[…]their homes, in their units, and in the Christian community of their installation. The small group Bible study is our primary tool for this encouraging and equipping. One of our OCF staff members says we need to produce qualified elders. He is right, but “elders” is a church term that means different things in different denominations, so a more applicable term for us is leader. Military people understand leadership. Cadets at West Point know from day one that the mission of the Military Academy is “To educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a […]
[…]strength from God’s preparation for him through USNA OCF. Stepping out in faith, he leads a Bible study with other exchange students, praying that in addition to encouraging one another, they will also shine the light of Christ on those around them. Austin: Seeing what OCF does, connecting people for life! A couple years ago one of our senior girls led a group of plebes at our Tuesday night Bible study, and frequently met with each one outside of class. She would listen to their plebe year woes, record prayer requests, share Scripture, and bring them treats. And she’s continued, […]
[…] pressure, and neither will we. Know that the organization is well managed. The Lord has blessed OCF with a wonderful council that sets the tone for and gives oversight to OCF. Know that there is a responsible governing board and know who those board members are. Elected from the general membership, the entire OCF Council meets twice a year. Know that all appeals for funds are truthful and accurate. The only way we can honor the Lord is by being truthful and accurate. In all our dealings we quietly depend upon the Lord for His help, and not on […]
[…]past these verses and forever ponder my lineage and legacy. Truth #1: Several weeks ago, I was blessed to visit with Morgan Jackson, senior vice president of Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH). Morgan’s ministry is committed to getting “God’s Word everywhere for everyone.” So far, they have recorded the Scriptures in over 800 languages and dialects and have leveraged numerous methods to distribute these recordings. In his introduction, he asked which part of the New Testament was the most compelling for many of the world’s cultures. Stymied, I uttered the usual—the good news about Christ. Morgan captured my attention by […]
[…]us the right to be heard. By God’s grace we model Jesus–and through doing this we have the blessed opportunity to tell them about the God who died for them. I think of our work much like the ministry of Phillip in the book of Acts. He was called to leave the comfort zone of fruitful ministry in Samaria. The Angel of the Lord told him, “Take a walk on a deserted dusty road” (my paraphrase). Phillip obeys the angel’s voice and he is vectored to an Ethiopian government official ready to hear the words of salvation. In much the […]
[…]our God as Joshua exhorted? We serve our God because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross. We are blessed to be able, through our lives in the military, to demonstrate the message of salvation to those who have not heard or received it. It was by God’s grace through faith that we were brought fully into His family and presence. Our love for Him motivates us to serve Him in our military, to serve and work for our families, and to serve and work to enable the message of salvation to reach those who have yet to […]
[…]bedroom and bathroom with a roll-in shower and a large, fixed bench. As a double amputee, I am blessed to have a guest suite that accommodates people with similar disabilities. Please call to […]
[…]balance their ever changing, demanding schedules and constant deployments by regularly meeting for Bible study, and often times, meals. These OCF small groups often instantly become both family and lifeline to the attendees. And when emergencies arise, the small group members often rally together to provide meals, take care of children, and provide comfort and encouragement through prayer, Scripture and time spent together. Every Wednesday, Naval Base Kitsap OCFers gather at the aptly named Anchor of Hope church, filling long tables with delicious smelling casseroles, crockpots and salads. The kids eat quickly so they can get back to playing and […]
[…]closer walk with the Lord. Dig into the Bible a little deeper–get involved in some intensive Bible study on your own. Don’t overlook the possibilities in the wives’ groups. Seek out other wives in the same situation. Get them over for coffee, or a meal. Let your children get to know each other. If they know the Lord, you’ve found added fellowship. If they don’t, your own life and attitude can be a testimony to them of the sustaining power of God. One wife, when asked what was the hardest thing about separations, replied, “The physical work!” If you have […]
[…]as fraternization. There was never any pressure to participate and Jon’s leading of these Bible study groups was personable yet scholarly and professional…and after duty hours. It would have been hard for anyone to find anything worth criticizing in the arrangement. The group usually met once during the week, in the evening, down in the basement of the cadet barracks where the quiet atmosphere supported a discrete study of the Bible. Participants, including members of the company other than Plebes, had to obviously be willing to sacrifice a portion of their evening that would have otherwise be devoted to studying […]
[…]so that they can go back to their soldiers and hold small group services while out on patrol. Bible study groups are the only way some of these soldiers will have a chance to learn about the Lord while deployed. Don’t get me wrong, soldiers do not huddle in large groups for lengthy discussions. These soldiers must perform a fast discussion on a verse or topic, then end in prayer. Sometimes while on patrol, as the soldiers keep a vigilant watch, they ask questions about the Lord. I have learned something very valuable: This ministry is not about me as […]
![SC USAFA MG_2193[1] copy](https://www.ocfusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/SC-USAFA-MG_21931-copy-150x150.jpg "Spring Canyon celebrates 60 years of OCF ministry")
