Base holds Prayer breakfast

  • Published
  • By Sheila Rupp
  • Nucleus Journalist
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO --  Chap. (Brig. Gen.) Cecil Richardson spoke here Feb. 15 at Team Kirtland's National Prayer Breakfast. Chaplain Richardson is the Air Force deputy chief of chaplains.
Approximately 325 members of the base community gathered at the Mountain View Club to come together in prayer and hear Chaplain Richardson speak. 

The National Prayer Breakfast is a long-standing American tradition where government officials and leaders meet for prayer and to discuss national issues. The theme of this year's breakfast was "Lord, guard and guide." 

The breakfast kicked off with a welcome from Staff Sgt. Nick Cataldi and the national anthem sung by Airman Brittnie Brazile. Senior Airman Juan Sanchez of security forces gave the invocation and 2nd Lt. Jason Rubenstein presented the scripture reading, Exodus 23:20. Airman 1st Class Kalib Wilkinson led a prayer for the nation. Wing Chaplain Lt. Col. Dana Grover introduced the guest speaker, Chaplain Richardson. 

Chaplain Richardson served here from 1981-83 and had not returned to Kirtland since he was stationed here. He said that it was a pleasure to be back. There were many attendees who attended the chapel while Chaplain Richardson was on staff here. 

Chaplain Richardson gave a powerful and colorful talk about his own personal spiritual history. Laughing, he recounted his days working at a Texaco gas station in his youth - the true first time he wore a star - and how he came to the Lord. 

He also related a biblical story to an everyday occurrence in military life. He likened the story of Naaman, an army commander, to that of a modern-day general. Throughout his story of Naaman he inserted Air Force references. Chaplain Richardson's message that God is God and we are not as powerful and the modern-day Air Force relations caused several eruptions of laughter from the large crowd, as well as bringing attendees to tears. 

Chaplain Richardson shared several personal experiences to demonstrate that God's miracles are all around us. He recalled that early one morning he felt a calling to get eyeglasses. The problem was that it was 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday. Regardless, he and his wife ventured out to find eyeglasses. After waiting for the optical shop to open for several hours, he went in and had an overwhelming urge to tell the woman assisting him that he was a chaplain. 

After internal debate, he blurted out that he was a chaplain and she began to cry and shake. He said that she told him that she had recently been diagnosed with cancer, her husband was in the Air Force and that she had prayed for an Air Force chaplain to talk to. His story evoked several "amens" and tears from the audience. 

He said that spiritual wellness is important for everyone, but especially important for military members because of the unique circumstances servicemembers face each and every day. 

Col. Terrence Feehan, commander of the Nuclear Weapons Center, said that Chaplain Richardson gave attendees a lot to think about in how spirituality can work in the lives of others following in the Wingman mentality. Colonel Feehan presented Chaplain Richardson with a traditional squadron plaque.