LOCALLY SOURCED
The Gospel at Midway Airport John Melby “Good morning. May I have your attention please.” Tom Johnston, a Midway Airport Chaplin announces over the intercom. “A Christian thirty minute non-denominational worship service will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the airport chapel on the mezzanine level of concourse C. Everyone with a face mask for face covering is welcome to attend. Thank you.” Hearing the announcement when waiting for a connecting flight, passengers Teresa and Dave arrive at the Chapel and sit in the first row. They are traveling from Manistee, Michigan, through Midway, on their way to Florida. David is retired Coast Guard, and Susan is in a wheelchair that David lovingly ‘drives’ for her. They both are regular attenders of a Baptist church in their hometown. Josh, another chapel attender, is a traveler headed back home. He enters the chapel just before the service is to begin. As a retired police officer, he seems like a calm person, however, has symptoms of PTSD. His home church is Central Christian in Las Vegas. All chapel visitors seem to have deep and humble reasons to attend the service. The day is Monday, December 7, 2020, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and of course, during the worldwide pandemic. Both times in history seem to bring on a greater meaning to the morning’s worship and maybe even a greater bond for each attending the service. Chaplain Tom begins the service with a warm and welcoming prelude that leads to, according to the worship bulletin, Personal Preparation. This is a time, the chaplain explains, to prepare hearts for the worship of God, the Creator of all things, and Jesus, the Savior. As the service continues, Chaplain Tom asks for each worshipper to tell a bit about themselves. Tom shares a story about his brother who is a drummer. It was clear that Chaplain Tom welcomes all and that Christ brings all together in his infinite love. The Midway Airport Chapel service is part of The Moody Church Skyword Ministries. From the Moody website: moodychurch.org/skyword-ministries “Skyword Ministries is the only authorized Christian Protestant chaplaincy privileged to serve the Chicago O’Hare and Midway airport communities. Our volunteer Chaplain team of approximately 30 chaplains
22
conducts multiple chapel services every Sunday and on Christian holidays at both airports. Dr. Hutz H. Hertzberg serves as the Senior Protestant Chaplain and gives overall leadership to this ministry. The Moody Church serves as the officially recognized sponsoring judicatory for the Protestant chapel ministry at O’Hare and Midway. Skyword Ministries is the incorporated name of this ministry and is a recognized 501(c)3 organization. God has wonderfully touched the lives of a multitude of passengers, airport employees and visitors for over five decades through the airport chapels. But there is much more to be done – we invite you to participate and partner with us! (Hutz H. Hertzburg) “Skyword Ministries supports chaplains offering weekly chapel services at both Midway and O’Hare airports. Dr. Hurtzburg is a 1979 graduate of Wheaton College. Tom Johnston is a 1977 Wheaton College graduate and serves as the primary Chaplain at Midway Airport. Services are held at Midway Chapel Monday through Friday at Concourse C, Mezzanine Level, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m, and on Sundays, 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. At O'Hare Airport, the Chapel is in Terminal 2, Mezzanine Level, with services held Sundays at 10 a.m. and noon.” During the middle of the chapel service, Tom asks each attender who they would like prayers said for and why. Teresa and David ask prayers for their daughter, who is compromised with asthma,
