An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Article Display

Fighting phantom attacks

  • Published
  • By Tarsha Storey
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Shaw will celebrate the National Prayer Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Carolina Skies Club. The guest speaker will be Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles Baldwin, Air Force Chaplain Services chief. All Shaw members, retirees and their families are invited to attend the event. Tickets are $5 per person.

"Chaplain Baldwin is the chief of the Air Force Chaplain Service, the highest position in the Chaplain Service. Given his position and schedule around the globe, we are fortunate to be able to get on his visitation schedule. His perspective and insight will come from the top, sharing issues from the Air Force worldwide as well as deployed locations and joint service interactions. He comes to us with a variety of experiences as a chaplain, an officer, a former pilot and an extreme passion for the welfare of our enlisted and officer troops," said Chaplain (Capt.) Cregg Chandler, 20th Fighter Wing chaplain.

Originally called the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, the National Prayer Breakfast was established in 1953 by President Dwight Eisenhower. It was established to bring the president, his cabinet, the Supreme Court, Congress, the diplomatic corps, business leaders, labor leaders, education leaders, science leaders, military leaders and each branch of the armed forces together to seek Divine guidance for the national leadership and to reaffirm faith and dependence on God, said Chaplain Chandler.

Each year since 1953, the theme of the breakfast has changed, but the focus remains the same: prayer to a higher being or power higher than humanity, said Chaplain Chandler.

"It is essential for all military to keep the concept (of prayer) there and to be reminded there is a greater power there we can turn to in times of war and struggle. It's even more crucial now because we are at war. We're sending people out all the time. We have families that are left behind and unfortunately we do have death (in our families) and casualties (in war). To have something like this is just a reminder that even though we are limited in our humanity; we do have a greater source of power. It's a source that helps individuals get through tough times, whether it's a war or something happening locally," said Chaplain Chandler.

At this year's prayer breakfast, Chaplain Baldwin said he will speak on the topic, ‘Masquerade.’

"The Phantom attacks in many ways -- as an international terrorist, a personal tormentor or sometimes as an impersonal temptation. We cannot rid the world of phantoms, but we can live victoriously in spite of them. The "Masquerade Parade" reveals how," said Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles Baldwin.

Chaplain Baldwin is the senior pastor for the combined active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force of more than 850,000 people serving in 1,300 locations in the United States and abroad. He is a member of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board and helps to advise the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters dealing with religion, ethics and quality of life.

For more information about the National Prayer Breakfast, call the Chapel at 895-1106. To purchase tickets contact a first sergeant or the chapel.