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Air Force Chief of Chaplains leads National Prayer Breakfast

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bryan M. Swink
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil Richardson, USAF Chief of Chaplains, paid a visit to the joint base to participate in the National Prayer Breakfast held here Feb. 18.

Chaplain Richardson visited McGuire AFB in the past but hasn't been to the installation since it became a joint base. In his brief time meeting with people around the base, he said he feels there is a wonderful attitude among the servicemembers and a tremendous commitment to the job at hand.

"Everyone knows why they're wearing their uniform," said Chaplain Richardson. "Everybody understands the impact we have on our nation by accomplishing the mission set before us."

The purpose behind the National Prayer Breakfast is to pray for the nation, military families and units across the world, said Chaplain Richardson. The prayer is also designed to be a reminder for servicemembers to be the people God wants them to be.

"Our nation was founded by religious people who were seeking religious freedom," Chaplain Richardson said. "Our founding fathers were careful to ensure every person could freely exercise his or her faith and that there would never be one national religion."
The military has done a great job focusing on quality-of-life issues for servicemembers across installations throughout the world, said Chaplain Richardson. Setting up childcare centers, youth centers and base housing is great; however, if someone becomes over-worked and stressed out, he or she may feel a sense of emptiness. Men and women - especially those in uniform - need a spiritual foundation because their world can get shaken easily without one.

The chaplain shared a message based on the biblical story of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was a great military leader whose nation was being invaded and hit by a crisis with no warning. The chaplain explained Jehoshaphat led his nation in prayer from a heart full of passion, and this moved the heart of God.

"Even though we can't do certain things, God can do all," said Chaplain Richardson. "I am weak and God is strong. We need to remember that if we keep our eyes on the Lord, then he can do what no other power can do."

Chaplain Richardson began his career as an enlisted intercept operator and Russian interpreter from 1966 to 1970. After obtaining his Master of Divinity degree in Hebrew studies, he returned to the Air Force in 1977 as a captain. His first officer assignment brought him to Little Rock as a Protestant chaplain. The Chaplain's duties have included assignment positions as Command Chaplain for U.S. Central Command and Air Combat Command; Director, USAF Chaplain Service Institute and as the Deputy Chief of Air Force Chaplains.

Chaplain Richardson is scheduled to lead at an array of other National Prayer Breakfasts at 22 installations across the world throughout the next few months.