Citizen Soldier & Sword For The Lord
Story & photos by SPC Charles Ames
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General Langford strolls among the faces upturned to hear his words of comfort and encouragement. His strong, clear voice guides his charges as they ready for the days to come.
But they are not his troops - they are members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. He is not a commander of war forces on the eve of battle. He is Rev. Victor C. Langford III, the first African-American general appointed in the Washington National Guard, and Assistant Chief of Chaplains, Army National Guard.
Today however, he is Minister to a hundred followers at his Beacon Hill sanctuary in south Seattle. He regularly 'enlists' aid from amongst the those in attendance to help as greeters, ushers, acolytes, readers, speakers, assistants, and as hosts for the after-service coffee hour - a favorite meeting time for the members of his congregation. He walks through the pews of his church and smiles warmly at the faces of friends he has known for years. He has ministered to St. Marks since 1977. Many of these same faces looked on as the star indicating his promotion to Brigadier General was placed upon his shoulders only a few months ago.
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Having served the Washington Army National Guard since 1972, Chaplain Langford III was recently promoted to Brigadier General. He is currently serving as the Assistant Chief of Chaplains for the Army National Guard. In this position he is the senior Chaplain for the entire Army National Guard. But, perhaps more importantly he is Minister to St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Seattle.
"Nothing has ever been given to him," says his wife of 39 years. "From the 60’s to the 80’s, quotas gave people many things, but he worked hard, not just to get his position but that was just part of his life. My husband has no facade about him. He is real - what you see is what you get."
"He has been such an inspiration to me," says Ellen Benson, one of today’s readers.
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Ushers pass Mothers Day bouquets to mothers as they exit. "I always look forward to hearing his message because it always pertains to something that I was going through or thinking about. I always wonder, 'how did he know I was going through that?' I carry his messages with me throughout the week.
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As a man, he epitomizes what the Lord wants. I thank God for bringing him to our church and providing the leadership that he has let me be a part of."
Peter Jordan came to this country from England 20 years ago. His wife was already a member of the church. "I was blessed to be married at St. Mark’s in ‘84. I was well-greeted and well-received into the church. I sang in the choir. I've done some building, participated in various committees, and I've been inspired to help in world hunger programs. I have found in Pastor Langford a good friend."
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After a spirited service, General Langford pauses behind a large desk flanked by walls of books and family photos. "St. Mark’s is unique among churches in the Northwest. It is multi-cultural in character with African-Americans, Anglo-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Native Americans making up our membership. There aren’t a lot of churches that have that. The church has become more diverse since I came to it 23 years ago, but many of the original members are still here today. It gives people more places where they can come together across ethnic lines, racial lines, cultural lines and worship as a community."
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As General Langford’s quiet, forgiving eyes consider his flock he offers this... "I would say this to the congregation; 'Be all you can be'. This is a message that is well known in the military community, but I challenge our members to do that. God has given us the pattern, the direction, his command, his will. We have the tools to be all that we can be."
BG Langford was born and raised in Detroit, MI. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Seattle Pacific College, and a Bachelor of Divinity and a Master of Divinity Degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL. He has served 20 years as Board Member of the Seattle Opportunities Industrial Center and is a Charter Member of the Black United Clergy for Action.
He is that organizations' current Vice President. He is a Charter Member and served as Chairman of the Board of the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle & King County from 1977 to 1986. And he was the Chairman of Project People of Seattle from 1970 to 1972, to name but a few of his accomplishments and contributions.
He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Washington Army National Guard in 1972 and has served our organization as a Chaplain since that time. He currently serves as Assistant Chief of Chaplains, Army National Guard, Department of the Army. He was promoted to Brigadier General on the 8th of September, 1998.
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