Former NFL star visits Mighty Ninety for national day of prayer

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dan Gage
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Men and women of the Mighty Ninety continued the national tradition of the annual prayer gathering here March 9th.

More than 150 members of the Warren community gathered together in the Trail's End Club to enjoy each other's company, a pasta buffet luncheon and music from the Chapel Praise Team, along with prayers and words of encouragement offered by Warren members and special guest Rich Griffith.

Griffith, a former National Football League player, is the Pastor of Men's Ministries at Woodmen Valley Chapel in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he also serves as director of Sports and Recreation Ministries.

Lt. Col. Alan Chouest, 90th Missile Wing chaplain, suggested Griffith as the special guest speaker after meeting him while stationed at the Air Force Academy, Colo., according to Maj. Bruce Kite, 90th MW chaplain.

"They shared a love of God and the spiritual heartbeat of America, so it was just natural to pull this together," Kite added.

Griffith was fast to mention his appreciation for those in uniform, his time as an NFL player and the connection he saw between the two.

"I miss the competitiveness, I miss the players and you miss your brothers," Griffith said. "You understand that by serving in the military, that bond you have, that privilege you have of working and walking with one another."

During his time at the podium, Griffith focused on privilege, honor and brotherhood.

"There are so many people in our world today who isolate themselves and don't have the privilege of walking the life of someone else," Griffith said. "There's a privilege in walking with someone else, when you walk with someone you're investing your life into them. You're experiencing life with them and that builds memories and challenges one another. It also makes you a better person."

"I want to thank you for what you do. You gave me the privilege to live my dream, because of your service, sacrifice and dedication," Griffith added.

Griffith also mentioned the importance of training and working with others.

"We know about the foundation of training and being ready for battle, I was tested every weekend on the football field and you're tested and drilled in the military every day," Griffith said.

"The cool thing about testing in a team environment is that you're not tested alone, you have your brothers and sisters by your side," Griffith added. "On the field I needed my brothers next to me, when you're deployed you're wingman is right next to you and you're not alone. The more you walk with your brothers and sisters, the more you experience the foundation of who you are."

Adding to the idea of being ready for battle, Griffith discussed the importance of being resilient and strong in faith.

"At some point in your life things will be taken away, we live in a world where bad things happen," Griffith said. "If I put all my eggs in one basket and say this is what gives me my identity and who I am, then who am I if I lose that?"

"In moments of discouragement and despair I went back to my training, back to the basics," Griffith added. "We need to do that in our faith as well as in our physical training. Let us not forget our foundational truths of who we are. Let us not forget our training which has been given to us. Let us stand on that solid foundation."

This year's National Prayer Luncheon again gave Warren members of all religions an opportunity to come together in faith.

"I think the program highlighting our nation's major religions demonstrates the foundation of our republic and our constitution," said Col. George Farfour, 90th MW vice commander. "As the men and women of the Mighty Ninety go to work every day - many travelling out to the missile fields - I think of the words of Isaiah as God asked 'whom shall I send?' and the reply came, 'here I am, send me.'"