Deputy chief of chaplains to speak at prayer breakfast

  • Published
  • By Sheila Rupp
  • Nucleus journalist
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO --  The speaker of this year's National Prayer Breakfast here will be Chap. (Brig. Gen.) Cecil R. Richardson. The breakfast is Feb. 15 at 7 a.m. at the Mountain View Club. Chaplain Richardson is the Air Force deputy chief of chaplains.

Chaplain Richardson assists the chief of chaplains, Chap. (Maj. Gen.) Charles C. Baldwin, in directing and maintaining the chaplain service of more than 2,200 chaplains and chaplain assistants. The Chaplain Service provides the opportunity to exercise freedom of religion to all Air Force members.

Chaplain Richardson is a member of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, where he and other members of the board advise the secretary of defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical and quality of life concerns.

Chaplain Richardson received his bachelor's degree in biblical studies at Evangel University in Springfield, Miss., in 1973 and his Master of Divinity degree in Hebrew studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill., in 1976. Chaplain Richardson was commissioned as a chaplain in 1977 and began his service at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

He has served as command chaplain for U.S. Central Command and Air Combat Command. Before becoming deputy chief of chaplains, he served as the director of the Air Force Chaplain Service Institute at Maxwell AFB, Ala.

The National Prayer Breakfast is a long-standing tradition of government leaders and people in positions of responsibility meeting for discussion and prayer. The breakfast is normally attended by the president, the vice president, the cabinet, members of the senate and the house, the court, government officials and military leaders in Washington.

Chap. (Capt.) David Daus said everyone who would like to join together to pray for the nation is encouraged to attend.

"The purpose of the occasion is to bring together the leadership of the United States in recognition of the moral and religious values upon which our nation was founded," Chaplain Daus said.

The theme of this year's breakfast is "Lord, Guard and Guide." Cost is $3 for E-4 and below, $5 for all others. Cost includes an all-American meal or healthy heart meal. Today is the last day to purchase tickets at the chapel.