FORT SILL, Okla. (May 14, 2015) -- The room was set for 300 guests to comfortably enjoy a meal while attending the National Day of Prayer lunch, May 8, at the Patriot Club. Guests wouldn't have to worry about being persecuted for their faith, or about being killed because they chose to pray. For these reasons, Chaplain (Col.) Matthew Pawlikowski, Fort Sill Installation Command chaplain, said this nation should be thankful.
"This is our first freedom in the Bill of Rights and as we are more and more aware of the many places where people are being punished for praying, I think (the National Day of Prayer) is very important," Pawlikowski said. "It's easy to take our freedom for granted but this is very American. It's very godly."
Capt. Matthan Russell, 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery, said this was his first prayer lunch and was looking forward to coming. He wanted to be around others who valued faith.
"I have a strong faith so this appealed to me," Russell said. "It's a good atmosphere. It's a gathering of not only people you know but others as well with different backgrounds, ranks, races."
The topic of the lunch was "Live the Call" which Pawlikowski explained was the motto of the incoming chief of chaplains.
Keynote speaker, retired Chaplain (Maj.) Jeff Struecker, tied-in the motto with his speech by encouraging others to realize God is there to give what is needed.
"God often doesn't call the skilled but will call a person and then give them the skills they need," he said. "He doesn't call the wise but calls the foolish to make the wise look foolish. He calls the cowards and gives them courage so others will ask, 'where did that come from?' Only God can give that kind of skill, wisdom and courage."
He shared the story of friend Staff Sgt. Dan Busch, who was part of the mission made famous by the movie "Black Hawk Down." Busch was a Christian man who gave his life defending the crew of the downed aircraft. In his last letter to his mother he said, "a good Christian soldier is just a click away from heaven."
Struecker explained how Busch was already focused on his home in heaven which made him bold and courageous. He incorporated a verse from Proverbs 28:1 which says, "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion."
At the end of the lunch the benediction, a blessing on the entire nation, was given. The words were written by Irvin Berlin.
"God bless America, my home sweet home."
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