OCF Crosspoint Podcast
“On your terms or God’s terms”: Digging deeper into God’s design for the human mind
In part 2 of this series with Brent and Nicole Breining, we discuss statistics and real-world case studies regarding the pornography industry that reveal the magnitude of its harmful effects on society and on individuals alike.
“There is hope”: Recovering from pornography addiction
Having reached a breaking point in their marriage in 2012 and recovered since then by God’s grace, Brent and Nicole talk about why that addiction placed such a strain on their marriage, how God worked through accountability partners in their healing process, and more.
Part 3: When your job and your faith are at odds / Lead to serve, serve to lead
For the finale of our three-part series on leadership, Scott, Bruce, and Gwyn discuss how to navigate matters of conscience–circumstances where your job and your faith seem to be at odds.
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.”
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Nelson Chiaravallotti: “Enduring and faithful pursuit in the face of affliction”
“An enduring and faithful pursuit in the face of affliction.” That’s how ENS Nelson Chiaravallotti, USN, defines perseverance. In this episode, Nelson also talks about leadership lessons he learned during his time at A&M Galveston and reflects on the sadness and loss of two classmates, one by suicide.
Liliane Delva: “I always use my experience as a testimony to help other people”
Liliane talks about the significance of the 9/11 attacks on her Army career, how she struggled with comparing herself to others, and how trauma from a molestation as a child had a profound impact on her life before she followed that gentle nudging from God to get help and healing.
Karis and Ben Meier: “God really opened my heart through what I’ve suffered”
Have you ever been in a situation where it seemed like God was using affliction to draw you to Him? In the face of a chronic illness that seems to have no end, Karis Meier chooses to respond in this way—give thanks.
Ron Bracy: “God wants me to simply trust and obey where He leads”
Some 2,500 years after the time of the prophet Habakkuk, Lt Col Ron Bracy, USAF (Ret.), found himself asking the same question as the Old Testament prophet: “How long, O Lord, will I call and you will not hear me?”
Amanda Yashack, part 2: “God is healing me and he is giving me my life back”
In this episode, Amanda concludes her story by sharing how God began to radically heal her heart and change her life through a series of events.
Amanda Yashack, part 1: “That morning at PT something inside me just completely broke.”
Capt Amanda Yashack, USAFR, talks about how her life spiraled out of control when she was in ROTC, largely as a result of the trauma she experienced after a sexual assault, and then how that led to burnout, compartmentalizing her pain, and as she calls it…rock bottom.
Sam Alexander: “I realized that I need to really focus on bringing God into my work”
LT Sam Alexander, USN, gives a peek into submarine culture, how isolation can have an impact on one's faith, and the importance of developing a spiritual support system or a mentoring relationship.
