FORT SILL, Okla. (Oct. 24, 2013) -- To touch the spiritual side of Soldiers within the 214th Fires Brigade, Maj. Xuan Tran, brigade chaplain, hosted the brigade's first prayer luncheon Oct. 15 at the Patriot Club.

The luncheon brought Soldiers together to celebrate God's blessings through prayer, resulting in spiritual awakening across various religions and denominations.

Tran said he came up with the theme for the prayer luncheon because the brigade is the "Leaders" brigade and also since one of the brigade commander's philosophies focuses on leadership.

The prayer luncheon included a speech on history of leadership given by 1st Lt. Curtis Cornelius, brigade chemical officer.

The lieutenant shared how he comes from an Army family and has heard the word leadership more than most words in the English language.

"Growing up I knew leadership as the physical strong John Wayne-type of leadership, but as I got older I realized leadership was more than physical courage, it was mental and spiritual toughness as well," Cornelius said.

"When Soldiers have a strong faith, they can withstand many obstacles in life," Tran said. "Soldiers can give up easily in life whenever they are facing problems, because they are not rooted and have not built upon their faith in God."

Tran talked of a Soldier's heart, spirit and soul, and how that soul sustains him or her.

"Unless the Soldier's soul sustains him, he cannot be relied upon and will fail himself, his commander and his country in the end," he said.

Tran told the Soldiers who attended that their lives happened by divine appointment.

"God created them for a purpose and when Soldiers live for God's purpose, they will find meaning and significance," he said.

Staff Sgt. Braden Meyer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 214th FiB chaplain assistant, said prayer breakfasts or luncheons help strengthen Soldiers' prayer lives with God.

"While attending a spiritual fitness event we are encouraged by other Soldier's answers as well as our own," Meyer said.

He added such events improve the overall readiness of those Soldiers.

"They encourage a supportive environment and foster unit cohesion, as many spiritual practices promote tolerance of other worldviews and diverse populations," he said.

Meyer said it was good to be among brigade leaders who set aside time to pray for their Soldiers, the nation and their families.

"Good leadership comes from physical toughness but it also comes from knowing what that something deeper is and how to harness it within yourself and your subordinates," Cornelius said. "Once that is accomplished then any task can be accomplished."