[…]respond to a soldier charged, then convicted, of such crimes? God allowed the eyes of my heart to see you through the filter of His love and to respond to you with the love and compassion of Christ. An ageless military axiom comes to mind — soldiers never leave their wounded or dead on the battlefield. These words apply here, and they have added urgency on the spiritual battlefield. You should know that your soul is just as precious to God as anyone’s, even after all you have done. It may be difficult to see now, but God is working […]
[…]Field, and the other installations surrounding Honolulu. Viewing the entire American Pacific Fleet peacefully at anchor in the inlet below, I smiled as I ordered, “All squadrons, plunge in to attack!” The time was 7:49 a.m. Like a hurricane out of nowhere, my torpedo planes, dive-bombers, and fighters struck with indescribable fury. As smoke began to billow and the proud battleships started tilting, my heart was almost ablaze with joy. During the next three hours I directly commanded the fifty level bombers as they pelted Pearl Harbor and the area nearby. Then I circled at a higher altitude to accurately […]
[…]you simply go through, or something you grow through. The choice is yours. I’d like you to meet a couple of people. The first is Wendy Woeful. Wendy’s husband has just left for a six month cruise, and nothing is going right for Wendy. The kids have turned into monsters; the household appliances have mutinied — breaking down left and right; the neighbors have all turned sour, and even the dog has left home! Weeping Wendy can’t understand it. Why isn’t her husband at her side where he belongs! Then all her troubles would be over! The other person I’d […]
[…]combat, or in the day-to-day routines of office work — non-believers and Christians work together with the common goal of contributing to the security of our nation. The close relationships that grow out of these situations may offer opportunities for Christians to share spiritual truth. Many times they have been used by the Holy Spirit to draw people to Christ. Nonbelievers think of the chaplain as one who is “paid to talk about Christ.” They usually don’t perceive the Christian line officer as a “professional” Christian. For this reason, your testimony about God’s grace and purpose in your life can […]
by Carol Vandesteeg Many people feel emptiness or gaps in their lives when their families are separated or are in uncertain circumstances. That empty feeling can be turned into something positive. “. . . Times of separation are not a total loss, nor are they completely unprofitable for our companionship. . . In spite of all the difficulties they bring, they can be a wonderful means of strengthening and deepening fellowship. . . We must commit our loved ones wholly and unreservedly to God and leave them in his hands, transforming our anxiety for them into prayers on their behalf” […]
[…]Col) David Bena, USAF What should you expect from your chaplains? The role of the chaplain is to meet spiritual needs. The chaplain should lead worship, counsel, teach troops, care pastorally for all, encourage ethical conduct, honor the dead, nurture the wounded, and give hope to the weary. But how’s that role fleshed out? I think you should expect a godly person who: Is honest and ethical Really cares about the people in the unit, willing to face opposition in order to make their lot more livable. Will die with you and will not run away. Will pray for and […]
[…]antiaircraft fire was heard. We became alert and listened. The new men looked at me; they had not been in an air attack yet. I answered their questioning looks by saying, “We had better get downstairs.” Quickly I blew out the candle, tucked it inside my shirt, and hurried for shelter. We crouched in a little clothes locker directly under the stairs, considering that to be the safest place that could be found in the building. No sooner had we crowded into the locker than, “Boom!” a five hundred pound bomb hit the house on the right. “Boom!”a bomb that […]
!["The Apostle Paul was required to make a hasty departure from the Thessalonian church as persecutions increased (1 Thessalonians 2:2),” said Bobbie Simpson, who serves with husband Larry as the Regional Coordinator Couple for the Pacific Northwest Region. “Though the church was fruitful and vibrant, he was deeply concerned that they continue to grow, flourish, and not be discouraged by his own hardships, [so] he sent Timothy (1 Thessalonians 3:1-3) to further establish and encourage the young church in their faith.”
Bobbie noted a similarity between the purpose and function of Timothy’s role in those passages from 1 Thessalonians and those of the Regional Coordinator role she and Larry fill.
“I see the role of Regional Coordinators as one of relationship building, encouraging, equipping, even revitalizing the fervor for ministry, and fellowship among OCF members,” Bobbie said, adding in the priorities of building relationships with chaplains and churches, too.
The Simpsons serve as Regional Coordinators alongside five other couples, comprising a small team of OCF staffers who each oversee a different portion of the map of OCF ministry.
The OCF Regional Coordinator Vision Statement makes their purpose clear: “The heart of this position is one of a shepherd who develops, grows, and sustains relationships with OCF members, chaplains, and ministry co-laborers. An RC is a catalyst advancing the Lord’s Kingdom via OCF.”
Visit the link in our bio to keep reading this spring's article about this impactful role within OCF.
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