Offutt’s Marriage and Family Ministry Center is open for business

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Carly A. Costello
  • 55 Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The Offutt Air Force Base Marriage and Family Ministry Center officially opened its doors with a ceremonial ribbon cutting May 20.

The center, which is located in Building 53, next to the parade grounds and to the east of the SAC Memorial Chapel, will serve as a support center for marriage and family counseling, seminars and retreats.

U.S. Air Force Col. John Rauch, 55th Wing commander, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Victor Toney, 55th Wing chaplain, and members of the chapel community were in attendance for the grand opening, which included a cookout and open house.

"The strength of our military is our families, and the chapel is here to support our families, parents, single parents, people wanting to get married, kids growing up to become responsible adults, and we are here to make that happen." Toney said. "We hope that the Marriage and Family Ministry Center will help us meet that goal of reaching out."

The historic building, which now houses the new ministry center, was constructed in 1942 and served as the post headquarters and induction center during World War II when the installation was Fort Crook. It later became base headquarters when the installation became Offutt Air Force Base in 1947.

The newly remodeled facility was designed by U.S. Air Force Maj. Kim Bowen, deputy wing chaplain, and includes a "Kid's Korner," a family room, counseling space and a conference room where the chapel staff will hold seminars and focus groups on marriage enrichment and parenting.

"We wanted it to somewhat resemble a home," Bowen said. "When people come in, they'll discover a family room, a living room and they'll find places of learning. We look at the home as a vital place of learning. It's kind of a snapshot of the essence of home, so that when people come in they feel like they are connected because it feels like home."

The idea for the ministry center was a team effort by the chapel staff that started in January 2012. Toney came up with the idea but his staff helped make his vision a reality.

"A year and a half ago, we had a vision to create a marriage and family center where when people talked about the chapel, they would automatically think of marriage and family support," Toney said. "We want couples and families to know this place, love it and to really feel a part of it."

The ministry has been using Building 53 for retreats and seminars since January, during the last few months of renovation, but it had not officially opened its doors to Team Offutt for use outside the seminars and retreats until now.

"We have been running some programs out of here since the first of this year, but we wanted to mark this as a significant time where the community is now aware that it is open," Bowen said.

The facility is open to military, dependents and Department of Defense civilians and will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"We hope that people see it as a crisis center, if they are having struggles with their relationships," Bowen said. "We also hope that they see it as a place to come and hang out, grab a bag of popcorn and watch a movie with their children, play in the "Kid's Korner" and come to our seminars."