-to-day basis, so a church service becomes a haven away from the world " an escape away from all this stuff in their life."
The response he's gotten so far has been positive.
"He makes you feel welcome here," Sgt. 1st Class Tanya Coleman, who works in the future operations section for 3rd Corps Support Command, said. "I feel like it makes my week go by better."
Coleman said she attends the service every week along with a second service during the week at the Provider Chapel.
"I love the minister and what he puts out. It seems like it's natural, not something that's made up," she said. "He reminds you of back home. You feel like he really cares about your problems. It helps me to grow, to not feel alone here."
Pfc. Derrick Shelton, a mechanic with 3rd COSCOM, expressed similar feelings.
"It's always good. It's very informative and it always helps me with my weekly job. It helps me get through," Shelton said. "I definitely need this, being deployed."
Shelton said he also attends service every week to help bring balance to the situations he faces at work.
"I'm anxious to hear a new message each week," he said. "It keeps me motivated, keeps me strong. It keeps my head grounded so I can remember where I'm from and where I'm going."
Shelton said some things won't be the same as being home, but he is happy to have the gospel service available at LSA Anaconda.
"There ain't nothing like being back home, but Chaplain McGhee, he comes really close.
He keeps it real, too," Shelton said. "You can talk to him about anything. He's an excellent chaplain."
McGhee said the services offer Soldiers an opportunity to free themselves through worship.
"When you can be free to praise God the way you praise God without being hindered, that's a freeing aspect," McGhee said.
McGhee is humble about the goal of his services. "I just try to deliver and tell the word that's relevant to them and what they're going through," he said.
The services start with a high energy prayer, and that level of energy is passed on to the choir.
That same momentum is then passed on to the person doing the church announcements. When McGhee takes the podium, he said he feels that energy and tries to reciprocate it to the congregation in his sermon.
"It's the same thing when I come and preach, keep that same level going, and focus their attention quite a bit," McGhee said. "Then we have altar call, and most of the time the altar call is full."
The worship services are open to anyone. Several members of the Air Force and Marines attend regularly, along with some third country nationals, McGhee said. "It doesn't really matter about that. The Gospel is the Gospel, and it's relevant to people across cultures."
McGhee coordinates the different chapel services across the post and makes sure people are informed about what services are going on so that Soldiers have a chance to attend the service of their choice.
He also organizes Bible studies, choir practices and dance team rehearsals on weeknights.
On Sundays, he offers two Christian worship services: a morning service at the Sustainer Theater and an evening service at the Provider Chapel.
"A lot of Soldiers can't get to services during the week. They're set to their battle rhythm doing their work," McGhee said. "This way, they get a chance to get away from all the craziness at the workplace. It really helps them out and gives them a little bit of strength to last until the next week."
McGhee, who started serving as a chaplain in 1993, also offers counseling services to anyone in need.
"I believe 90 percent of my work is counseling," McGhee said. "I start long-term counseling with folks who may be here with me for a long time so they can come in once a week so I can help them."
Between multiple Sunday services, group events nearly every day, organizing post chapel services and counseling Soldiers, McGhee said he is left with little time to himself. He said despite that, he feels good about his job.
"You don't really get days off in my office because of the battle rhythm, but on Saturdays I try to get away and study and prepare my sermon" McGhee said. "You can call it down time, but it's not a day off because something's always coming up."
Although McGhee ministers to a United Methodist Church in Missouri, denominations aren't strictly divided here.
"Most of my ministers [here] don't know what denomination I'm from. I don't really share that with anyone because I don't want them having preconceived notions about how the service is going to be," McGhee said. "I tell them to guess what denomination I'm from by how I preach."
McGhee said some aspects of running a congregation here are easier than back in the States.
"There's no denominational pressure to make budget. Also, there are no offerings here," McGhee said. "The services are a little bit freer here because it's called a gospel service. There are no restrictions on how you do the service. Gospel is a blend of a lot of different denominations, and it makes people feel good."
McGhee said the blend of denominations has other benefits as well.
"It brings people together in one service who normally wouldn't be together at home because of the different denominations they follow," McGhee said.
He also added that he's received a lot of support from his congregation back home in the form of e-mails, letters and care packages.
He said he shares the packages he gets with everyone, with a small exception of cotton candy.
"I did get some cotton candy from my neighbor across the street," McGhee said. "You know, I had to eat that. It's one of my favorites."
| Date Taken: | 12.22.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 12.22.2005 09:12 |
| Story ID: | 4173 |
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| Web Views: | 302 |
| Downloads: | 133 |
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