Last Updated on March 26, 2024 by OCF Communications

Since Our Last Issue

September 2023: Spring Canyon hosted one of the biggest Aspentime Retreats to date, providing teaching, fellowship, and rest to the 80 Christian military members and their families in attendance.

October 2023: OCF Council and Field Staff from all over the country met for prayer, collaboration, and equipping. The week also featured touring the new Home Office in Colorado Springs, enjoying staff devotions and prayer in the beauty of Spring Canyon, exchanging updates from team members’ ministries, and setting the course for OCF ministry to come.

November 2023: Approximately two dozen donors contributed to OCF Comms’ GivingTuesday campaign, raising over $3,000 to help more service members and officer candidates benefit from 100 Days Devotional Bible Study.

December 2023: OCF celebrated its 80th anniversary on 31 December with much gratitude for the Lord’s provision for this ministry and anticipation for what He will do in the years to come.

January 2024: USCGA OCF experienced one of its best MLK retreats yet, according to Field Staff Rep Carl Crabtree. Nearly five times as many alumni attended this retreat than did last year, resulting in more connections between them and the cadets and making White Sulphur Springs “a landmark for fellowship,” Carl said.

February 2024: Three hundred cadets and midshipmen gathered from 45 campuses across the nation to attend four regional ROTC retreats, each the result of the combined efforts of OCF, Navigators, Oaks International, Cru Valor and InterVarsity ROTC Ministries.

March 2024: OCF announced it became an approved organization with the DOD SkillBridge program, enabling separating service members to intern for up to 6 months with OCF while still receiving their full military pay and allowances.

Small Group Spotlights

Furman University ROTC OCF: “Who is our true family? And how can we carry out the will of our Father?”

These were the questions posed during Furman University ROTC’s OCF Bible study last month while diving into Matthew 12:46-50.

“We recognize that the human or ‘nuclear’ family is a beautiful and necessary blessing, one that God created and provided. In this passage, our cadets discovered that Jesus is emphasizing that obeying God’s will and having the right relationship with Him is most important,” shared Local Leader Chase Kuhlman.

Pray for Furman University ROTC OCF as cadets will travel to White Sulphur Springs for this month’s Eastern ROTC Retreat, and pray for someone to step into Chase’s Local Leader role after he graduates next semester.

Fort Moore OCF: “How as soldiers and leaders can we be more present in our day-to-day without being consumed in our purpose (end state) so God can powerfully use us?”

That’s the question that Anthony Randall and his OCF fellowship group at Fort Moore have been wrestling with in recent weeks.

“In Mark 5, we looked at Jesus healing the woman in the crowd and the synagogue leader’s daughter because of his presence, power, and purpose. Jesus’ presence was key. Jesus didn’t rush to his purpose so quickly that he missed out on being present for God to use His power in multiple ways.”

New Staff

PK Carlton assumed the duties as the Director of Field Staff effective 1 Dec. PK joins the team to focus on the care and engagement for our Field Staff at the four Service Academies and our Gateway ministries at Leavenworth and Maxwell. PK and Lindsey have served as Local Leaders across their Air Force career, later serving as Ministry Team at USAFA that led to them leading the USAFA ministry for two years. They love having cadets over and mentoring young officers and have a heart for the Field Staff and their families that serve our key ministries.

Lt Liam Wood, USNR, has joined the OCF team as Associate Field Staff for the US Merchant Marine Academy. Liam is leading a campaign to raise funds towards a desired full-time Field Staff Rep at USMMA. To learn more about USMMA OCF ministry and follow Liam’s ministry efforts there, subscribe to his email newsletter here: kpocf.substack.com.

Regional Coordinator changes

Central Regional Coordinator: Col Hous & Tami Waring, USAF (Ret.)
Hous & Tami both graduated from the US Air Force Academy where they discovered the ministry of OCF, and OCF is where they met one another. Hous served primarily as an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot, commander, and staff officer. Tami served as a Space Systems Analyst before moving to a full-time mother and teacher role. Hous previously served as the OCF Director of Field Engagement until transitioning over to the role of the Central Regional Coordinator in June of 2023, and Tami currently serves as the OCF Director for Women’s Ministry.

Southeast Regional Coordinator: CAPT Chris & Maggie Blake, USN (Ret.)
Chris & Maggie met and married while on active duty and have sought to serve the Lord together however and wherever He has led ever since. For the past 12 years, they served in various capacities in the OCF Home Office in Colorado. Then in December of 2023, the Blakes retired to South Florida and joyfully took on their new role as Southeast Regional Coordinators–encouraging and helping OCF Area Coordinators, Local Leaders, Contacts, and Hospitality Home hosts also serve Him well.

Area Coordinator additions

The following individuals have become Area Coordinators since fall 2022:

  • Ogden, UT/Hill AFB: Col Scotty & Joelyn Nowlin, USAF (Ret.)
  • Omaha-Lincoln, NE/Offutt AFB: Lt Col Jim & Melanie Wamhoff, USAF (Ret.)
  • Orange County, CA: LT Rudy & Mai Swigart, USNR (Ret.)
  • Central Texas: Lt Col Matthew McQuinn, USAF (Ret.)

—From staff reports

Summary of Fall 2023 OCF Council Meeting

In October, your Officers’ Christian Fellowship Council met at Spring Canyon in Colorado, just in time to enjoy the last traces of the aspens in fully color and to catch a few early snow flurries. Nineteen Council and Special Council members were able to gather in person, alongside about forty different home office and field staff.

President Dale Holland set the tone for his first meeting as Council president by placing an empty chair in the middle of the room, within clear eyesight of all in attendance. This chair served as a visible reminder that the ministry of OCF is first and foremost our Lord’s ministry; and that in every action, interaction, and decision, we are striving to follow His leadership and seeking His approval alone. Accordingly, our theme verse for this meeting was 1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

After our Pray-Discover-Obey, we addressed many normal items of business, including reviewing the FY23 audit, financial/budget updates, approving the FY25 priorities, and completing annual board member training.

But, by far the highlight of this meeting was the ministry-wide update, in which we were briefed on status of current ops, praise reports, and prayer requests from each area of God’s ministry directly from the staff members themselves and then had the precious privilege to pray for each of them individually. We also shared a picnic lunch with all present in which two long-standing staff members were recognized for their years, service, and impact. Council leadership seized the opportunity to plunge into the icy, spring-fed pond to retrieve the watermelons for dessert.

Council also had the honor to tour the new Home Office in Colorado Springs and to pray over the space, the saints that work there, and the military community that OCF is purposed to impact for Christ.

—LTJG Brigit Jogan, USCG