Content and Media
Items on this page come from our various communications and podcasts.
December 2022 Prayer Focus
We celebrate Christmas because God in mercy and kindness delivered on His promise to send us a Savior in His Son Jesus Christ, who will bring the fullness of salvation to all who will receive Him.
Part 2: How to accept failure as a leader / Lead to serve, serve to lead
Our panel discusses failure and how to deal with it as a leader in the high-stakes military profession. As my guest Bruce Fister points out, “We’re all going to fail at one point … But you have to deal with it because otherwise no one is going to learn from it.”
‘Well, who’s looking in on you, chap?’
If left unchecked, compassion fatigue can lead to discouragement, depression, and a lack of pastoral identity among our chaplains.
We’re not in it to win it; Christ already won the victory
God calls us His “ambassadors for Christ” and that God is appealing to a broken world through us to come back into relationship with Him.
Part 1: Being a leader of character / Lead to serve, serve to lead
Our panel discusses how leaders can approach employing God’s Word effectively, integrating the calling to serve in uniform and the calling to serve the Lord, and leading in times of crisis. The cornerstone of being an effective leader who can do these three things well, they assert, is being a leader of character.
November 2022 Prayer Focus
It's amazing to think that thanksgiving was in Jesus’ heart and on His tongue to His Father as He knowingly, steadfastly walked right into what it would cost Him physically, emotionally, and spiritually to procure salvation for sinful humanity. Within moments, those He had dined and worshipped God with—who He had just conferred a special place at His table and on thrones in His coming eternal kingdom (Luke 22:28-30)—would betray, abandon, and deny knowing Him.
“Pursue God… no matter where you are”: Finding fellowship beneath the sea
Two Navy lieutenants discuss the challenges of the unique environment aboard a submarine, the challenges of beginning and maintaining a small group Bible study, and practical applications for similarly isolated environments.
“March or die”: Turning to Christ & community in times of trauma
His service as a Marine and the years to follow have given Jeremy Stalnecker opportunities to deal with and heal from his own trauma, resulting in a passion for helping others, particularly within the military community, do the same.
October 2022 Prayer Focus
Chaplains bear a tremendous weight in caring for the spiritual and moral well-being of service members and their families in a unique lifestyle that includes frequent moves, deployment, and combat stress. There are doors of great opportunity for God to be glorified as OCFers step out to support the chaplaincy by reaching out to their chaplains.
Fall 2022 Ministry News
OCF Ministry News items from Connected newsletter.
Introducing the newest tool for military ministry: the OCF Handbook
The OCF Handbook is a 37-chapter resource that casts vision for military ministry, explains OCF, discusses the military Christian life, encourages personal spiritual growth, and gives ideas for executing member-led ministry.
How God healed a “performing Christian” from past trauma and abuse
A man on a mission in this episode to share how God has healed him from “PTSD, trauma, moral injury, habitual sin,” Carl Crabtree shares about his experiences as a foster-to-adopt kid and onward.
“Embrace the suck”: Trusting God in all things
LT Jonathan Gentry, CHC, USN, discusses the seemingly simple concept of trusting God, specifically within the context of Jonathan’s calling to the ministry and to the military.
September 2022 Prayer Focus
Unless we are focused on God and His truth, alert to the temptations we personally struggle with, and vigilant of worldly lies and lures to kill, steal, and destroy our Christian faith, we are just as vulnerable to slide into compromise and right into God’s judgment.
Balancing relationships and Bible study in a small group
In this episode of OCF Crosspoint, JB Kump shares what has made small groups so impactful in his own life, practical tips for those interested in leading small groups, how his passion for those local fellowships led to his current post-military career, and more.
August 2022 Prayer Focus
Seen especially within military circles, a desire eventually arises in all of us to move on for that something or somewhere to satisfy a longing we can’t quite explain.
Learning from the VMI ministry model to reach Generation Z
Today’s conversation explores a predominant topic of discussion among cadets and college students across the country today: anxiety. CH(COL) Bob Phillips, USA (Ret.), shares how he uses relationships and group Bible studies to address anxiety and point cadets back to Christ.
Embracing GRACE relations in the body of Christ
To say race relations is a complex issue is an understatement, and every facet of this topic cannot be covered in just one episode. So, we started here: How do I minister to the person in front of me who’s hurting from an ethnic or cultural incident?
July 2022 Prayer Focus
The lure in humanity’s fallen nature to be able to do whatever we want, whenever we want, and without restraint tends to only feed that bent of human nature we all struggle with—the “freedom” of my way.
How to see past the barriers and share your story
Capt Ryan McCary, ANG, recounts his own failures to share his faith and how the Lord changed Him through those experiences, then he offers practical steps on how to be bold in your faith today.
June 2022 Prayer Focus
Ten years ago, Colorado experienced a devastating series of wildfires throughout June, July, and August that included the Waldo Canyon fire on the northwest edge of Colorado Springs. It is the third-most destructive fire in Colorado history, destroying 347 homes.
One Marine’s Journey to Live for God, Family, Country, and Corps
What does it look like to integrate faith and profession? For some people, that can perhaps be an ambiguous topic. Maj Chris Reardon, USMC, unpacks what that looks like for him as a Marine and shares some practical application.
Living Together in Biblical Community
OCF has so much to offer one another, the military community, and our world wherever He has providentially placed us to live, work and serve.
May 2022 Prayer Focus
Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom once posed this question about prayer: “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”
To those serving and those who have served: stand firm, stand strong
No matter your age or location, stand up, stand firm, shoulder to shoulder with your brothers and sisters, and say, “Here am I, send me!”
