Dyess Chapel Wins ACC's Large Chapel Organization Award

by Airman 1st Class Kedesha Pennant
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

2/24/2014 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 7th Bomb Wing Chapel recently won the 2013 Air Combat Command Large Chapel Organization Award, also known as the Charles I. Carpenter Award.

The chapel was recently recognized for being a pillar in the Team Dyess community. The support from dedicated volunteers and agencies has contributed to attaining the distinguished award. They have also succeeded in hosting events focusing on the spiritual aspect of comprehensive Airmen fitness.

"We are grateful for this recognition," said Lt. Col. Boyd Short, 7th Bomb Wing chaplain. "The support we receive from our wing and community leaders is outstanding. Our most satisfying work comes about when we are able to collaborate with the many other Dyess agencies also serving Airmen and their families."

The range of support includes such events as providing meals for single Airmen, making connections through unit visitations, running the Airmen Ministry Center, known as the Soul Fire Café, and by providing spiritual care through a variety of religious programs.

"We also count on the wonderful support of our chapel volunteers," said Master Sgt. Lidia Beach, 7th Bomb Wing Chaplain Corps team superintendent. "They multiply our effectiveness and outreach into the community."

Numerous factors contributed to the award recognition, including being the first in ACC to secure a civilian Catholic priest contract after losing an active duty position. They also facilitated the completion of a construction project, adding 3,000 square feet of new religious education classroom space to the chapel facility.

"We are tremendously blessed to be able to add our contract priest, Father Luis Barrera Hernandez, to our ministry team," Short said. "Our priest contract is being used as a template for other bases across ACC. I believe our major command leaders recognized and valued the efforts we invested to meet the spiritual needs of our Dyess personnel."

Short leads a team that includes four active duty chaplains, one reserve chaplain, three chaplain assistants and four contract positions. The chapel staff emphasizes its role as lead facilitators for the free exercise of religion and providing spiritual care. People who seek counseling are provided absolute confidentiality by the Chaplain Corps team. There is always an "on call" chaplain available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency needs.

"For me as wing chaplain, I'm thrilled for the chance to have the members of my team recognized as winners of this award, because I personally witness the tremendous effort they put in, each and every day, serving the spiritual and community needs of Team Dyess," Short said. "We sense the great privilege it is to share in this vital mission and count it a great blessing to do our part in strengthening the morale and resilience of our Airmen and their families."