Hoosier United Methodists 1 www.inareaumc.orgHOOSIER UNITED METHODISTS together May/June 2005 open hearts, open minds, open doors. Volume 35 The people of The United Methodist Church Number 5 A wing and a prayer As ambassadors of faith, airport chaplains comfort travelers By John Shaughnessy stranded; they’re going to a funeral or to visit INDIANAPOLIS – The Rev. Yung Sheng someone who’s sick. Chen has just finished comforting an air- And they get stressed line employee struggling with her father’s out. We try to give them death when he sees an American soldier at help emotionally to get a ticket counter. over the tragedy they’re Striding across the crowded concourse facing.” at Indianapolis International Airport, Chen Spiritual and emo- approaches Army Staff Sgt. Bryan Mason, tional support also are who has just checked in for a flight that needed by people who will lead him back to Iraq. work there, says Rabbi As the 75-year-old volunteer airport Lew Weiss. chaplain listens, Mason explains he has tak- “It’s high stress at the en emergency leave to be at home with his airport with airlines go- wife, Angela, for the birth of their son, Jared ing bankrupt, people Michael. losing jobs and the se- Chen’s smile grows as the Noblesville curity issues,” says resident says his boy measured 21 inches Weiss, who also works and weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces at birth. as a full-time chaplain Then Chen prays for the soldier and his for Clarian Health. “It’s family, asking God to bring them safely important to minister to together again. them. We offer services Indianapolis Star photo by Adriane Jaekle HEADS BOWED: Joining airport chaplain Yung Sheng Chen (in vest) in prayer are members of the Christman “I didn’t know airports do that,” a and counseling.” family – (clockwise, from left) Bill, Brian, Kath and Brian Jacob Christman II. The four were headed to Denver pleased Mason says. “He seems to be a very The Rev. Glenn from Indianapolis at Indianapolis International Airport. nice guy.” O’Connor, a Catholic Moments later, Chen walks into a small priest, and the Rev. Landrum Shields, a ried two airport makeshift chapel – an area marked by sym- Methodist minister, also are chaplains. Yet workers on a shuttle bols of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Bud- Chen provides the program’s most consis- bus,” says the retired “We offer services and counseling.” dhism and Hinduism that reflect the inter- tent presence, spending six days a week at United Methodist – Airport Chaplain Yung Sheng Chen faith quality of the airport’s chaplaincy pro- the airport in a whirlwind ministry that minister with a laugh. gram. touches passengers and personnel in every “That’s where they In its 15th year, the program is starting part of the facility. met – on a shuttle bus that took the work- the offices of US Airways on the second an effort to recruit volunteers to supplement As he strolls through the concourses, ers from the parking lot to the airport. That floor of the airport. The room is locked when a staff that consists of a rabbi, two Meth- Chen wears a gold cross around his neck was the first time in my 58 years of minis- the chaplains aren’t on duty. The chapel has odist ministers, a Catholic priest and an and a red vest embroidered with the words, try I married someone on a bus.” an altar for services. There also are a prayer imam, a Muslim spiritual leader. “Airport Chaplain.” A small New Testa- Talk about the war in Iraq changes rug and the Koran, the sacred book of Is- The chaplains are talking with airport ment is tucked into a vest pocket. Chen’s nearly constant smile to a look of lam, for Muslims who want to pray. officials about having a greater presence as concern. He has comforted families as they On the office wall a small picture of a part of the $1 billion development sched- A Chen story watched loved ones leave for war. He has grieving Christ has been placed atop a uled to be finished in 2008. A chapel is part Nearly everyone at the airport has a Chen prayed with soldiers leaving to face the large poster showing the twin towers of of the design plans for expansion of the air- story. unknown. the World Trade Center in New York City. port, where about 2,000 people work and “Someone had a death in the family, “Any soldier, I welcome them, thank The poster’s caption reads, “Forever in through which more than 8 million passen- and the woman was sobbing on the floor. them and tell them I’ll pray for them – so Our Hearts.” gers passed in 2004. He calmed her down,” says Brian Eck- they can all come home safely,” Chen says. stein, the manager of guest services for He knows the heartbreak of saying good- History of comfort One of 150 airports with BAA Indianapolis, the company that op- bye to someone you love. His wife of 31 The chaplains comforted travelers in chaplains erates the airport for the Indianapolis Air- years died 10 years ago of breast cancer. Indianapolis on Sept. 11, 2001. They also Indianapolis International Airport is port Authority. She was 55. At the time, Chen says, he told responded quickly on Halloween night in among about 50 in the United States – and “Sometimes, people get here and they’re God he was ready to die, too. 1994 when an American Eagle plane that 150 worldwide – that have chaplaincy pro- stuck here,” says Theresa Hedge, a mem- “It’s by God’s grace and power that I left the Indianapolis airport crashed in grams. The programs are part of the Inter- ber of the Airport Police Department. “He’ll keep going,” he says. “I believe, ‘Only one northern Indiana, killing all 68 people on national Association of Civil Aviation get them a cab, a place to stay. He’ll go to life soon will pass. Only what’s done for board. Chaplains, a network that shares informa- the airlines with them and help them rebook Christ will last.’ I keep doing it because of O’Connor, the Catholic chaplain, won’t tion and concerns about serving the spiri- their flights. He’s always uplifting, no mat- the love of Christ. He wants me to share forget the agonizing hours he and his col- tual needs of air travelers. ter what your religion. He puts a smile on his Gospel.” leagues spent with families who rushed to “We are there because there’s a need,” your face.” Chen leads Bible study every Thursday the airport that night. The chaplains prayed says Ashfaq Lodhi, a Muslim who serves Even Chen has a favorite Chen story. at noon in the chapel that also serves as an with them from 7 p.m. to past 1 a.m., when as a chaplain. “Sometimes passengers get “One year and three months ago, I mar- office for the chaplains. It is across from Continued on page 3 www. inareaumc.org Hoosier United 2 Methodists FROM THE BISHOP together May/June 2005 Ministry is a marathon It won’t be long now. Soon I will be priv- of ministry. Ministry is not just a sprint ileged to participate in my favorite part of to accomplish a few things; it is a mara- Ministry … is a marathon of pacing ourselves, being a bishop – commissioning and or- thon of pacing ourselves, thinking long- daining new clergy at the Annual Confer- term and watching the power of God un- thinking long-term and watching the power of God ences here in Indiana. Our preparations are fold in the lives of those entrusted to our unfold in the lives of those entrusted to our ministry. in high gear for those Annual Conferenc- ministry. es. Tomorrow I will be sharing in a retreat Saying that “ministry is a marathon” is with those ordination candidates certainly not an excuse for lazi- own ordination as an Elder) to see some ly through our ministry. where we will get acquainted, ness, or a justification for sitting of those results. Since moving back to In- So this is what I will say to those candi- worship and pray together, and back passively and denying our diana, I have encountered some of the peo- dates for ordination: Ministry is a marathon, talk about the meaning of their call to be leaders in the church. ple from my early days of ministry, and so keep the faith, take care of yourself, don’t ordination. This marathon image of minis- am amazed to hear how God worked give up during the times when ministry is One thing I will be sharing try is a reminder that much of through – or in spite of – my early efforts hard, keep trusting God to work through with those ordinands is that what we accomplish in ministry at ministry. It is such a privilege to have you, watch for the long-term unfolding of ministry is not a sprint; it is a is only apparent after many an adult come up to me and say: “You bap- God’s grace through your ministry and marathon. No matter how years. It is also a reminder of our tized me.” or “You were my youth minis- above all, keep on running the race (Phil- many years of ministry we need to think about the long-term ter when I was a kid.” or “You helped my ippians 3:14). have to serve, ministry is not effect of decisions made, of lives family through a time of grief.” Such mo- From Bishop Michael J.