Hugh's News & Commentary

Dr. Vinson Synan, Dean Emeritus, School of Divinity, Regent University, and former Assistant General Superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church

It was a great joy for Carol Lee and me to attend and participate in the IPHC chaplains retreat at the Founders Inn in Virginia Beach last week.

First of all, I was surprised at the large attendance. About 60 people were there, mostly active and retired chaplains and their wives.

A second surprise was that I had taught about 3/4 of the chaplains while I was at Emmanuel College. A third surprise was that many of them were now retired. I remembered all of them as being good and promising students and was happy to hear stories about their many experiences in ministry to the military.

The main speaker was General Cecil Richardson, Chief of Air Force Chaplains and a member of the Assemblies of God. He is a passionate Pentecostal indeed. His messages were electric and challenging. He was indeed a chaplain’s chaplain. The devotional given by Lou Shirey was the most moving one I have ever heard about; the fact that Jesus’ yoke “fits” and is easy.

The special music was inspired as Bob and Janice Lynch sang duets, Melvine Morgan sang a solo at the dinner banquet, and Stephanie Morgan led us in the communion hymn. We were all blessed by the gifted musical talents of Arlette Revells who played the piano for our worship.

The communion service conducted by Hugh Morgan, and assisted by Chaplains Ken Godfrey and Timothy Moore, was the most impressive and meaningful communion service I have ever experienced in the Pentecostal Holiness Church. It was done with dignity and honor in remembering our Lord's death until He comes again.

The services were excellent in every way. As one of the speakers for the event, I was never more warmly received. The responsiveness of the group was quite overwhelming to me. It was fun to share with such a lively group.

I came away with a greater appreciation for Hugh Morgan and his great contribution to the chaplain’s ministry during the past fourteen years. He has brought a high profile to the chaplains through his Hugh’s News which serves as a family album for the entire IPHC. He has served with distinction representing his church on the highest levels. He is a national treasure for us all.

Another take away for me was the way the IPHC supports the chaplains. The majority of the expenses were paid for the chaplains and their wives. It spoke well for the whole church.  (Actually these retreats are paid by the tithes and contributions of the chaplains and friends of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC. The salary or stipend for the director/endorser is paid by the General Church funds.)

The support of Bishop Chris Thompson and his wife were evident during the meeting. Also the meeting showed a good sense of transition to the leadership of Chaplain Jerry Jones who will succeed Morgan as the director/endorser for the IPHC in September 2012 when Jones will retire from active duty service as an Army chaplain.

In summary, I was proud of the church that has contributed such magnificent chaplains to all the branches of the military. They were resplendent in their uniforms and are certainly making a very good impression for the church wherever they minister.

I felt a special sense of kinship because I was named after the very first military chaplain sent out by the Pentecostal Holiness Church, Vinson Ellenberg. Although he served only a short time, he broke the ground for all that followed.