OCF STORY OF IMPACT
“We wanted to be part of what God has for us through OCF; shaping its culture of being welcoming, loving, and encouraging growth of our faith in God.”
2ndLt Blayne Butler, USMC
I found out about OCF while I was attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS). Through our NAPS Chaplain, USCGA OCF invited a handful of us to the USNA, USCGA, & USMMA Winter Retreat at White Sulphur Springs.
There I met the USNA OCF Field Staff couple, James and Juli Baca, their sons, Liam and Sayer, and other Midshipmen and Cadets who I would continue to fellowship with in the future. During the rest of NAPS, through COVID, and into Plebe Summer, the Bacas kept in contact with us and invited us to attend USNA OCF once we became Midshipmen.
Regardless of how busy life at USNA could be, I made it a priority to be involved in Christian fellowship.
OCF and its Midshipmen leaders facilitated that fellowship. Even during the height of COVID, they continued to hold virtual meetings and Bible studies that were very encouraging and uplifting in a time when our ability to gather was very limited. Upon the relaxation of restrictions and being able to meet in person for meetings and Bible studies, I found the OCF community at USNA to be one that truly glorified God, loved its attendees, and wanted to invest in building a community of Christ-centered fellowship.
As my time at USNA continued, many of my classmates and I got involved in OCF leadership. We wanted to be part of what God has for us through OCF; shaping its culture of being welcoming, loving, and encouraging growth of our faith in God.
Many would go on to be elected/appointed as officers in OCF at USNA. I was selected to be one of two Vice Presidents my 2nd class year, and was blessed with the privilege to serve as President of OCF my 1st class year.
Throughout our time in OCF, Midshipmen leaders from all classes did an excellent job of sharing Christ and loving other Midshipmen at our meetings, semester retreats, volunteer periods at WSS and even during the Rocky Mountain High program at Spring Canyon. These events led to many Midshipmen being mentored by officers, participating in accountability groups, discipleship groups, and glorifying God throughout OCF and the Brigade of Midshipmen.
Upon commissioning, recovering from an injury delayed my Marine Corps training at The Basic School back to late November. While being Temporary Assigned Duty at USNA with the Marine Detachment, the Lord continues to grow me and other TAD officers with the opportunity to practice what we learned at USNA OCF through participating in our local OCF Bible study, leading O-1 Bible studies, and facilitating fellowship events with other graduates who may or may not have been a part of OCF.
God has blessed me, my classmates, and OCF at USNA greatly. I am thankful for the support of everyone involved in “Big OCF” and the opportunities God has given me while at USNA and look forward to what He has in store for us in the fleet.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
2ndLt Blayne Butler, USMC
I found out about OCF while I was attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS). Through our NAPS Chaplain, USCGA OCF invited a handful of us to the USNA, USCGA, & USMMA Winter Retreat at White Sulphur Springs.
There I met the USNA OCF Field Staff couple, James and Juli Baca, their sons, Liam and Sayer, and other Midshipmen and Cadets who I would continue to fellowship with in the future. During the rest of NAPS, through COVID, and into Plebe Summer, the Bacas kept in contact with us and invited us to attend USNA OCF once we became Midshipmen.
Regardless of how busy life at USNA could be, I made it a priority to be involved in Christian fellowship.
OCF and its Midshipmen leaders facilitated that fellowship. Even during the height of COVID, they continued to hold virtual meetings and Bible studies that were very encouraging and uplifting in a time when our ability to gather was very limited. Upon the relaxation of restrictions and being able to meet in person for meetings and Bible studies, I found the OCF community at USNA to be one that truly glorified God, loved its attendees, and wanted to invest in building a community of Christ-centered fellowship.
As my time at USNA continued, many of my classmates and I got involved in OCF leadership. We wanted to be part of what God has for us through OCF; shaping its culture of being welcoming, loving, and encouraging growth of our faith in God.
Many would go on to be elected/appointed as officers in OCF at USNA. I was selected to be one of two Vice Presidents my 2nd class year, and was blessed with the privilege to serve as President of OCF my 1st class year.
Throughout our time in OCF, Midshipmen leaders from all classes did an excellent job of sharing Christ and loving other Midshipmen at our meetings, semester retreats, volunteer periods at WSS and even during the Rocky Mountain High program at Spring Canyon. These events led to many Midshipmen being mentored by officers, participating in accountability groups, discipleship groups, and glorifying God throughout OCF and the Brigade of Midshipmen.
Upon commissioning, recovering from an injury delayed my Marine Corps training at The Basic School back to late November. While being Temporary Assigned Duty at USNA with the Marine Detachment, the Lord continues to grow me and other TAD officers with the opportunity to practice what we learned at USNA OCF through participating in our local OCF Bible study, leading O-1 Bible studies, and facilitating fellowship events with other graduates who may or may not have been a part of OCF.
God has blessed me, my classmates, and OCF at USNA greatly. I am thankful for the support of everyone involved in “Big OCF” and the opportunities God has given me while at USNA and look forward to what He has in store for us in the fleet.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
