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Families should develop a support system

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Finding certainty in an uncertain world

[…]culture   We answered the ringing phone awakening us at 0430 while on vacation years ago. On the other end of the line my vice wing commander quickly informs me to tear up the PCS orders I’ve had since March, orders that would have kept the Warner family in Colorado for another year. Now wide-awake, Lori and our two daughters are hanging on every single word of the one-way conversation they’re hearing. We’re to be at our new duty station in thirty days.   The impact of sudden change was overwhelming. Lori had to inform her school she wouldn’t be […]

Leadership Moments: Are You Leading?

[…]Father and the thousands of angels standing by for Jesus’ use. Instead, He identified Himself as the one they sought (John 18:5).  A good leader leads best with actions reflecting decisions arrived at through calm, calculated, inspired thought rather than reckless displays of power. Jesus command to Peter reveals that leaders who use overwhelming displays of power are not always effective at accomplishing the mission. His leadership style was that of influence and not the use of “shock and awe.”  Faith and leadership are more appropriately modeled through keeping sight of how to achieve God’s purposes through godly influence, using […]

Time, Talent, Treasure: Academies

[…]and been involved with the OCF ministry.  Austin: OCF follows you out into the Army, unlike the other Christian clubs in a college.  It will be a connection we can help you make to BOLC (Basic Course) and then the first […]

Time, Talent, Treasure: Retirees

[…]the results. Joe Orosz: Find and team up someone your age and with your passion, and start or further the ministry of OCF at a university’s ROTC or an installation with a need for OCF presence. Start with a Pray, Discover and Obey session. John Orosz: With the way military life works—PCSing all the time, deployments, etc.—OCF provides a easy way to fellowship and provide familiarity in unfamiliar situations. Based on my experiences with my little Bible study at COP Wilderness, I know that if I’m ever at a location without an OCF study, I’ll definitely start one.   Why […]

How does the Lord see you?

[…]College alum, as they brought each other up to date on their lives since graduating years earlier. The other fellow talked about how Wheaton had prepared him for his current ministry as a pastor. But in hearing about the lieutenant colonel’s current position, the pastor sighed, what a waste of a Christian education! The lieutenant colonel, knowing perfectly well how God sees and called him, countered with the ways his military service enables him to daily impact lives, feeling God’s pleasure in doing so: counseling a young man on a gun turret about issues at home, or ensuring a family […]

Members: Cast your vote now for OCF Council

[…]Board. Personal testimony: I re-dedicated my life to Christ at Marine Corps boot camp. Since then, the Lord has provided countless opportunities to be spiritually stretched. Blessings have flowed through mature mentors and encouraging peers, who’ve joined me in God’s process of growing us up. I never cease to be amazed at His faithful provision and love pointing others His direction.  What is the biggest challenge you see currently facing OCF right now? The secularization of society has dramatically impacted the spiritual operating environment in the military. While it is popular to discuss and explore the “spiritual” du jour, the […]

Do you have a PCS sponsor—to heaven?

[…]as they will attest to, sponsors are crucial for such reassignments, those advocates welcoming them as they report to a new command by introducing them to command leaders and personnel, and befriending and making them feel at home. But what about the day when we transfer out of this world to that actual permanent change of station ahead on the horizon for every one of us when we die? Many are confused about the afterlife and have countless questions. Is there existence beyond the grave? Is there a heaven, hell, some other place or state of being? Or do we […]

With the Love of a Clanging Cymbal

[…]with my troubled friend.  There are times when we need to stand up for the faith and proclaim the message of the Gospel in a clear and direct fashion. But there are also times when we need to sit back and carefully listen to what’s being said before launching into our critique of another’s life. In either case, love for the individual should always be our underlying motivation. When our speech lacks the love of Christ, Scripture clearly declares we are just a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.    Eric served twelve years on active duty as an F/A-18 […]

What you do and how you lead does matter

[…]of scripture memory, of staying in the Word, and especially being able to distill the essence of the gospel message. Stay on message of God’s great love for each of us, about Christ and His sacrifice for us. No Fear! Peter admonishes us to “revere Christ as Lord.” The Army’s Ranger Creed challenges its adherents to give “100 percent and then some.” In your professional and spiritual life, you must not waver; you must wholly commit, completely surrender, “go all in.” Do the right thing at all times—“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” […]

Will you embrace the Christ of Christmas?

[…]James Allan, ©1926)   What often comes across as merely Christmas card captions are there for the quick reading in our holiday mail: “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Or: “He came to pay a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay.” But while even many non-Christians can tolerate a cute little baby in a manger, it’s when Jesus gets out of his crude crib and grows up that the deaf ear becomes turned. It’s not that He just merely talks about hot-button things: our sin, mankind’s need for a savior, that heaven and hell exist. But He […]

The Heartbeat of OCF

[…]office to get listed. Group Leader Action Checklist Encourage OCF non-members to join by giving them the Heartbeat of OCF brochure or sign up directly online at the OCF website. Collect annual feedback using the feedback form available on the OCF website. Be sure the OCF home office has your group’s current day/time meeting information. Update your own personal profile, too. […]

Waging Another War

[…]each man’s individual battle plan. This study’s focus included single men as well, teaching them the same tactics to help them stay sexually pure, not develop addictive behavior, and increase the potential for them in marrying the right person. As an officer and a Christian, it’s not just taking care of soldiers on the battlefield that counts. You must lead them in the battlefields of the mind as well, where the battle against sexual integrity is waged. That battle can be won only if a leader has the courage and fortitude to tackle this topic head on. Taking care of […]

OCF Council Elections Now Underway

[…]with biblical guidelines.'” This change to OCF’s Statement of Participation, contained in Article V of the OCF Constitution, reaffirms OCF’s commitment to minister to the entire military society and ensures we OCF members live our lives consistent with biblical guidelines, so as to reflect Christ in every aspect of our life and be effective witnesses for […]

Truth and the Christian Leader

[…]everyone involved a chance to tell his/her side of the story. “Audi Partem Alterum” — hear the other side. Leaders need not fear truth but must pursue it. Truth is the fabric of what we stand for and is what we as Christian leaders are called to practice.   Copyrighted by Officers’ Christian Fellowship and Larry Simpson. For personal reflection and growth. Not for […]

Satisfaction

[…]outsider and in crossing cultural barriers for the sake of a race of people who needed the message of salvation. The result was marvelous! Many Samaritans believed. Jesus went out of His way to encounter this woman. He modeled what a good leader does by making himself fully available, speaking the truth in love, spending time with people, and seeing lives changed. Jesus was so committed to His service that, metaphorically, it served as His physical nourishment. What about you? Does your stalwart service satisfy you that much? May your selfless service today be your satisfaction and […]

It Didn’t Surprise God

[…]time you need.” I ignored the speed limit on the rural roads to our neighborhood. I met Heather on the stairs and we both choked up. “Papillary thyroid cancer,” were her teary words. We held each other and talked in hushed tones until our two oldest children arrived home on the bus. I called a family council–our way of informing our three children there is important family business to discuss. We sat on the living room floor and explained the situation as best we could to our eight-, six-, and four-year-old kids. We discussed the future, reassured them (and ourselves) […]

Leadership Came Naturally

[…]It was authentic, unselfish, inter-active, servant-oriented and focused on worthy goals. What were the other qualities that made him stand out? There were many, but here are some I observed: He demonstrated an active interest in others and lack of self-interest. Tom was always more interested in what you were doing than he was in telling you what he was doing. He was action oriented but a good listener. He was, in a phrase, “…quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” (James 1:19). He was genuine. He wore his faith naturally, without shame or pretense. It […]

Some Thoughts for Christians

[…]or a brother-in-Christ who is a good man and a hard worker, but just isn’t the natural leader the other man is. Which one would you select? In choosing leaders for the church, their beliefs and quality of Christian walk ought to be our first criteria. But in selecting leaders for our secular society they ought to be a factor we consider, but not the only factor. Finally, let us consider how politics can relate to evangelism. A person comes to our church, chapel, or OCF small group because he is curious, has been invited by a friend, or is […]

Superhero’s Faith

[…]else in the world does, going through life almost mindlessly. I don’t want that. Superman, on the other hand, lives life to the fullest-he flies and stops trains and runs faster than a speeding bullet! He dreams and he laughs and he’s unusual. That’s what I want. Living Life Fully in Christ I finally hit rock bottom soon after I came to that understanding. Lying in a hospital bed fighting for my life from the prior night’s alcohol poisoning, I surrendered and turned my eyes upwards to find Jesus. Through a series of events, I heard the gospel message and […]
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What is Required of Me?

[…]you will be selected for positions where you impact the organization by leading the leaders rather than the doers. An OCF installation-level ministry is like this as well, where your job is to encourage others through relationships of trust in an environment of grace. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s…” Army Rangers talk about giving “100 percent and then some.” For you as an ambassador, this means wholeheartedly accomplishing every task in ways that glorify God and taking care of all service members and families in your care. People will respect you, gravitate to you and want to be like you […]

Staying Up Late

[…]them was going home in a few weeks for leave. His baby was not quite a month old when he deployed. The other soldier was only nineteen years old. Man, did 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 […]

The Chaplaincy

[…]chaplains share in the same sufferings as their troops. They experience the same lacks. They miss the same birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. In a combat zone soldiers can rarely say, “Chaplain, you just don’t know what I’m going through.” Credibility is one of the cornerstones for the effective ministry of a chaplain. Once credibility is established, ministry doors open wide. Ministering incarnationally earns 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 […]
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Leadership Q&A

[…]and a Christian hints at a bifurcation between the two. I do not believe that we should separate these. The Bible says to do all things as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:17). This means that your work as a military officer should be an extension of your faith. The output of your duties, as such, should be the best possible. The quality of your work and expertise should be so good that it provides proof of your faith. To put it plainly, your credibility as a Christian is on the line if you are a substandard officer. Take pride in […]

Wrestling with Depression

[…]that victory comes, we are engaged in spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12). Our enemy, the devil, is the father of lies (John 8:44) who seeks to devour (1 Peter 5:8), and kill and destroy us (John 10:10). He wants us to believe we are easy prey for his schemes-that we are alone and isolated without worth, hope, or help. That spiritual battle is also within us, between our old and new natures. Our flesh always wants to be in charge, but as Christians with the Holy Spirit living within us, God gives us the power to overcome and win. Wearing our […]
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Whose Arm Doth Reach

[…]was partly to blame; until I went off to college, I had never lived in a land-locked place. The other reality that inspired my awe, however, was that the ocean was my father’s livelihood. Even as he knew how to navigate and operate within it, he lived constantly at its mercy. As a little girl when I spoke of my father as being “at sea,” I really had no notion of the dangers he faced—he had helped teach my sisters and me how to swim, and for all I knew that’s what they did out “at sea,” diving off the […]

We Honor Them

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  • Published date: May 29, 2010
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[…]and then loaded them individually, in a slow and dignified manner, on to a loader to lower them to the tarmac. When they were ready, the Army Honor Guard then marched to the plane, and the Deputy Air Force Wing Commander escorted the chaplain and me to the plane’s steps. We then entered the plane, moved to the flag-draped transfer cases, and the chaplain offered a prayer. The Commander and I then returned, in step, to the tarmac where the Army Honor Guard was waiting. As we all stood at attention, the Honor Guard moved to lift each case. At […]

Walk in the Spirit

[…]and self-control, bless you with His LOVE-and with each of these attributes that will strengthen you and touch the lives of everyone you meet. JOY… when emails or phone calls are late in coming, and when birthdays or anniversaries are forgotten. PEACE… in the midst of complaining children and crashing computers.  PATIENCE… when people let you down. KINDNESS… when your husband gets promoted, but your friends do not. GOODNESS… when the commander’s spouse calls at the last minute for help with a unit event. FAITHFULNESS… when you begin to doubt the strength God has given you to go on. GENTLENESS… […]

OCF in Space

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  • Published date: February 11, 2010
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[…]February 2010 mission, taking parts for an observation deck and a new room for the ISS, was piloted by Col Terry Virts Jr., USAF. The very next space shuttle mission was in April with former OCF Council member Col Jim Dutton, USAF, piloting Discovery, taking a module filled with science racks for use in the ISS’s’ […]

Project Help Afghanistan

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  • Published date: February 11, 2010
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[…]outreach. OCF member Bob Teetsel, who had been the subject of an outreach-while-deployed article in the March 2008 Connected, saw a picture of OCF member CH(CPT) Steve Satterfield in the October 2009 CONNECTED, at an outreach in Afghanistan. COL Teetsel contacted CH Satterfield and Operation Iraqi Children (OIC), which was established by Sinise, School supplies, clothes, shoes, etc., were sent to Afghanistan. SPC William Seo, an OCFer who started Project Help Afghanistan while deployed, was sent those supplies and he invited Sinise to be a part of the distribution. Pictures–with SPC Seo in a couple of them–from that November 2009 […]
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Christian Leadership for the Junior Officer

[…]Christ in a loving and respectful way. Remember though, the only thing that should ever offend is the message. Also be sure subordinates know that you will not evaluate their faith, but the quality of the job they do. Loyalty. Give your loyalty to your boss, your organization, and your subordinates. Make it your goal to make your boss successful during this tour. If appropriate, write this down as part of your goals. Without ever compromising your integrity, follow through on this commitment. Similarly, give your loyalty to your organization. No one wants to hear you belly-ache that you didn’t […]
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For All Leaders

[…]John goes on to describe more specifically those things he is referring to. “…the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life” (1 John 2:16 NASB). Avoid these areas; but don’t isolate yourself so that you are no earthly good. Those under your command need to see your light. Don’t get trapped in the office. We lead people, not things. Do what is right and leave the results to God. You may be confronted with decisions that will cause you to ponder the ramifications they may have on your career. Do what’s right […]

OCF and Leadership

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  • Published date: June 29, 2009
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[…]Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character…” (italics added). The other U.S. service academies have similar missions. Lieutenants and ensigns from every commissioning source are primed to hit the ground running as leaders of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, or coastguardsmen. Every job that every commissioned officer does is a leadership position. True, some officers want to be technicians and hide from responsibility, but the fact is that they are all commissioned to lead. From platoon leader to battalion supply officer to Chief of Staff (and equivalents for the other services), every officer is a […]

Spiritual War

[…]of the world. Our weapons have Divine Power to demolish strongholds. 4. Satan is overcome by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 5. Kindness is the greatest weapon in kingdom warfare. It is the major weapon of God in leading people to repentance. 6. The Word of God is our offensive weapon, “. . . the sword of the Spirit.” 7. Unity in the battle is essential. Unity is composed of two components: 1) greatest loyalty is to the supreme commander of all units, and 2) great love for all those who are under the supreme […]
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The Jungles of War

[…]and Viet Cong prisoners, figuring that any sort of deistic teaching would be useful against the atheistic indoctrination of the communists. In this manner, many former NVA soldiers returned home, having accepted Christ, to preach the gospel in North Viet Nam, a country closed to the gospel and Christian teaching since 1954. To this day, many of Christ’s ambassadors in North Viet Nam are former NVA prisoners. Even back then, in 1966, I could see the hard, direct logic of praying for prisoners, and my soul soared. I thanked God for His answer to my dilemma and for the first […]

Three Looks

[…]You’ll be reminded that God was indeed acting as you led—and that He was preparing you for the next assignment on the dream sheet He wrote for your life. Look around at what you’re about to step into—go in with your eyes wide open. Finally, look ahead, building on what you’ve discovered in the first two looks as you prepare to move forward. Your prayerful reflections, coupled with a humble “I’m a work in progress… I have not arrived” attitude, can be powerful tools in God’s hand as you seek to glorify Him on your leadership journey. Lt Col Frickenstein […]

TTP – Character

[…]his best-selling book Good to Great, points out one unexpected finding regarding leadership, “Whether someone is the ‘right person’ has more to do with character traits and innate capabilities than with specific knowledge, background, or skills” (p. 64). All leaders have strengths and weaknesses. However, a leader can overcome these weaknesses if he or she possesses strong character. The reverse is not usually true. Integrity is the foundation of our character; those around us must see it in both our personal and professional walk. In his book Taking Charge, author P.M. Smith tells the story of Babe Didrikson-Zaharias, a professional […]

Unity of Command

[…]through the chain of command; this is called centralized control with de-centralized execution. The theory is that there is control at the top but freedom down the line at each echelon for individual commanders to make decisions. This builds trust up and down the chain of command and produces freedom and flexibility throughout all of the force structures. Let’s apply this spiritually by looking at the Trinity and the Body of Christ. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus stated that all authority was given to Him. He also said in the Gospels that He always obeyed the Father–doing nothing on His own […]

War on Spiritual Terrorism

[…]into combat with an overriding fear, a fear that will overshadow what we’ve tried to instill in them in the way of confidence to perform under fire. Everyone will be scared, but there is a difference between scared or frightened and fear. Fear will dominate judgment. Those who don’t have an appropriate relationship with their God and an inner strength to live and function a day at a time in combat will be dominated by this […]
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Professional Excellence (Durfey)

[…]leaders by King Jehoshaphat included four facts: Leaders did not carry out duties for man, but for the Lord; the Lord was with them when they performed their duties; they were directed to conduct business in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly; and they needed to be very careful what they did because the Lord would have no part in unrighteousness or partiality. The Lord demanded honor (integrity) from those who choose to serve as leaders. Superiors and subordinates must know that what is heard from the leader’s lips is true; what is done (seen and unseen) is […]
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Professional Perspectives for Senior Officers

[…]commensurate with your position and spiritual maturity. In summary, we want to help you strengthen the meshing of your faith with your professional attitudes and actions so that you may reflect the character of God. Your senior position will place increased demands upon you professionally, and upon your family–perhaps at a time when your children may be experiencing critical transition points in life. Setting priorities for your time and attention will often be difficult. Our intent is not to overburden you with organizational demands, but to encourage you to view new circumstances as opportunities for ministry to individuals and families […]
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Six Generations: 1

[…]and team practice for track and other sports, Hank would “catch” them individually, either in the locker room or on the field house floor. He would gently but firmly inquire as to the beliefs of each cadet he would meet. Some would be annoyed and ignore Hank. Others were interested and listened to his stories. A few would even want the faith that Hank had and often would commit their lives to Christ then and there. Al Shine, Jon’s brother, was one of those who several years earlier was convicted in his heart that he needed to become a Christian […]

Six Generations: 2

[…]have been a peer, committing an indiscretion and forcing Jon to either turn him in or turn the other way. Gail classified it as an “ethical dilemma that he had to confront.” Jon had been through some tough times before and knew it would not be an easy choice to make. When he finally made up his mind and chose a course of action, it evoked the following comment from Gail: “Despite his rank, he stood his ground and said he would not compromise his principles. He simply couldn’t do that. There was no question (about it)…he would not be […]

Six Generations: 3

[…] cover.” His words to “Doc” Jackson seem clearly intended to keep “Doc” and the other platoon members focused on Joe Roberts for the few moments that he engaged the enemy. Jon, thinking only about his men and acting on their behalf, perished when the enemy returned his fire. When word of the fight reached back to Cu Chi base camp, an incredible thing happened. The battalion scout platoon was just back from an operation for rest and recuperation. Their leader was a close friend of Jon and a West Point classmate and his soldiers knew of that strong bond […]

Leadership and the Christian Officer

[…]Encourage and praise progress. Try to make subordinates successful at their jobs, and then give them the credit. If they do well, the commander will do well, and get credit also. Leadership Requirements at Different Levels There is a real difference in applied leadership at various levels. Tactical and strategic principles are the same; soldiers, sailors and airmen are basically the same. It is the circumstances that are different and therefore require different applications of the basic principles. At lower unit levels problems are tangible and immediate. The commander and subordinates are face-to-face with them. The commander has close personal […]

Leadership by Example

[…]not only expect you to win their battles, but also to do so rightly as they define it. Further, the American people are going to provide their living sons and daughters for you and your noncommissioned officers to develop into Army warriors and to lead in combat on their behalf, to defend this otherwise defenseless nation. Thus, morally, your obligation, very simply stated, is to do right by and for the American people in defending their Constitution, nation and way of life. And you will do that by winning the necessary battles and returning, as best you can, the whole […]

Leadership Excellence

[…]He ultimately provides that which we are obliged to give. Simply put, we must touch our souls and then the souls of our comrades, and we must always remember “Nemo dat quod non habet”-that we cannot give what we do not have. General Krulak graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1964 and earned a master’s degree in labor relations at George Washington University in 1973. General Krulak held a wide variety of operational tours, from platoon and company command during two tours of duty in Vietnam to Commander of all Marine Forces in the Pacific. Among other posts, his […]

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Our Address

OCF logo
OCF Home Office
4050 Lee Vance Drive, Suite 330
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: 303-761-1984

OCF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our CFC number is 10531. OCF is also a member of these organizations:

Copyright © 2000-2023 Officers’ Christian Fellowship. All Rights Reserved.

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