McConnell Air Force Base Hosts Performance of 'Creator of the Universe,' the Official United States Space Force Hymn - Christian Newswire
Share This ArticleSpace Force Hymn Endorsed by the First Chief of Chaplains of the United States Space Force and the Former Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air ForceSpace Force Hymn composer. . .
Share This ArticleSpace Force Hymn Endorsed by the First Chief of Chaplains of the United States Space Force and the Former Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air ForceSpace Force Hymn composer James F. Linzey gathers with McConnell AFB Chapel Staff for a group photo following the surprise performance of “Creator of the Universe” in the base chapel. From left: Chaplain, Major Ron Lawrence, USAF; Former Air Force Chaplain, Captain James F. Linzey; Acting Wing Chaplain, Major Tony Davy; SSgt. Nicholas Mullins, USAF; and Chaplain Candidate, 2Lt. Oyeyemi Ayode, USAFR. Photo by Chaplain, Major Ron Lawrence, USAF, June 18, 2026. Released. NEWS PROVIDED BYFormer Chaplain, Captain James F. Linzey, USAFJune 22, 2026MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. , June 22, 2026 /Christian Newswire/ — On June 18, 2026, McConnell Air Force Base hosted a visit and performance of “Creator of the Universe” (the United States Space Force Hymn) by its composer, former Air Force Chaplain, Captain James F. Linzey. Linzey arrived at the base chapel with copies of the sheet music to greet the Deputy Wing Chaplain, Major Tony Davy, who was serving as the Acting Wing Chaplain, and share the background of the Space Force Hymn. Although he had coordinated the visit with Public Affairs the previous day, the visit was kept as a surprise for the chapel staff. Upon entering the chapel, he was professionally greeted by Chaplain Candidate 2Lt. Oyeyemi Ayode, who then escorted him to Major Davy’s office for an introduction. After becoming acquainted, Chaplain Davy requested a live performance of the hymn in the chapel sanctuary and invited the chapel staff to attend. Present were Chaplain Davy, an Assemblies of God chaplain with a distinguished Air Force record and extensive administrative and operational experience. Composer James F. Linzey gives a requested performance of “Creator of the Universe” in the chapel at McConnell Air Force Base, June 18, 2026. Photo by Chaplain, Major Ron Lawrence, USAF. Released. Also present was Chaplain, Major Ron Lawrence, USAF, a Baptist chaplain from Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, who is known for his outstanding pastoral skills in Air Force congregations and relational skills with senior leadership. He came to McConnell AFB for a week to assist the chapel staff during a chaplain shortage. Chaplain Lawrence formerly served under the Air Force Space Command at Schriever AFB when it transitioned to a Space Force Base. Also present were Staff Sgt. Nicholas Mullins, a highly regarded Religious Affairs Airman, and Chaplain Candidate 2Lt. Oyeyemi Ayode, a promising Pentecostal seminarian with distinguished academic credentials and ecclesiastical expertise, who was completing her chaplain candidate training at McConnell AFB. Linzey supervised approximately a dozen Chaplain Candidates during his military career. “I can quickly discern a Chaplain Candidate’s aptitude for ministry and officership. Chaplain Candidate Ayode possesses the qualities necessary to become an outstanding Air Force chaplain. I was deeply moved by her ministerial abilities at McConnell AFB, her wholehearted embrace of the mission, her instinctive capacity to work effectively within the leadership team, and her sincere love for people,” said Linzey. “McConnell AFB has an All-Star Unit Ministry Team,” said Linzey. “I credit Colonel Joseph D. Wall, Wing Commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing (22 ARW), with fostering an environment in which such talent and professionalism flourish. ”Headquarters of the 22d Air Refueling Wing and the 931st Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Abigail Klein. Released. Linzey served as an Air Force chaplain from 1985 to 1998. He began his chaplaincy career as a Reservist at Norton AFB, California, where he later served as Acting Wing Chaplain during the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) of the installation. He then served under Air Force Space Command at Vandenberg AFB, California (now Vandenberg Space Force Base), service that would later prove particularly significant to his authorship of Creator of the Universe (the United States Space Force Hymn). He later completed a tour of duty at Laughlin AFB, Texas. He subsequently transferred to the Army to gain broader and more diverse military chaplaincy experience, which positioned him to author his current textbook, Military Chaplaincy. He was requested by name to serve as Chaplain of the 244th Quartermaster Battalion at Fort Lee, Virginia, the largest Army battalion in the continental United States, where he became the first conductor of the newly created United States Army Soldiers’ Choir. He was later requested by name to serve as the first full-time chaplain for the Leader’s Training Course (now Cadet Summer Training—CST) under the United States Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he was commissioned to compose the United States Army Cadet Command Prayer, the fourth official institutional military prayer written in American history. Wherever Linzey served, he routinely used his musical abilities to perform for military events and organize base-wide concerts. Linzey recorded his own arrangement of “A Heart of Love,” written by his brother, Chaplain (Colonel) Paul E. Linzey, USA (Ret. ), on the compilation CD When the World Turns to God, which reached the final running for the 1996 Dove Awards for “Special Event Album of the Year. ” Linzey’s full-length CD is Narrow Road, on which he was joined by Chuck Girard and Andrew Culverwell. “The music runs in the family,” said Linzey, whose late father, Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr. , CHC, USN (Ret. ), served as a sailor in the U. S. Navy Band aboard the ill-fated USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the Battle of Midway. Linzey’s mother, Verna May Hall Linzey, was a recording artist and hymn composer whose works included “O Blessed Jesus. ”Cultural recognition and longstanding usage are what make military hymns official. So, like the other five service hymns, through recognition by the First Chief of Chaplains of the United States Space Force, major media, churches, military personnel, and numerous military chaplains, “Creator of the Universe” has emerged as the official United States Space Force Hymn in the cultural and traditional sense. The Department of Defense is not in the business of establishing religious music. The visit to McConnell AFB followed a formal statement from Chaplain, Major General Steven A. Schaick, USAF (Ret. ), the First Chief of Chaplains of the United States Space Force, recognizing “Creator of the Universe” as the United States Space Force Hymn. In his statement, he wrote, “‘Creator of the Universe’ brought a peace and deep joy to my heart through its level of reverence set against the backdrop of our Space Force. As the first Chief of Chaplains of the U. S. Space Force, I am especially grateful for this most reverent work. ”The visit to the chapel staff coincided with a feature article published the same day in the Montgomery County Chronicle. “When a military hymn carries this much reverence and history, it is a privilege for the press to acknowledge its official place in the United States Space Force and solidify its place in the national consciousness,” said Andy Taylor, owner of the newspaper. Following the surprise visit, Chaplain, Major Michael R. O’Donnell, USAF (Ret. ), initiated discussions regarding a nationwide performance tour of the Space Force Hymn at Space Force installations. Linzey, who drew inspiration for the hymn while reflecting on his prior service under Air Force Space Command, noted the strong connection between local communities and military personnel. “Bringing this hymn directly to active-duty bases like McConnell AFB, while local media simultaneously champions it in print, reflects increasing recognition of the Space Force and the service of its Guardians. ”The hymn has garnered widespread endorsement from military chaplains. Chaplain (Colonel) Joel V. Miller, U. S. Army (Ret. ), Commander Manuel A. “Don” Biadog, Chaplain Corps, USN (Ret. ), and Chaplain (Major) Michael R. O’Donnell, USAF (Ret. ), have each issued enthusiastic statements recognizing “Creator of the Universe” as the official hymn of the United States Space Force. The hymn also received a warm commendation from Chaplain, Brigadier General Ronald M. Harvell, USAF (Ret. ), former Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force. After hearing two recordings of “Creator of the Universe,” he wrote to Linzey, “‘Creator of the Universe’is a great choice for the Space Force Hymn. So well done! My wife and I both love the lyrics. Thank you for honoring the Creator well. ”The hymn has also resonated within the academic community at Fuller Theological Seminary. Following news of the hymn’s official recognition, Stacy Follis-Wiens, Director of Alumni Relations for the Fuller Foundation at Fuller Theological Seminary, wrote in private correspondence to Linzey, a distinguished Fuller alumnus, “We love hearing about the incredible things Fuller alumni are doing in the world” and wished Linzey “continued encouragement in all [he is] doing. ”Chaplain Davy summed up the high-level visit, saying to Linzey, “Thanks for stopping by and gracing us with your work!”About the ComposerJames F. Linzey is the composer of “Creator of the Universe” (United States Space Force Hymn) and adapted “Lord, Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly” (United States Air Force Hymn) from its traditional 3/4 meter to a 4/4 arrangement. He authored the United States Army Cadet Command Prayer, is the Chief Editor of the Modern English Version (MEV) Bible translation, editor of the forthcoming Manchuria to Midway by Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr. , CHC, USN (Ret. ), and author of the forthcoming textbook Military Chaplaincy. Media Contact:James F. Linzey(760) 855-3905 |MilitaryBibleAssociation@gmail. comMilitary Hymnography Contact:Commander Manuel A. “Don” Biadog, Jr. , CHC, USN (Ret. )chapbiadog@yahoo. comMedia Resources:McConnell AFB:https://www. mcconnell. af. mil/McConnell AFB Chapel:https://www. mcconnell. af. mil/Units/22-ARW/Wing-Staff-Agencies/Base-Chapel/Air Force Chaplain Corps:https://www. airforce. com/careers/specialty-careers/chaplainSpace Force:https://www. spaceforce. mil/Space Force Hymn website:SpaceForceHymn. comSpace Force Hymn video:https://www. youtube. com/watch?v=rr6ezqe9PDQSpace Force Hymn (SATB) video:https://www. youtube. com/watch?v=CrrgkHBfDqwSOURCE Former Chaplain, Captain James F. Linzey, USAFShare This Article