What does it mean to be ‘called’ to military service?
Calling is more than finding the right job. It’s about responding to God’s invitation to love and serve others through all areas of life—including military service.
Faith in action: USMA cadets spend spring break in disaster relief
In March 2025, USMA OCF partnered with Samaritan's Purse International (SPI) in a disaster relief project in western North Carolina. Fifteen cadets chose to spend their spring break helping families whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Serving beyond the uniform: OCF’s SkillBridge internships
For many service members, the transition from active duty isn’t just about finding the next job—it’s about discovering purpose beyond the uniform. That’s why Officers’ Christian Fellowship is honored to be an approved partner in the DOD SkillBridge program, offering internships where faith, service, and professional development intersect.
Not alone: Regional ROTC retreats gather and grow future officers
This February, nearly 200 cadets and midshipmen from 30 different campuses met at three retreat locations, along with some 50 adult mentors.
Introducing the OCF Council Class of 2028
OCF welcomes the seven newest members to the Council.
OCF Conference Centers: The retreat you didn’t know you needed
Despite the thousands of guests who have been blessed and refreshed over the years, many OCF members have never attended a Conference Center or are unaware of what they have to offer.
“No success without a successor”: A call to discipleship from the AMCF World Conference
What does it feel like to be in one room with over 1000 military/police service members, representing 72 different nations, who love Jesus? Two words come to mind—inspiring and humbling.
Preparing military leaders: OCF expands engagement with ROTC
Discover how OCF is deepening its impact within ROTC programs, helping future military leaders grow in faith through mentorship, collaboration with like-minded ministries, and the dedicated efforts of volunteers across the nation.
How God’s 5 fingerprints guided a retired Army Colonel
Andy MacLean shares how the hand of God smoothed out his paths and left what he calls five fingerprints that directed him to where he is today and strengthened his faith along the way.
A few FAQs regarding OCF involvement for retired and separated individuals
We hope your OCF participation will extend beyond the few years one spends in uniformed service. Here is some additional information regarding OCF involvement for retired and separated individuals.
From Service to Support: How Veterans Can Stay Engaged in OCF
We encourage veterans to consider how they can make an impact on the lives of those still serving our country. It is our desire that all members see that “OCF for a lifetime” is a calling and not just a saying. Every challenge is an opportunity!
How one Marine’s encounter revealed a chaplain’s legacy
You must be certain of your calling to the chaplaincy and this unique ministry. Holding firmly to your calling may be the only assurance that you will get through the tough times. It may be the only way of knowing that you are where the Lord wants you.
You are qualified to be a Local Leader
Have you felt called to be an OCF Local Leader but have yet to move out on that calling? Perhaps your fear of failure is as big as mine was. Is that preventing you from starting a local fellowship where none exists or joining an existing one that could benefit from your leadership?
A look inside the role of OCF’s Regional Coordinators
OCF's Regional Coordinators are a small team of OCF staffers who each oversee a different portion of the map of OCF ministry. 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.
EXSEL and PEAK: Exploring the impact of ministry internship programs on young adults
Whether as interns (first-year participants) or as fellows (second-year participants), young adults have participated in EXSEL (Experience, Serve, Lead) or PEAK (Purpose, Excellence, Authenticity, Koinonia) and gained valuable life experience, spiritual development, and more along the way.
Introducing the OCF Council Class of 2027
OCF welcomes the seven newest members to the Council.
January 2024 Prayer Focus
Scripture makes it abundantly clear that the Christian life is a mission that takes place in a battle, and therefore, spiritual readiness is a necessity. And it’s not something that we can choose to ignore or try to opt out of because the consequences are deadly. We have an enemy in that battle, one that we must be aware of, whose tactics are designed to kill, steal, and destroy each one of us (John 10:10).
The Unseen Armor: Spiritual Resilience in the Face of Trauma
Physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding work. These aspects of military service, among others, seem impossible to overcome, yet over one million men and women navigate these challenges in service to our nation. How?
Emotional Intelligence: The Keystone of Leadership in High-Stakes Decision Making
EQ gives us the ability to see stuff that we normally wouldn’t as a leader. And for me as a leader, do I want to make a decision at night with no illumination and no NODs? Emotional intelligence is the NODs.
4 Practical Steps to Knowing Peace
Many of us genuinely long for God’s peace in our lives, but we aren’t experiencing it. We think this lack of peace just impacts us. That’s simply not true. Your lack of peace not only prevents you from living the life God desires for you, it negatively impacts your witness.
December 2023 Prayer Focus
The songs filling the air during the Christmas season cover the spectrum of human experience, words and structure capturing the expression of our heart and soul. It’s in song, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke about the events leading up to and including the birth of Christ, that the joy and wonder of what God has done for those looking for Him is expressed. It’s Mary, chosen by God to bear His Son, rejoicing in “God my Savior” (1:47), and Zachariah proclaiming “the tender mercy of God” because of the coming Messiah (v. 78) that his own son “will go before…to prepare His ways” (v. 76).
November 2023 Prayer Focus
So much of Jesus’ earthly ministry centered around the dining table. He shared meals with His disciples, friends such as Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, and even some Pharisees. He also dined with various others, most notably the fringe of society, those tax collectors and sinners who the self-righteous religious leaders looked down upon (Mark 2:15-16).
October 2023 Prayer Focus
Against the unapproachable perfection of God, we don’t feel holy. Our words, actions, and attitudes as accomplished sinners speak volumes to that. And we aren’t holy—that is, in our own striving outside of Christ. Holiness is imputed to us only through Christ.
Prayer first: Putting OCF’s Pray-Discover-Obey model into practice in your life
Proverbs 16:3 says to “commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” This is God’s invitation for us to transfer our ideas, plans, and wants to Him so that He can make our plans firm. This is also the essence of OCF’s Pray-Discover-Obey model, which emphasizes prayer first, planning second, and obedient action third.
OCF celebrates recent move to its new location in Colorado Springs
This year’s annual Colorado Springs OCF community-area picnic was more than just a gathering for food and fellowship; it was also a celebration of OCF’s move from its 40-year residence outside Denver to its new location in Colorado Springs.
September 2023 Prayer Focus
One thing is crystal clear from the onset, from Genesis to Revelation and all other 64 books of the Bible in between: pride is the problem, and not one of us is immune from its lofty, lying lure.
August 2023 Prayer Focus
As marvelous as nature is, and as pleasant as our pursuit to experience its grandeur may be, it fades to nothingness if its Creator is not acknowledged, known, and pursued.
July 2023 Prayer Focus
When it comes to “freedom” or “liberty,” this definition is usually listed first in collective humanity’s book: the right to be able to do anything I want to do without restraint, expectations—or sometimes even consequences.
June 2023 Prayer Focus
If we could see with spiritual eyes what surrounds the unseen of those spiritual commissioning ceremonies, in our humanity we would be aghast and terrified at the spiritual warfare taking place.
Engaging in the Battle with Truth, Love and Grace
If we are going to effectively impact the military community, we have to be willing to authentically engage in the areas where the battle is raging.
May 2023 Prayer Focus
We are called to persevere, persist, and keep our eyes on Jesus, “to feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation,” and “to have the full assurance of hope until the end… of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
April 2023 Prayer Focus
In Jesus, we receive eternal life because of His complete and total payment to remove the spiritual death sentence awaiting us if we died in our sin. His resurrection also set into motion the final countdown that is still unfolding toward God’s restoration of all things.
OCF’s Annual Priorities: What you need to know and how you can get involved
Every year, OCF Council members and staff prayerfully gather to set ministry-wide priorities to guide ministry efforts and resourcing for the next fiscal year, which begins 1 June. Below is a snapshot of each of the three priorities, along with ways you might be able to engage with the broader OCF community and get involved.
OCF Hospitality Homes offer a way to ‘contribute to the needs of the saints’
Through OCF’s Hospitality Homes program, an established yet growing network of OCF members who are passionate about the Biblical mandate to “contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:13) have signed up as Hospitality Home hosts, opening their homes to their fellow OCF members as a place to stay, offering a meal as they travel, and connecting in Christian fellowship.
March 2023 Prayer Focus
Regardless of denomination, and before we can really celebrate what Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the grave means for each of us, we can never go wrong by taking a contemplative journey of repentance with Christ on His road of suffering.
February 2023 Prayer Focus
The fundamentals of God’s Word must be revisited continually to readjust our stance not only for our effectiveness in the game plan Christ has established for us, but especially regarding biblical faith in Him.
January 2023 Prayer Focus
It is in Christ alone that we find the identity that He intends us to operate and live in. We are made an entirely new creation, an entirely new person—not just someone refurbished or retooled.
Identity: Which label are you wearing?
Who am I? This question is foundational for all believers, because when we are saved by Jesus, we become a new person. Understanding the characteristics of our new nature is an ongoing process in living a life that reveals Jesus to the world.
Career transition for military members is not ‘just another PCS’
One of the more common misconceptions about retiring from or transitioning out of the military is that “it’s just another PCS” and won’t be that difficult.
December 2022 Prayer Focus
We celebrate Christmas because God in mercy and kindness delivered on His promise to send us a Savior in His Son Jesus Christ, who will bring the fullness of salvation to all who will receive Him.
‘Well, who’s looking in on you, chap?’
If left unchecked, compassion fatigue can lead to discouragement, depression, and a lack of pastoral identity among our chaplains.
We’re not in it to win it; Christ already won the victory
God calls us His “ambassadors for Christ” and that God is appealing to a broken world through us to come back into relationship with Him.
November 2022 Prayer Focus
It's amazing to think that thanksgiving was in Jesus’ heart and on His tongue to His Father as He knowingly, steadfastly walked right into what it would cost Him physically, emotionally, and spiritually to procure salvation for sinful humanity. Within moments, those He had dined and worshipped God with—who He had just conferred a special place at His table and on thrones in His coming eternal kingdom (Luke 22:28-30)—would betray, abandon, and deny knowing Him.
October 2022 Prayer Focus
Chaplains bear a tremendous weight in caring for the spiritual and moral well-being of service members and their families in a unique lifestyle that includes frequent moves, deployment, and combat stress. There are doors of great opportunity for God to be glorified as OCFers step out to support the chaplaincy by reaching out to their chaplains.
September 2022 Prayer Focus
Unless we are focused on God and His truth, alert to the temptations we personally struggle with, and vigilant of worldly lies and lures to kill, steal, and destroy our Christian faith, we are just as vulnerable to slide into compromise and right into God’s judgment.
August 2022 Prayer Focus
Seen especially within military circles, a desire eventually arises in all of us to move on for that something or somewhere to satisfy a longing we can’t quite explain.
July 2022 Prayer Focus
The lure in humanity’s fallen nature to be able to do whatever we want, whenever we want, and without restraint tends to only feed that bent of human nature we all struggle with—the “freedom” of my way.
June 2022 Prayer Focus
Ten years ago, Colorado experienced a devastating series of wildfires throughout June, July, and August that included the Waldo Canyon fire on the northwest edge of Colorado Springs. It is the third-most destructive fire in Colorado history, destroying 347 homes.
Living Together in Biblical Community
OCF has so much to offer one another, the military community, and our world wherever He has providentially placed us to live, work and serve.
To those serving and those who have served: stand firm, stand strong
No matter your age or location, stand up, stand firm, shoulder to shoulder with your brothers and sisters, and say, “Here am I, send me!”
Living the military life together
Small group Bible studies have been part of the DNA of OCF since the ministry began in 1943. Within these small groups, there is spiritual growth, an increased understanding of what it means to be a Christian, and a resilience developed for all of life—especially life within the military.
What is Christian Mentoring?
According to the Barna Group, a market research firm specializing in studying religious beliefs and behavior, as of 2015 only 17% of practicing Christians said they meet regularly with a spiritual mentor.
Biblical Truths from Life’s Experiences
What parables has God given to you through the simple circumstances of your life that you can share with others? Too often Christians do not share with others what God is teaching them and doing in their lives, things that can encourage other believers and make them sensitive to God’s moving in the world—and even in their own lives.
Identity and Unity in Christ
Who are you? Seems like a simple question, but our answer provides important insight into how we view ourselves at our core and what we believe to be our true identity.
A Question of Identity
The following stories are not just accounts of people who endured the process of rediscovering their identity in Christ, but they are also stories of a heavenly Father who loves his children enough to show them a far more abundant life.
47. The Right Heart
Being an effective leader is as much about having the right heart as following proven leadership practices.
46. Transformation: Clean the Root and Reinsert It
How do we overcome the dueling natures, the struggle of the flesh to do evil and of the mind that knows to obey the commands of God?
45. Did You Ask?
From whom do you seek advice and in whom do you place your trust when it seems you are not receiving discernable direction from God?
44. Compassion
What might cause you to be stingy with empathy or sympathy? Few things are worse than arrogance. Are you tempted to make your compassion for others conditional?
43. Seeing The Other Side
Consider that our leadership role is not always one of preventing another from his determined path. In some cases, the correction or consequence that follows will have the greater impact on a person’s decision to walk with integrity.
42. The Preeminent God
What gives you greater delight—loyalty to a program, an institution, a promotion, or obedience to God? God wants the acknowledged, preeminent position in each of our lives.
41. Unintended Consequences
Have you made an error in judgment by insisting things go your way? Perhaps you are presently in the midst of unintended consequences from a rash decision. If so, follow David’s example.
40. The Way Ahead—Choose to Forgive
Whether in a personal relationship or in the workplace, Jesus’ admonition to forgive remains. As servant leaders, how we forgive and restore is a mark of obedience to Christ’s commands.
39. In His Time
Little by little, in God’s time He performs His purposes. Some leaders, thrust into positions of greater responsibility as a reward for a job well done, fizzle in their performance because they lack the wisdom that seasoning and time bring.
38. Distractions
How does one keep focus when distractions and discouragement come? Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Keep focus on the big picture and ask His help. Remind yourself that what you do is for His glory.
37. Nagging Circumstances
God does not abandon us in the face of weighty circumstances and pressures. Consider God’s prevailing truth and rely on His presence during your times of need for deliverance from nagging circumstances.
36. Ready or Not
Paul’s admonition to “show tolerance for one another in love” is not a call to disregard others’ immoral practices, but to be ready to show compassion and to sow seeds of right thinking and being.
35. Desired End State
Are you seeking clarity from God on a matter but are uncertain that you are hearing correctly? Do not ask for something for yourself but ask that His will in that situation be done and earnestly desire to be part of the answer.
34. Justice, Mercy & Humility
What is God speaking to your heart regarding the application of justice, loving kindness, and humility? God’s preferred sacrifice is a “broken spirit and a contrite heart.” He rejects self-justification but embraces compassion.
Crushing the Idols of Identity
We can know pure joy in our struggles when we allow God to do His work in us. He gives and takes away as He works in and through us and this broken world that we may know and trust Him.
Doing Ministry in a Box
Hollywood squares. Brady Bunch. Tic-tac-toe. Whatever you call it, OCF largely is doing fellowship in a virtual box so far in 2020 because of COVID-19. This digital frontier has not been without its share of challenges and disappointments, but amid the uncertainty, there are stories of opportunities found and unexpected blessings received from among the membership.
When faced with an overwhelming transition, how do you respond?
Christians worship God through every transition that He brings into our lives, both in and out of the military. Some are painful transitions, others are exciting and fun, but each one comes from the hand of God.
33. Himself For Me
Paul yielded to Jesus’ “all in” commitment. What about you? In your work, marriage, parenting…how are you responding to the one who was crucified so that you could live?
32. Restoration
Cleansing and restoration has everything to do with the integrity of who God is. As God completes His refining process, we must be mindful that if we want God to forgive us, we must be willing to forgive and help restore others.
31. Condition of Service
As God calls us into service, He does not call us because of our unique skill set or qualifications; rather, He deems us faithful and trustworthy as a condition for service.
30. Strengthen Yourself
The unexpected need not derail us as we lean on Him, for it is God who guides and helps. The one whose confidence is in the Lord has no weakness a foe can take advantage of. May the Lord be our guide in all circumstances, and may He daily strengthen us to be suited for whatever comes our way.
29. A Soldier’s Memorial
Cornelius seamlessly integrated his faith with his profession and availed himself for God’s use. This “devout man” pleased the Lord and received His commendation. What about you? How are you consistently availing yourself for Christ’s service?
One question will shape how you view what freedom means
Does God really exist? Our answer to that question shapes how we think about freedom. After all, if He does not exist, then we are free to pursue as much self-gratification as possible before death. However, Christians recognize that freedom means we have freedom from fear of judgment as we seek to glorify Him and gladly submit as servants of Christ.
28. Let Us Go
Leaders appreciate it when followers have confidence in their word. Jesus expects no less of His followers. Choose a faith walk that relies on Christ’s reliability.
27. What Do You Want From Me?
What does Jesus want from you? That your faith not fail, that you keep turning to Him, and finally, that you lead by encouraging and strengthening others who face similar circumstances. Be encouraged, Jesus stands by you.
26. Loyalty
Jesus paid the price of his commitment to us on the cross. Are we willing to pay the price of loyalty to Him? More aptly, why am I willing to pay the price of constancy to Christ?
25. Your Every Need
“God will supply every need of yours” whether it is a financial concern, effective time management, or dealing with disgruntled people. Jesus is the resource for all our needs. As faithful followers, ours is to approach Him confidently for grace and help.
24. Are You Leading?
Faith and leadership are more appropriately modeled through keeping sight of how to achieve God’s purposes in and out of the workplace through godly influence, using softer tones, quieter approaches and direct resolve to see the mission through. Simply acting or reacting is not necessarily an effective leadership quality.
23. What Say Ye?
Are you discerning God’s voice when you find yourself speaking to many, a few, or one on one? Just as Jesus spent much time in prayer and solitude with God, the basis of our responses may be proportional to the time we spend with God in study of the Scriptures.
22. Lasting Influence
Positive influence on others requires full obedience. I am impressed that Noah’s influence over his sons was greater than the negative influences around them. Noah honored God, and his sons followed suit.
21. Commander’s Intent
When faced with matters that seem insurmountable, revisit the full text of God’s mission for Moses, move ahead in faith, and walk confidently in the assurance of God’s presence in demanding circumstances. Courageously strive to fulfill His intent.
20. Big-Picture Perspective
Jesus said He “did not come to destroy lives but to save them.” If one’s tendency is to write people off when there is disagreement, might this have the same effect as “commanding fire” or wishing another dead, spiritually dead that is. The gospel message is for all people and the servant leader does not withhold the message at the first sign of personal rejection.
19. Faith Rhythm
Faith, like any muscle, requires exercise. Faith enlarges our leadership effectiveness, enables us to achieve the mission, and makes us more capable of serving others. Those who follow your lead will note your faith in action and prayerfully glorify God.
18. An Actionable Plan
The leader whose commander is the Lord knows who controls his destiny. The tug of fleshly desires is weakened when I take my mind off my own interests and focus on God’s interests. When I do that, I am, in effect, denying myself.
17. Reignited Service
From what fear do you need to be delivered? Rescue is yours for the asking. Trust Him to reignite your gift in faithful service to Him.
16. Practice Makes Perfect
When I am suddenly arrested by God’s word, it becomes immediately apparent that God is commanding my attention. He is redirecting my swayed focus to sharpen or to compel me to obedience. God sometimes invades my private world because I have lost sight of Him.
15. Compliant Clay
How do you respond to shaping? I mean the kind of shaping that causes you to conform fully to the one doing the shaping. As leaders, do you reflect the positive image you desire to see in your followers?
8 questions about your spiritual growth
While our salvation is a one-time occurrence, the work of sanctification (or being set apart and refined to be more Christlike) is an ongoing process that we experience our entire life on Earth.
14. Satisfaction
Jesus was so committed to His service that, metaphorically, it served as His physical nourishment. What about you? Does your stalwart service satisfy you as nourishment?
13. A Firm Foundation
The servant leader’s challenge is to display a Christ-like response when life changing moments arise, and thus be seen as the “wise man” with a firm foundation.
Your purpose? Proclaim the Gospel everywhere
You and I are in the lineage of Cornelius because of our union with Christ. Proclaim the gospel as a testimony to the military community (all nations).
12. Reality Check
Where do we, in our leadership zeal, draw the line when it comes to pushing our own agenda or totally acquiescing to God’s divine plan? Are we convinced that God has a plan, or do we “head fake” God by developing our plan then devoutly asking His blessing?
11. Battle Rhythm
When do you surge and go all out to achieve a task? When should you pull back for contemplation, admiration, appreciation or just rest?
10. Any Volunteers?
Who around you needs your tutelage and encouragement? Let’s imitate what Paul did for Timothy. Don’t ask for volunteers, but encourage others to fulfill their calling or act of service.
9. Question Authority
So should we question God’s authority? Regardless of how righteous the question might seem, we would be wise to consider the Holy Scriptures and to pattern our questions and concerns after Jesus’ response while here on earth.
"Leader, Draw Near" copies are now available!
![A Rocky Mountain ROTC Retreat recap from OCF Director of ROTC Ministry Larry Sherbondy: "[The same weekend as the Midwest ROTC Retreat,] at Spring Canyon, 23 cadets met to consider 'Spiritual Fitness.' Like all these retreats, this one was a great example of how we are learning to partner together with our fellow ROTC ministries.
"Speakers included CH(1LT) Christian Rainbolt, USAR, Valor Regional Director Bobby Rainbolt, and OCF Colorado Springs Area Coordinator Tom Falconer. Devotions were led by Tyler Williams, team leader of Cru in Northern Colorado.
"Of particular interest to the cadets was a talk given by CH Rainbolt on the role of chaplains and the path to becoming a chaplain in our military.
"The cadets had ample time for reflection, interaction, prayer, and seeking God in His Word, as well as for taking in the incredible beauty and all that Spring Canyon has to offer!"
#ocfusa #ocffellowshipfriday #militaryministry #militaryfaith](https://scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/487402867_18489896728045938_2035760014457411986_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=ZeGL70cDaWQQ7kNvwE81q1R&_nc_oc=Adk5a6VFoo9bTUT8hKtM2LN2tvGEahNnkdrMu-RnLh811O4QsCBz1tOMVRPCgIn6YVMS6aRX7SVff1Esdb9TR1If&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=f3kVCENIhNR-iLB9S3ZOxg&oh=00_AfGgX-t30-HV9NoiL3y9d4dxYhA4Bt0Jh_kLSL2OujSYVw&oe=67F8DBDF)
Facility management experts needed! 