[…]lives are changed and love and service to one another are practiced. You gather for fellowship, prayer, and to hear the Gospel. The Bible is read, studied, and applied. And mutual compassion and support through the many trials and heartaches of military life is rendered with love, understanding, and compassion. Starting and Becoming an Effective Group The important thing is getting a group started so there is a safe place where you can encourage one another to acts of love, service and Christian maturity. As commissioned officers and Christians in the Armed Forces of the USA, most every one of […]
[…]using DVD, inductive, or topical Bible studies. Deployed group—an ad hoc group who meets for prayer/Bible study, often ending when deployment ends. Lunchtime workplace—a mixed group of AD, reserve, guard and civilian contractors meeting at lunch for Bible study. Pair/Spiritual Battle Buddies—two people praying/studying the Bible together; great discipleship opportunity. Church affiliated—varied people meeting for fellowship/prayer study as a formal ministry of a local church, cooperatively with OCF Specialty group—any of the models above but created specially for singles, women, senior officers, or whatever salient demographic at that location. Since you are OCF, your group will be what you make […]
[…]Heavenly Father and the birth of His Son! During this season of giving and celebration, we say a prayer of thanksgiving for you and your families and praise the Lord for men and women like you who have willingly answered the call to serve our nation and our Lord. As we give thanks to our Heavenly Father who loves us so much that He would sacrifice His one and only Son for us, we also give thanks to you for your sacrificial gift of service! May the Lord put a shield of protection around you and your families. We pray […]
[…]poured in. People cooked meals for us. Most important was prayer. We were especially covered by prayer the day of Heather’s surgery. It was an experience of peace, even when Heather was rushed from post-op back into surgery to close a bleeding artery that swelled her neck with blood. But it was far more than just peace in the hospital. Many people have prayed for us and continue to pray for us today. Which brings me to the third blessing. God heard and responded to the prayers in very tangible ways. We had been warned of a multitude of potential […]
[…]Army troops and Marines lived. So, like many of you, we supported them the best way we could–in prayer. It really meant a lot to me to see the picture of a group of people–arms around each other–gathered in prayer. God really is everywhere. How amazing to meet in a chapel on a multinational base in Saudi Arabia to celebrate Easter, play Australian songs in a praise band led by a Scotsman, hear the sermon from an American while sitting next to a Brit, and write about it from Japan to friends in Colorado. It was the beginning of some […]
[…]I start to feel my age then! Towards the end of our time together, I asked if I could say a quick prayer for them. “Sure, sir,” the guard said. “Always love it when you pray for us.” I put my arms around their shoulders and prayed for them. I asked that God would be with them throughout the night and help them stay awake and alert. I prayed for their families. And as always, I prayed that all of us would make it through this deployment safely and return home to the ones we love. We all said, “Amen” […]
