The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight
Bishop Bledsoe
BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE
North Texas Conference
This week, I began my itineration visits to the various districts of the North Texas Conference. At the writing of this article, Leslie and I are visiting the churches and people of the Wichita Falls District.
Our first stop was the Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB) in Wichita Falls. We were met by a host of Air Force personnel, including Colonel David Norsworthy, Lieutenant Jenny Liabenow, and Sergeant Brandon Hayden.
The Sheppard AFB is an integral part of the Wichita Falls community and is the largest training base in Texas. Much of the training that goes on at the airbase includes Air Force, Navy, and Army, as well as training for NATO personnel.
We took brief tours of the maintenance training areas, the plumbing booths, and Mattis Hall, which looks more like a modern college dorm room than military barracks. The most exciting part of this experience was visiting the Solid Rock Café, which offers a healthy alternative to bar-hopping and drinking. An increasing number of airmen–well over 25,000–are using the recreational facilities.
Our trip to the Sheppard AFB concluded with a visit to the North Chapel, one of two chapels on the Base. Chaplain Major Richard Crozier gave us a wonderful overview of the religious community on the base. Many of the airmen we met were members of United Methodist churches in the area. These fine young people are proud to serve and find real meaning in doing so.
In addition to expressing my thanks to the folks at Sheppard Air Force Base, I want to say a word of appreciation to all the men and women in uniform who protect us every day. Let’s continue to lift them up in prayer.
