Chapel considers gospel worship service; hosts town hall meeting Nov. 15

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eydie Sakura
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The Malmstrom Chapel recently conducted a base-wide needs assessment and found 40 percent of the 358 respondents were interested in a gospel service on base. 

A town hall meeting is slated for Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the chapel annex. Chaplain (Capt.) Mark Roberts, 341st Space Wing chaplain, said if there is enough interest and support, the chapel staff will begin moving toward an early 2008 start date for gospel service worship. 

"Our mission is to promote and facilitate the free exercise of religion as guaranteed by our U.S. Constitution," the chaplain said. "We do so by conducting Christian worship, and by facilitating and supporting worship and other religious needs of other faith groups. The primary missing element [on base] has been a gospel service that reaches out to our members of that tradition." 

Gospel service has its roots in the African-American community, but it is indeed open to all people. 

"Spirited music, great preaching and fellowship opportunities are all hallmarks of the gospel worship service," Chaplain Roberts said. "We really want people to come out to the town hall meeting to voice their opinions." 

People who cannot attend the town hall meeting Nov. 15 can e-mail Chaplain Roberts their thoughts and willingness to help begin this worship service to mark.roberts@malmstrom.af.mil by Nov. 12.