Page 2 - Nellis AFB Bullseye 7-24-15

2 July 24, 2015
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Nellis celebrates successful Vacation Bible School
By chaplain candidate (2nd Lt.) serena Washington
99th Air Base Wing Chapel
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — The Nellis
Chapel has done it again with the 18th and best year
of Vacation Bible School ever.
This year’s theme of Science, provided by Gospel
Light’s Son Sparks Labs, proved to be engaging and
fun for all 192 children and volunteers. Discovering
the light of God in a science-based curriculum allowed
the students to integrate their knowledge of motion,
cause and effect, chain reaction, and transformation
with scientific experiments relating them to teachings
about Christ.
One-hundred-twenty-two students sitting in pews
marked for four-year-olds to high school freshmen
awaited their daily devotion by professor Petri and
his assistant Sally. During one experiment, professor
Petri, a bearded man with white overcoat and thick
glasses, asked for volunteers.
The unseen leader
By Master sgt. Melvin Fouke
366th Force Support Squadron
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE
BASE, Idaho — Over the years, I’ve seen
many leaders come and go. The ones I
admired, I took note of the traits I wished
I had, as well as the ones I already pos-
sessed. It took me a long time to realize
some of my personal and professional
weaknesses were the very areas I gravi-
tated toward in my leaders.
Lao Tzu once said, “A leader is best
when people barely know he exists.
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
they will say, ‘we did it ourselves.’” To
me, this is true leadership, when you
don’t even realize you’re being led. When
things are difficult, they’re the ones
people turn to, and instead of answers,
they get encouragement, guidance and
ultimately, empowerment.
One leader in particular stands out as
one I aspired to be like, although I can’t
say that was my opinion right from the
start. This boss was loud, boisterous, and
a bit too “hoorah” for my taste. Starting
with the first day he walked into the
office, I didn’t like him, and thought I
never would. It was like this for the first
six months.
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Hands flew up and the noise level in the Chapel tion, said he found Vacation Bible School, “an exciting
was booming. As all eyes were on professor Petri as opportunity for the community to come together to
he dropped blue dye in a large cylinder jar of warm share their Christian Faith.”
water, the children eagerly awaited to see what would
happen. “It’s blue,” many children said. Thelma Loggins, a 19-year veteran of Vacation Bible
School, was honored with two-dozen roses as the last
Sally asked Professor Petri if it’s all ok. Professor year in service as the music leader.
Petri then dug into an ice bucket and pulled out a piece
of dry ice and placed it in the large cylinder jar now The children were excited talking to their parents
containing blue water. Like a volcano, steam began each evening about what they had learned. Fourth
to emerge atop the jar, billowing white smoke steams grade teacher Charon Martin enjoyed the week of
down the sides. volunteering at the chapel and was impressed with the
students, stating, “They were happy children, enjoying
This night was the lesson of transformation followed the classes, arts and crafts, snack time, games and skits;
by a lesson of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and overall, really great kids.”
allowing each one of us to be forgiven.
Vacation Bible School is offered every summer at
Each night children learned a new scientific table the Nellis Air Force Base Chapel, and is open to all
symbol, such as nitrogen-N, hydrogen-H, and helium- faith groups and all students.
HE, while attending classes with daily themes. The
entire week culminated with a Friday night children’s The Chapel staff would like to extend a special thank
performance, where they sang numerous songs. you to all from Protestant religious education coor-
dinator, Lisa Noehl, and Catholic religious education
Glen Noehl, audio visual technician for the produc- coordinator, Nashia Quinata.
During that time, my work center Finally, the inspection report ar- egate and disappear but instead he was
went through some rigorous inspections rived. I scoured the report looking grooming me to take a more active role
and we performed well beyond anyone’s for his name. Although I didn’t find in the functions of Air Force leadership.
expectations. I was sure the boss man was his name, I did find mine, along with
going to parade right through my office, two others from my office, listed as top Well, they say my “small hoorah”
singing about how great he was. When performers. All this time I thought he grew three sizes that day. I had been
that day didn’t come I was confused. was promoting himself, but in reality he led without my awareness. I had been
given a gift from the most unlikely of
“A leader is best when people people. It was a powerful moment for
barely know he exists. When his me in my Air Force career as I now
work is done, his aim fulfilled, understood what leading really meant.
they will say, ‘we did it ourselves.’” It meant showing others the right way
to conduct Air Force business and not
— Lao Tzu shutting them out.
Weeks went by and not a word was said was promoting me and my coworkers all Leadership is a word we often use
about how great “The Savior” was and over the base. My opinion of him was in the military, perhaps more than we
how he got us through this inspection. instantly changed. I started to reflect should: leadership decisions, leadership
Another couple weeks went by. I assumed back on how he took me along to every- seminars, senior leadership, the list goes
there was a mistake somewhere because thing he did. I gained perspective and on. Using a word so often can cause it to
my boss never passed an opportunity to I learned how decisions were made. My lose some of its “oomph.” It seems pre-
let everyone know how great he was. initial thoughts were he wanted to del- posterous to be led to the “front lines”
of the conference room for another
seemingly endless meeting.
In the end though, maybe I did need
to be led into that conference room, not
because it was a dangerous or hostile
environment, but instead an unfamiliar
area for me at that point of my career.
That leader scooped me up and showed
me the way. Will you take your subor-
dinates with you to those meetings? If
not, ask yourself why.
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