CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Cannon AFB Chapel opened their first Airmen Ministry Center here, Nov. 17, 2021.
The Airmen Ministry Center is an initiative led by Captain Arthur Darby III, one of the 27th Special Operation Wing Chaplain, as well as several single Airmen who frequently attend Chapel hosted retreats and trips.
“This is a part of our single airmen program here at Cannon,” said Darby, “It started as an initiative back in April of 2021, aimed at providing a spiritually resilient community for Airmen here. We are looking forward to the great things that will continue to come.”
The initiative has turned into a program that will serve single Airmen and those living in the dorms through four pillars; building community, developing servant leaders, service to others and promoting spiritual resilience.
“We have been able to develop a leadership team consisting of all our Airmen,” said Darby, “These Airmen were formed out of a retreat. We gave them the vision of what we were looking to do, and they took the charge leading this program.”
The Airmen Ministry Center was given the name “The Oasis” by the Airmen who helped lead the program. An oasis typically serves as a refuge, relief or pleasant change from what is usual and difficult. This is what The Oasis aims to do: provide a refuge.
“It's a place where you have Airmen and your friends that show up and they're feeling empty, dry and maybe parched,” said Maj. Timothy Sessions, a chaplain assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing, “they have a place where they can come and be refreshed.”
The Oasis is located in Dorm Building 1161 and is open 24/7. It is available for all single Airmen and Airmen living in the dorms. For more information contact Bianca Daugherty at (575)784-2507.