National Prayer Breakfast: We don't leave anyone behind

Published Feb. 15, 2011
By Monica Mendoza
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- An Old Testament story about Gideon the mighty warrior parallels the story of the modern Airman, said Chaplain (Col.) Gregory Tate, U.S. Air Force Space Command chaplain.

Chaplain Tate told the story at the Peterson Air Force Base National Prayer Luncheon, Feb. 10, at The Club.

The National Prayer Breakfast dates back to 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the first prayer breakfast. The luncheon on Peterson carries on that long tradition and more, said Col. Stephen N. Whiting, 21st Space Wing commander. The Air Force welcomes people of all faith or no faith, he said, and the luncheon is a chance for those who wish to come together to express themselves.

"As we gather today voluntarily for this National Day of Prayer, we add one small chapter to the 500-year history of this country, where so many pilgrims came for religious liberty and religious freedom and religious tolerance," he said. "That's what we are about. Those rights are enshrined in the very first Amendment to our Constitution."

The luncheon opened with Chief Master Sgt. Ibrahim Hamdan, 21st Force Support Squadron, reading a prayer in Arabic; Louis Steinberg, Peterson Air Force Base Jewish lay leader, gave a Hebrew reading; and Tech. Sgt. Shayne Hyde, 21st SW noncommissioned officer in charge of chapel readiness, read Christian scripture.

"It's not all one group here," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Randall Kitchens, 21st SW chaplain. "I like to think of religion in America as a salad bowl."

Chaplain Tate said that in the Old Testament of the Bible, Gideon is on a journey of second-guessing himself, challenging God and ultimately triumphing over evil.

"I believe everyone in life is at some stage of life where Gideon was," he said.

As he told the story, Chaplain Tate asked folks to pay attention to how they might have been a Wingman to Gideon and how they might be a better Wingman to their fellow Airmen.

"Think about being a Wingman, think about where you are in life," he said.

Gideon was downtrodden, poor and working hard. When his country was threatened by attackers, he lost his faith. He might have been considered an "Airman at risk," Chaplain Tate said. God sent Gideon an angel, or a Wingman.

Throughout his journey, Gideon questioned God, he questioned himself and he felt bouts of confidence followed by insecurity and self doubt.

"Wingmen, I want you to know when you stand beside someone in distress, and they start to believe in themselves, you've got them on the right path," Chaplain Tate said. "If you get one person to start having hope, and to start believing, it will affect other people around them."

Gideon faced many challenges - he lost most of his army and his land was attacked. One day, Gideon overheard enemy soldiers describing their awe of Gideon and how God was on Gideon's side. The young warrior found his faith in himself and in God. And, suddenly, "an Airman in distress became a no kidding warrior leader Wingman," Chaplain Tate said.

God sent Gideon the troops he needed to defeat the aggressors and restore his town's faith in God.

Chaplain Tate told Airmen their job was to saddle up, sign up, strap up "and be with every Airman, every contractor, every civilian, every dependent that is in distress and stand beside them," he said. "The goal is always the same, we don't leave anyone behind."