Spiritual resiliency: MCHH offers a home away from home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher R. Morales
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --   "It's a home away from home."

Mountain Chapel Hospitality House is a place to kick off the shoes, hang up the jacket and feel accepted - where there is the freedom to be oneself, indulge in friendship, and create a community.

"The MCHH is an awesome place where military families and singles come together and create a family away from home under the banner of Christ," said Senior Airman Humberto Sanchez, 673d Comptroller Squadron financial management accountant. "I really enjoy the activities [they] put on - things from laid-back movie marathons, to week-long hunting trips, camping, kayaking, barbecues, and much more."

The MCHH works for the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Chapel leading the singles ministry. This is one of the many avenues available for spiritual fulfillment through the JBER Religious Operations Center.

Spiritual resiliency is the ability to find hope, strength and courage to make it through tough times with prayer, meditation and others, said Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Derek Marley, 673d Air Base Wing chaplain.

"Your faith is only as good as what it is in," said Stephanie Caudle, MCHH director. "If I have faith in a leaky boat, it won't do me much good. Having faith in the right place [is what] gives us a hope and enough confidence to move forward, and that's what resiliency is."

"Our entire goal is to minister to these people who have given up home and family to volunteer in our armed forces, so we have [offer] home and family to support them," Caudle said.

The Caudles' home is open to everyone for Friday-night prayer, food, and games. They also host many outings and about four retreats throughout the year.
Bob and Stephanie Caudle also participate at the JBER Sunday chapel services, at both the 11 a.m. Contemporary Family Worship service and the 5 p.m. Chapel Next modern young-adult worship service.

"We encourage folks to find a troop someplace if you want to grow in [the] community," Caudle said. "We have a really great core group of chaplains who really care about [military members]."

JBER offers many chapel services from traditional to contemporary Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and community worship at the various chapels on the installation.
"When folks have spiritual questions or issues the best place to go is the chapel for spiritual care," Marley said. "Folks can come to us if they have spiritual questions, want spiritual counseling, or just need someone to talk to."

The chaplain corps is a resource to turn to for guidance and trusted counsel. The MCHH is an extension of their care outside of the chapel and church. Both sources work together for family-fun events.

Events like their 2015 New Year's Eve party, and the April JBER Protestant retreats continuously build relationships with friends, God and the community.
For more information on the JBER Chapel, call 552-5762; for the MCHH, call (715) 575-6244.