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Chaplains from Team Ramstein hosted the National Prayer Luncheon at the Ramstein Officers’ Club March 20.
The National Prayer Luncheon was started in 1963 as a way for people of all faiths to come together and pray for the nation, service members and leaders while also talking about key topics concerning them.
“The National Prayer Luncheon is the wing commander’s opportunity to encourage and strengthen the faith of each and every member of the base,” said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Thomas Elbert, 86th Airlift Wing Chapel senior branch chief. “To have the wing and the KMC hold those needs before God and remind us what is truly important in life and the relationships that we hold precious.”
A key topic for this year’s luncheon was resiliency.
“This was an opportunity for me to talk about resiliency through God,” said Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Douglas Carter, a retired Army chief of chaplains. “This is a busy base and I wanted to offer words of encouragement for the troops here.”
Having the chance to speak at this luncheon was only possible due to planning done by one of the chaplains.
“Chaplain Habash started months in advance and did a great job meeting the needs of all military members,” Elbert said. “He gauged very powerful insight — what is needed for faith and for fight. He has directly supervised the effort. It was a great blessing to the KMC.”
People of all faiths were able to come and participate in this luncheon.
“The audience was made up of personnel from all over the KMC, to the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines, we also had a large civilian presence and government services,” Elbert said. “Representatives from all major faith groups —whether Christian, Catholic and Protestant communities on and off base — they serve the spiritual needs of Airmen and Soldiers. It was a very diverse crowd. “
For Carter, speaking in front of this diverse crowd at this year’s luncheon was a rare opportunity.
“It was an honor for me to come here to speak to the variety of service members as an Army chaplain,” said Carter. “I wanted to thank all of you for going through the last ten years of war with distinction and honor.”
