Base chapel recognized for excellence

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The Dover Air Force Base Chapel won the Air Mobility Command's Terence Finnegan Best Medium-Size Chapel Award for 2010 earlier this year.

The award recognizes the chapel for its positive impact on the wing mission, management, training and its ministry programs.

"We owe our success to the professionalism of our staff and volunteers, their attention to detail and the vision-casting of the leadership here," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Tim Sturgill, 436th Airlift Wing chaplain.
The chapel has more than 270 volunteers to aid its military staff in supporting more than 600 churchgoers per week.

"We provide much more than weekly religious services," said Colonel Sturgill. "We baptize and confirm children, host marriages and coordinate funerals - from cradle to grave, we'll support you."

The chapel has a history of being recognized for its services. A wooden display case shows the various awards the chapel has received over the years.

"We've won [the Terence Finnegan Award] five times before," said Colonel Sturgill. "We're also up for best medium-size chapel in the Air Force this year."

The chapel's consistent recognition relies on to both its leadership and its workforce.

"Without the dedication of our staff and volunteers, we wouldn't be able to offer nearly as much to the community," said Colonel Sturgill

One staff member who helps support Team Dover is Staff Sgt. Laura Rupert, the chapel's noncommissioned officer in charge of logistics and resources.

"Through working with other agencies on base, we're able to offer churchgoers a better experience at the chapel," said Sergeant Rupert. "Right now, we're working to get more music during church functions."

One of the reasons the chapel succeeds in its mission is due to its positive work environment.

"I love coming to work every day, because everyone here works so well towards the same goal," said Sergeant Rupert. "I feel like I have the best job in the Air Force."

The chapel hopes to carry on its success by continuing to work hard every day to offer their best service.

The chapel hosts numerous religious services in addition to sponsoring community events and holiday celebrations. It sponsors a women's support group comprised of about 100 women and children. The chaplains have spent more than 1,500 hours counseling those in need of support, and about 4,300 hours visiting with members of the community.

"I believe in the people in the Air Force and the jobs they do," said Colonel Sturgill. "To give them back anything less than our best would be shortchanging them."