News

Resiliency, relationships focus at Clergy Summit

  • Published
  • By Jenny Gordon
  • Robins Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Developing relationships, sharing the message of what it means to be a wingman, and communicating activities of the growing Robins Ministerial Alliance was the focus of the Second Annual Clergy Summit March 1 at the Museum of Aviation.

Hope and resiliency, knowing your people, developing trust and rapport are some of the tools used to show others you care. Several Robins First Sergeants provided examples of what it means to be a wingman, to be there for those around you no matter the time or place. 

While there are resources available for military members when it comes to spiritual care and resiliency, there are none offered for civilians - one of the things the RMA is seeking to offer.

"We are working together with many wonderful people to assist this collaborative effort in finding solutions," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jonathan Wade, installation chaplain.  

There is an invitation to all faith-based organizations to join and learn more about how to care and build spiritual resiliency through the RMA among its military and civilian airmen who work at Robins, and to recognize stressors that produce suicidal tendencies. 

The next RMA meeting is April 12 at All Saints Episcopal Church, Warner Robins. 

Monthly lunches will begin in May for clergy members who wish to network, learn and receive training that focus on the wingman concept. 

Ongoing discussion also focused on forming an on-call crisis clergy initiative for civilian airmen at Robins, with clergy volunteering one week per quarter as one of its goals. 

The summit's guest speaker was retired Lt. Col. Crawford Hicks who spoke on his experiences of being a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II.