Since Our Last Issue

March 2023: Cadets and midshipmen spent their spring breaks enjoying fellowship, learning from mentors, and volunteering at White Sulphur Springs and Spring Canyon Conference Centers. USMA cadets spent their spring break serving in the Dominican Republic in partnership with The Centurion Project, YWAM, and SCORE.

April 2023: Local leaders, area coordinators, and others participated in the annual OCF Local Leader Conference, hosted at both OCF conference centers with plenary sessions shared virtually for the first time with OCFers around the world.

May 2023: After nearly 40 years at its Englewood, Colo., location, the OCF Home Office team spent its last day at the 3784 S Inca St building and relocated its operations to the David C Cook building in Colorado Springs. The new Home Office address is: 4050 Lee Vance Drive, Suite 330, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.

June 2023: In partnership with Valor, Navigators, and chaplains, OCF hosted Bible studies once again this summer for Army ROTC cadets undergoing field training at Ft. Knox, Ky. Total cadet attendance between June and August totaled 681, indicating an above-average interest in spiritual growth among those who will soon lead our nation’s soldiers, 30 cadets indicated a first-time commitment to trust in and follow Jesus Christ, and 553 requested information about ROTC ministries back on their home campuses.

July 2023: OCF Comms teamed up with the Church Shop to open an online OCF store, which now offers items ranging from apparel to drinkware to stickers that represent OCF, Spring Canyon, and White Sulphur Springs.

August 2023: White Sulphur Springs and Spring Canyon concluded eight weeks of speaker, adventure, and youth programs, hosting hundreds from across the military community. Follow them on social media to keep up with their ministry efforts.

Upcoming ROTC retreats

Check out the OCF ROTC Ministry page for existing ROTC fellowships, resources to help you start an ROTC fellowship at your campus, and info about several upcoming ROTC Regional Retreats:

  • Northeast Academies and ROTC Retreat (NEAR-R), 2-4 Feb., Speculator, NY
  • Eastern ROTC Retreat, 2-4 Feb., White Sulphur Springs Conference Center
  • Rocky Mountain ROTC Retreat, 16-18 Feb., Spring Canyon Conference Center
  • Midwest ROTC Retreat, 16-18 Feb., Story City, IA

Recent Staff Hires

Effective 1 June, Chet Arnold assumed the duties of Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at OCF. Chet steps into the role vacated by Chris Blake, who is the new OCF Southeast Regional Coordinator. For the past nine years, he and his wife, Michelle, have served as the OCF Field Staff in Pensacola, Fla., to include serving as the Regional Coordinators of the Southeast Coastal Region. Chet and Michelle enjoy welcoming young officers and their families into their home for Bible studies, pre-marital and marriage counseling, and discipleship. They look forward to continuing to serve with OCF in this new role.
Reach Chet at [email protected]

Kandy Brashear joined OCF on 5 July as the Ministry Support Administrator, replacing Laurie Remington, who left OCF in May. Kandy brings her vocational history of Police, Fire, EMS telecommunications, Spiritual Growth Development in the church setting, and Hospice Chaplaincy to the OCF team. Her affinity for the Armed Forces comes from her spouses’ service in the USAF and two of their six children’s active and veteran status from the United States Army.
Reach Kandy at [email protected]

Sandy McCarthy joined the OCF Home Office team on 1 August as the Accounting Specialist, replacing Russ Smith, who left OCF in June. She is prior Air Force ATC, a fourth-generation native of Colorado, and number 10 of 11 children. Five members within her family served in the military, and her son and daughter-in-law both served recently in the Army National Guard. She loved serving her country and is embracing her new position to serve the Lord and the OCF community.
Reach Sandy at [email protected]

—From staff reports

Summary of Spring 2023 OCF Council Meeting

The weekend after we all celebrated Easter, your OCF Council and several staff members gathered at White Sulphur Springs for the Spring Council Meeting. Our theme verse for this meeting was centered around Proverbs 1:5: “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.”

The first morning of our meeting, we set aside time to pray for specific ministries within OCF, the challenges they face, and the individuals faithfully serving our Lord in those capacities through the Pray-Discover-Obey format.

The rest of that day was spent engaging with staff members throughout a series of briefs on the FY23 Ministry Update and Priorities and the FY23 Finance Update. Scott Fisher, OCF CEO/Executive Director, briefed us on budget challenges faced over the past year and the resultant adjustments made, and then introduced new lines of effort to enhance fundraising. We also were briefed on the FY24 Budget, which was approved, and reviewed FY24 Ministry Priorities.

We also passed a motion to finalize the relocation of the OCF Home Office to Colorado Springs, CO. This was not a decision made lightly, but after consideration over an extended period of time it became prayerfully clear that this move was the next right step for OCF.

We concluded this meeting with a time small group fellowship and prayer, focused on future opportunities for OCF to further carry out the will of our Lord within the military community.

—LTJG Brigit Jogan, USCG

CLASS OF 2026 ELECTION RESULTS

New council members who started a three-year term on 1 June are: Lt Col Rob Crespo, USAF, COL Dave Guida, USA, COL Rob Jassey, USA (Ret), Brig Gen Jeff Hurlbert, USAF, LTJG Abby Rouser, USN, LCDR Lars Tormey, USCG, Lt Col Steve Wade, USAF (Ret.). OCF Council officers are: Col Dale Holland (Ret.), USAF—President; Lt Col Rob Crespo, USAF—Vice President; LTJG Brigit Jogan, USCG—Secretary, and COL Rob Jassey, USA (Ret.)—Treasurer.