(...a narrative from the recollections of Chaplain John Oas...volunteer...since 1974...)
As the Real Estate Director for the Aviation Division of the Port of Seattle, Ewing Stringfellow had a brilliant idea. Not only would Sea-Tac Airport have a beautiful Meditation Room in1973, but a Chaplain for ministry. This ministry first started out under the capable leadership of The Rev Rits Tadema – of the Christian Reform Church. He had sent out a letter to a number of the south Seattle churches requesting volunteer pastors respond to help him with ‘this new ministry’ at Sea-Tac Airport. There was a weekly ‘men’s breakfast being held there under the sponsorship of City Chapel.
A phone was ringing one day as I proceeded through the sanctuary of the church where I was the Youth Director. It was customary to enter the pastor’s office and attempt to get the message for the pastor’s information. While I answered the phone, my attention was drawn to a single piece of crumpled blue stationary in the pastor’s wastebasket. Continuing to listen, I reached for the paper and carefully unfolded it upon the pastor’s desk. Being quite adept at ‘multi-tasking’ I also said the appropriate “yes” and “a huh” into the telephone for the caller’s benefit. I read quickly over the invitational letter…grabbing another scratch sheet to copy off the name, and phone number of this ‘new’ and interesting ministry. Respectfully, I thanked the person for calling the church and wrote down the information for the pastor. Hanging up, I completed my personal quest, re-crumpled the fascinating stationary, placing it back in the wastebasket.
When I came back to my office, I immediately called the Chaplain and left my home number for him to contact. You see, there was not an acceptance in 1974 for a person to seek ‘non-traditional’ places of ministry. It was a sign to failure to step outside the ‘church’. There is so much more support today for those who find unique doors open to them. He did call and I began to volunteer Friday afternoons each week.
Those days were so interesting. For example, he was quite tall and the police department held the key to the office inside their walled counter area high up on a peg. I always had to get help to get it down. We were allowed on stall in private parking, and if I did not plan my trip correctly, someone always slipped into his stall when he left. In the spring of 1975, he asked if I could become Chaplain – he was being called to another facet of ministry. The office space was only two rooms originally. (211 & 213) As we grew, we eventually secured room 215. The original rooms leased for $169.00 a month. As the 200th Anniversary of the United States approached, we established a Sunday Morning Service – which continues to today. We began Friday evening tours of the Airport for local churches – we could never do that now! We were incorporated as a ‘non-profit-organization’ in 1977. I worked at a savings & loan until 1978 when I could become full-time. We continued to grow and became part of the founding committee for the Airport Emergency Team. We developed our own Emergency Team. In addition, we developed a Correspondence Course for distribution in the Meditation Room.
During the 1980’s we were limited in parking access to the North Employee Lot. In 1984, we celebrated our 10th Anniversary with Joe Ivey of the Fellowship of Christian Airline Personnel. We had our first aircraft incident in 1987. In 1990 we provided Chaplaincy for the Goodwill Games. We transitioned our office to the Pan American Building in 1991. In 1994 we celebrated our 20th Anniversary with a fine banquet and the return of many of our original founders. In 1997 we remodeled the Meditation Room for better noise reduction, the addition of a full 88 key electronic keyboard and surround sound amplification system. During the incident of Flight 261, we were a constant place of solace and inspiration. With the days of tragedy and security that have come about recently, we have offered our Meditation Room and office for increased counsel. At this year’s first anniversary of September 11th, we had three public services; plus, five private services for the Airport and surrounding community. We continue to seek volunteers in order to keep a ‘caring’ presence with in the Airport. Two new workers have been added this year, bringing our Airport Chaplaincy Team to six.
