Sun City Christian Fellowship Baptist Church celebrated the return of Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, with a dinner after church services Sunday. Front row, left to right: Gregory Williams, a civilian deployed to Iraq, Pastor Earl Payton, Sgt. Catrina Jackson-Boone, Lt. Col. Christopher McElveen and Chief Warrant Officer Kevin McCroskey. Back row, left to right: Sgt. 1st Class Bradley McNair and Staff Sgt. Alonzo Turner Sr. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
Church welcomes home Soldiers, works toward reintegration
Members of Sun City Christian Fellowship Baptist Church had what Evangelist Mozelle Nervis called a “hallelujah time” Sunday as they welcomed home Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, with a church service and home-cooked meal.
About 12 Soldiers and their families, most of whom are members of Sun City Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, attended the day’s events.
The Sunday dinner was the vision of Pastor Earl Payton, said Nervis, who serves as executive minister at the church and organized the event.
“We were really excited about today’s dinner,” she said. “We wanted to celebrate. It’s just a hallelujah time to have them back.”
Chief Warrant Officer Kevin McCroskey said the care taken by the church members to celebrate the Soldiers’ homecoming meant a great deal to him.
“It’s great,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see that people appreciate what we’re doing, and still appreciate it even though we’re home,” he said.
Staff Sgt. Alonzo Turner Sr. agreed.
“It makes you feel special. If feels good, knowing that you’re being loved,” he said. “Our pastor was in the military, so he knows what it’s all about. It’s good to know that there are people waiting for you to come home, and our church family supported us the whole time with care packages, cards, words of encouragement, CDs … everything. It’s good to know your family loves you, your church family loves you and God loves you.”
Sgt. 1st Class Bradley McNair said events like the Sunday dinner are what Soldiers have been anticipating during their long, hard deployments.
“It’s great to know we’re welcomed home,” he said. “Our Soldiers worked so hard for this moment, for this homecoming, and the church and Fort Bliss have done a great job of making it special.
“It’s good to see the church supporting the Soldiers,” McNair continued. “Now, we’re reintegrating back into our families and our church family, and I think that’s good for our faith.”
Sgt. Catrina Jackson-Boone said she wishes more Soldiers were “into” church, because the reception she got upon redeployment was wonderful.
“We have some Soldiers who have gotten in trouble, who have done some things, and I think it’s because they didn’t feel the love when they came home,” she said. “Knowing that people care and love you and are happy you’re back, it’s outstanding.
“I wish (more churches) would take an active role in welcoming our Soldiers into their church, especially for Soldiers like us, who returned during the holidays,” Jackson-Boone said. “It had to be hard, especially for the single Soldiers and the ones who don’t have any family, to come back and see everyone out shopping together, spending time together, and they’re by themselves.”
Lt. Col. Christopher McElveen said the 15-month deployment was a worthwhile mission, but he is glad to be home.
“It’s a very complex fight, but it’s a worthwhile fight,” he said. “I worked with Iraqis every day on a military transition team, and it was a very unique experience. I got to see a lot of things that other Soldiers might not see, and it made it a very rewarding mission.”
The welcome Soldiers have received from the El Paso community at large is very special, McElveen said.
“Our church has been very supportive – not only our church, though, but also our family readiness groups, Fort Bliss … and the community of El Paso. I think (El Paso) Mayor (John) Cook has really embraced the military, and it shows throughout the community. The partnershipsthat Maj. General (Robert P.) Lennox (former Fort Bliss commanding general) has built ... with the community are really starting to show.”
The dinner was just an extension of the support the church has offered its families throughout the 4-1 Cav.’s deployment, Payton said.
“We’ve been trying to support out Soldiers and their families that were still here during the deployment,” he said. “Fifteen months is a long time.”
Payton, a former servicemember himself, said he understands the toll deployment takes on Soldiers and their families and that the church worked to make it easier for all involved.
“We sent care packages faithfully,” he said. “ We offered support to the families left behind. Now, we’re just having a party to say, ‘We’re glad you’re back.’ I know our Soldiers have been longing for a home-cooked meal, so we’re giving that to them. And we’re giving them the chance to reconnect and reintegrate into their families and their church family."