Hugh's News & Commentary

Chaplain, Major Randy Sellers, USAF, and his wife, Sheila, have arrived safely in Okinawa.

In an e-mail on Saturday, September 17, 2011, Randy wrote, "Just a note that we have arrived in Okinawa. It is a beautiful place. Sheila and I look forward to the ministry and opportunity to make many more friends.

I also received an e-mail from my former supervisor at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, OK. You can read it below.

"Air Force Chaplain, Major, Randy Sellers, formerly assigned to Vance AFB, OK, is featured in the sixth volume of the Air Force Chief of Staff's 'Portraits in Courage'--a compilation of narratives highlighting Airmen who put service before self.

"Portraits in Courage" is located at http://www.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110918-003.pdf. (You will have to copy and paste this website link).

Blessings

Randy

[Editor's comment: We are all justly proud of Randy and Sheila Sellers. No chaplain can achieve very much without the support of his spouse, in this case, Randy's wife. I can tell you that Randy is on the fast track as an Air Force chaplain/officer. As we say in the Air Force, "He is a fast-burner." In the Navy, we would say, "He walks on water." There is no doubt about it God has His gracious hand of protection and provision on Randy and Sheila. They are being given God's favor along with success.

Randy is blessed to have a wife who has been brought up in the Pentecostal Holiness Church and has found her spiritual formation in this wonderful environment where she was exposed to the full Gospel, and introduced to the Spirit-empowered life. She has learned to discover God's blessings in adversity.

I call Sheila, "Mrs. Effervescent."

She is truly our heroine. She came to our 2011 Chaplains, Spouses, and Friends Retreat at Founders Inn, Virginia Beach, VA, with a broken leg and an injured hand and wrist. What courage. Randy pushed her in a wheel chair. She was able to negotiate the trip to Colonial Williamsburg and enjoyed the professionally guided tour by certified tour guides, and the fellowship and camaraderie of all those who attended. In the Wednesday morning session she volunteered to give a glowing testimony of God's love and care for her through it all. We all cheered and clapped our hands. I cried for joy to celebrate Sheila's courage and determination. I call it Spizzerinctum.

Over the years that I have been Randy's endorser (and I endorsed him to be an active duty Air Force chaplain) he has kept me abreast of his work and ministry. I like it when a chaplain writes and tells me what is happening in his neck of the woods. I started Hugh's News, under a different name, The Sentinel, that was designed to keep our chaplains informed, inspired, and aware of my love and prayers for them and their families. From the original 13 active duty military chaplains, God has given us today more than 5,000 readers around the world on every continent and many islands of the seas in 22 different time zones. Only God could do such a thing. It is God Who has worked this out. Not Hugh Morgan. So, I give God all the praise, glory and gratitude.

God always blesses a man who is accountable and loyal. All of us have an obligation to come under authority and thereby, receive God's blessings and provisions.

Let me copy and paste what you will read in the above link that Randy Sellers has provided for us:

"While deployed to Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Chaplain, Major Randy Sellers, USAF frequently dealt with the less-visible scars of war –the grief, pain, and sorrow associated with the life-and-death struggle of armed conflict. This often meant providing pastoral care to the critically wounded. With compassionate courage, Chaplain Sellers ensured no Airmen or patients were alone even at the hour of their passing.

"The greatest pastoral challenge Chaplain Sellers would face came suddenly on September 5, 2010. That day, he met an explosive ordnance disposal soldier who had been gravely wounded by a sniper’s bullet. In spite of the emergency room team’s diligent efforts, the soldier would not recover from his wounds. As the medical team ran out of options, Chaplain Sellers picked up the burden of service.

"He ensured this warrior and his service would be honored. He provided exceptional spiritual care consistent with the soldier’s faith, and remained a steadfast source of comfort and hope.

"But his work that day was only beginning.

"Medical staff and approximately 90 fellow members of the soldier’s unit began to participate in an informal prayer and concern vigil for the dying warrior. After 10 long hours of struggle, the soldier passed, but not without his faith confirmed. Chaplain Sellers bore witness to this as he administered last rites.

"Immediately afterwards, Chaplain Sellers began his next mission: consoling and caring for more than 100 of this soldier’s “band of brothers” and medical personnel who grieved the soldiers death.

"To accomplish this ministry, Chaplain Sellers ardently worked with the medical staff to prepare the soldier for a field-expedient viewing by his deployed “family.” He provided hope, delivering a strong message of encouragement, and he offered prayers for family, friends, and comrades.

"Though this moment would pass, the chaplain’s dedication to his fellow service members and their faith remains resolute. During his deployment, Chaplain Sellers spent more than 1,000 hours visiting 5,000 patients and staff, lifting morale and aiding the healing process. He truly demonstrated the highest level of compassionate courage, pastoral care, and wisdom.

"For his service while deployed, he was awarded his fourth Air Force Commendation Medal."

In a subsequent e-mail today, Randy wrote: "It was truly an honor to be one of the 15 chosen to represent the Chief of Staff of the Air Force in his annual printing of the "Portraits of Courage."

"I am now at Kadena Air Base in lodging until a house is assigned.

"I am serving as the Deputy Wing Chaplain/Protestant Branch Chief of the 18 Fighter Wing, (Largest Fighter Wing in the Air Force).

"Sheila is doing well. She is excited about our ministry. We miss our family, but God has been faithful to give us special grace and peace in our aching hearts.

"Thank you for all your support and kind words.

"Yours in Christ,

"Randy and Sheila Sellers"