European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 15, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday March 15, 1990 the stars and stripes Over Here the enthusiastic choir members sing and clap their hands during chaplain Nate Crawford  gospel ass Gus Sci Weltler service at the Rhein main a  rings with Praise music a and laughter by Ron Jensen staff writer Rhein main a West Germany a when the gospel worship service is in session on sunday afternoons the base Chapel rocks with the usual sounds of heavenly Praise. �?oamen�?T�?T"8 sinein6, shouts of a a hallelujah and and with chaplain maj Nate Crawford or. On the pulpit there is also the Peculiar sound of laughter not Mere smiles or soft chuckles but hard guffaws. The i?01 1 Thi?.k  always been a funny Guy a said the chaplain. I think that a just part of my ministry. Hat s just one of my gifts a to bring humor to a very serious  a of Esno to a st0p the service to impart his in it ils Noi t so Jesus was walking Down the Road one Day and a whrlfsv1 slips seam Essly into the Days theme As band discussed the bibles instructions for a Hus gat.mr.r.hv0 b a Over a he  the conure in i does t mean a Lover like Casanova a a Don Juan. Jim Brown Cheri Aiso teaches that the Man is to be in throw i it of Esno to say he can Niris Tuc a thes on the floor and expect the wife to p to them up the preacher said. Rin Phe sri Ford Sta ked away from the pulpit and Dean no a i suit cd at t0ssin8 in 0n the floor 10 his own u consequences of such behaviour in Sta Riino a suddenly he was his wife Helen madams Over the coat. Filling be eed a imitation his booming voice Hereit Sof the Church a Nate or. Get in Nerc and pick up these clothes a body Jim Carne himself again contrite and his Tho n i. Say my a to coming in a  the prefer c Vered As the churchgoers laughed at for .1 s play act no. A numb it tie service a Crawford went through Lions voices pantomimes and characterize a Alever antics were necessary to get the Mes a amps Gus Schuettler chaplain Crawford a sermons Are never Dull. Sage across. He said however that the humor comes spontaneously. A a it a not my purpose to make people laugh. 1 say it and it just comes out that Way a he said. �?�1 ask my wife a was it really that funny a she says a yeah you  a he is not concerned that the worshippers will leave Church each sunday quoting the quips but missing the message. The lesson he said is too big to be burned by jokes. A i done to worry about that a he said. A a that a one of the things i leave to the holy spirit. 1 done to think our frailties As human beings can interfere with the holy  since Crawford 39, arrived at Rhein main a in june he has gained a Loyal following. Spec. Traci Washington was a regular at the sender when she was stationed at Rhein main and has continued her attendance despite being transferred to the 108th brigade in Kaiserslautern West Germany. A it holds your interest a Washington said of Crawford a humorous approach. Spec. James Long of the 21st replacement in at Rhein main a said a a it a something you look Forward to on monday a the next  anyone who has seen the tall lean Florida native hop prance and jump about the front of the Church wearing a smile As Strong As his Faith will find it hard to believe he was not always so outgoing. A a lot of people done to believe this but i really was a shy person a he said. That changed when his studies for a career in social work were superseded by a Call to the pulpit. In 1975, he was moved to read the scriptures As he never had before despite a lifetime spent in the Church. A to top it off on the 9th of june 1975i had a vision or a dream a he said. Quot in that dream the lord spoke to  not Only was a career in social work lost but the Atlanta braves May have lost a Center fielder. A College player at a Small school in Florida Crawford had been invited for a tryout with the major league club but the Day before the tryout he was compelled to Trade the National pastime for a lifetime dedicated to his Faith. He graduated from a Seminary in 1980 and joined the air Force in 1982, attracted by the Challenge of preaching and counselling people from Many denominations. A i done to think the chaplaincy is the kind of ministry where someone can afford to lose himself or herself in their own denomination a said Crawford who belongs to the Church of god in Christ. A i think its exciting because in be been educated too. My Way is not the Only  however his Way May be the most entertaining