There is no doubt about it--when Chaplain, Major Randy Sellers was officially promoted to the rank of Major at Vance AFB, OK, on March 1, 2011, a new paradigm shift occurred--for the first time in our history key church officials of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church were present.
In attendance were Bishop Chris and Betty Thompson, Executive Director, Evangelism USA and Chairman of the Chaplains Ministries, IPHC Board; Bishop Frank and Lu Tunstall, Superintendent of the Heartland Conference (formerly Oklahoma Conference), and Dr. Hugh H. Morgan, Director/Endorser of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC. To my knowledge, this has never happened before. It is the opinion of this writer that Bishop Frank Tunstall has raised the bar and set an example for all conference superintendents to follow in support of their military chaplains when it is possible to do so.
Randy, Sheila, Frank, Lu, Betty, Chris, and Hugh
In addition to church officials, there were a number of honored guests. . . first and foremost was Chaplain Sellers’s wife, Sheila, and their children Haley and her husband Justin Stevens, Jonathan and Dan.
Chaplain Sellers parents Perry and Mary Sellers and Sheila’s parents Garry and Bea Vavak, as well as family and friends, were all present and accounted for.
Among those I knew were as follows: David and April Burrows and their youngest son, Wesley (David is the Chairman, Board of Regents of Southwestern Christian University and is a successful businessman with the ownership of All-State Insurance Agency in Enid, OK), Marilyn Burrows, wife of the Rev. Dr. Damon Burrows, retired IPHC pastor and leader (in fact, Damon was a member of the Chaplains Ministries, IPHC Board when we approved Randy for endorsement). Enid, Oklahoma is the city where Oral Roberts pastored a Pentecostal Holiness church and held his first evangelistic crusade in the convention center there.
Chaplain, Colonel Scott Gardner, USAF Global Strike Command Chaplain and his wife Linny were present. They drove all the way from Offutt AFB, Nebraska, near Omaha. In fact, Chaplain Gardner presided at the ceremony and administered the oath of office. It was Chaplain Gardner who recognized the leadership gifts and talents of Chaplain Sellers, and for the first time in Air Force history created an executive administrative position for a junior grade chaplain/officer at the United States Air Forces in Europe Chaplain Command office for Randy. It was there that Randy was given a golden opportunity to see the bigger picture of the ministry of Air Force chaplains from the top echelon.
What a joy and personal delight it was for me to be asked by Randy to assist in the changing of rank that day. It was my privilege to recruit and endorse Randy to be an Air Force chaplain. I must add, that I did not do that all by myself. The truth is that Timothy and Pam Moore were in a shopping mall in Oklahoma City and saw Randy and Sheila. Timothy was in the process to become a Navy chaplain at the point in time. When Randy heard the good news about Timothy, it stirred up latent feelings of a call he had had from God some years earlier to be a chaplain in the military, but had never acted upon it. No one man can do it all, we are dependent on many others. I am grateful to Timothy and Pam Moore for their encouragement they gave that day to Randy and Sheila. The rest is now history--Timothy Moore is in the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander or Major, and now with the Coast Guard in Portsmouth, VA, and Randy Sellers in the Air Force at Vance AFB, OK. Timothy Moore and Randy Sellers have made us all very proud of them.
Haley, Jonathan and Dana, the adult children of Randy and Shelia, pinned on Chaplain Sellers' new rank on his Air Force service dress blue uniform.
Sheila and Hugh change the epaulets with Major oak leaves
As I was changing out the shoulder board (epaulet) with the new rank of Major, I was reminded that it was on the same day of the month, March 1, 1973, thirty-eight (38) years earlier when I was on active duty at Wright Patterson AFB, OH, that Brigadier General Irby B. Jarvis, Base Commander at Wright Patterson AFB, and Melvine Morgan, my wife, pinned new oak leaves on my Air Force blue uniform at a promotion ceremony at Chapel 1 when I was promoted to Major. That story was published in The Pentecostal Holiness Advocate, June 16, 1973, with a photo of the event on the front cover of the Advocate.
Sheila, Randy, and Hugh
Chaplain Randy Sellers is a natural master of ceremonies. He is a gifted speaker and misses nothing. He gave shadow boxes with a photo of an Air Force fighter aircraft and the American Flag to each of his children. What a clever idea and very impressive. He gave a dozen roses to Sheila and no doubt other gifts. He gave me a framed photo of The Beechcraft T-6 "Texan II" that is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company (now Hawker Beechcraft). It's the trainer aircraft for Air Force, Navy, and Marine pilots, as the Canadian Air Force.
The influence of Chaplain Sellers is being felt by the entire Vance Air Force community. Civilian contractors, commanders, medical doctors, dentists and pharmacists, pilots and crew men, to name a few were in attendance. Let me name some key officers who were present:
- Vice Commander, 71st Flying Training Wing, Colonel Roger J. Witek.
- Commander, 71st Mission Support Group, Colonel Tim Gibson and his wife Nancy.
At the beginning of the ceremony, The National Anthem was sung by the Vance Trio. The harmony and blending of their voices were awe-inspiring. At the close of the ceremony the trio led us in singing the Air Force Hymn.
After the ceremony, the guests were served refreshments inn the Chapel Community Activity Center (CCAC). Following a time of fellowship, we were invited over to the Base Club for lunch. I had the privilege of sitting next to my boss, Bishop Chris Thompson on my right hand and Chaplain, Colonel Scott Gardner and his wife, Linny, on my left hand. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. Getting to know people is my business no matter where I am.
Meanwhile, I was able to take a short nap in the Chapel Community Activity Center before going over to the Command Headquarters to make an official visit as an endorser to the Wing Commander, Colonel Roger J. Witek. Randy is no stranger to that office and everyone recognized him as a chaplain. An endorser can learn a great deal about the effectiveness of his chaplain by talking with the commander. I can tell you Randy Sellers has made a great impression on him, and the base. Colonel Witek told me that for so many leaders to come, plus the civilian contractors, and other chaplains was indeed a tribute to our Chaplain, Randy Sellers.
The drive from Enid back to Oklahoma City is absolutely beautiful. I saw active oil wells pumping that black gold, cattle, horses, great pasture lands, thriving farms and ranches, pickup trucks, and even a McDonald's in King Fisher, OK, the birthplace of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, and Sam's Club. But more important, at least to me, is where my good friend Bob Shafer lives, when he is in town. He is an outstanding evangelist with supernatural miracles following his ministering of the Word of God. Unfortunately, he was not in town when I drove up to Enid, and back to Oklahoma City. McDonald's has the best unsweetened tea on planet earth. I always ask for three sliced lemons and three splendors. It only costs $1 plus tax.
I was blessed by Charles and Ann Phillips with the use of one of their vehicles, a GMC Tahoe. I know they have the best CD's with glorious gospel music in the known world in their CD changer. My soul soared and my spirit was bolstered by the music as I drove. I spent Tuesday night in their home. Charles took me to dinner (supper) at the famous Petrolem Club on the north-side of Oklahoma City. I slept in their guest football bedroom upstairs. They are big Oklahoma Sooner fans. Ann prepared a breakfast fit for a king the next morning. Ann and Melvine are the two of the best cooks in the whole wide world, I know. Ann was my executive secretary and administrative assistant when I was president of Southwestern College. I value the friendship of these two outstanding Christian leaders, and love them and their children, and grandchildren. Mevine and I have spent several days at their lake home on Tenkiller Lake near the Arkansas State line.
While in Oklahoma City, I had supper with Bishop Chris Thompson and his wife, Betty, on Saturday evening, February 26, and Sunday dinner with Retired Army Chaplain (Colonel) Freeman and Colleen Mashburn at Red Rock Grill on Hefner Lake. I was in worship with them at River of Life Church (formerly Muse Memorial), where Dr. James D. Leggett preached a masterpiece based on Psalm 150. He and Faye were visiting in the city. When I grow up, I would like to be a preacher like James Leggett. He is one of the best. Pastor Richard Goad is a great pastor and preacher. He really knows how to flow in the Spirit, and the worship service is awesome. They have some of the most gifted musicians I know and a worship team unbeatable. Of course, Laban West plays the piano. Mark and Virginia Synan Taylor and a lady singer, sang several songs and it was magnificent and awe-inspiring. The altar service was powerful . . . everyone received ministry.
Last, but not least, Randy and Sheila Sellers went all out to make my visit with them a memorable occasion. The VIP VOQ quarters were lovely. The cost was only $39, extravagant wouldn't you say?I had opportunity to spend some special time with Jonathan and his father and mother. Randy, Jonathan and I ate breakfast together at the bowling alley on Tuesday morning. Jonathan is an Air Force ROTC student with a scholarship at the University of Oklahoma, but takes his classes at the University of Central Oklahoma. It was nice to talk with Haley and Dana as well. Haley is happily married and Dana is a freshman at Baylor University. The children of our chaplains are important and vital to the ministries of their father or mother. I always try to impress upon the children their importance in support of their father or mother. We do have women chaplains too.
I am glad I made the right choice. I had an invitation from the Chief of Army Chaplains (Major General) Doug Carver to attend his annual Senior Leadership Training Conference at Hilton Head, SC. It's a lovely place to go, and communicate with senior leaders in the Army Chaplaincy, both chaplains and chaplain assistants. However, It was far more important for me to be with Randy and Sheila and their family and friends, than to be anywhere else. It will always be a special event in my memory when I get old and unable to travel. Now is the time to do what I need to do to support our IPHC chaplains. And with God's help, I made it fine.
Posted on
Fri, March 18, 2011
by Hugh Morgan