Ocf Crosspoint Podcast

  OCF MINISTRY NEWS  Keep an eye out for this fall’s Connected print newsletter: A digital copy of the newsletter is also available online at ocfusa.org/connected  https://www.ocfusa.org/connected/   Serve as the ministry support volunteer position: Check out the full volunteer listing for details and the application. https://www.ocfusa.org/volunteer/ministry-support-volunteer/  Calling all female cadets & mids: Connect with your peers via OCF Sisters in Service’s monthly Zoom calls. Find out more on SIS’ Instagram: @sisters_in_service_ocf    Register for a Winter Retreat session at one of OCF’s Conference Centers:  20-27 December, 28 December-4 January at Spring Canyon in Buena Vista, Colo. https://www.springcanyon.org/winter-retreat/   21-26 December, 27-30 December, 30 December-2 January at White Sulphur Springs in Manns Choice, Pa. https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/winter-retreat/     GUEST SPOTLIGHT  Today’s episode features the first half of Crosspoint host

  OCF MINISTRY NEWS  Check out and attend any of these local events:   Aspentime Retreat: 26-28 September at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) https://www.springcanyon.org/aspentime/   BBQ Bonanza: 3-4 October at Fort Leavenworth (Kan.) https://www.ocfusa.org/event/fall-bbq-bonanza-2025/   OCF Hampton Roads Region Annual Fall Picnic: 4 October at Fort Monroe, Va. https://evite.me/M6xMVkCshv  USNA Fall Retreat: 10-13 October at White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.) mailto:usna@ocfusa.org  OCF Mid-Atlantic Fall Retreat: 14-16 November at White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.) https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/event/ocf-mid-atlantic-fall-retreat/   Start an OCF small group: Read Rich's article, full of practical guidance to help you take the next step. https://www.ocfusa.org/2011/01/starting-ocf-small-group-fellowship-2/   Help OCF steward its ministry buildings: Email Director of Infrastructure and Facility Management Joe Orosz (joe.orosz@ocfusa.org) to

Show Notes In this second part of “Military Brats React,” host Courtney Burdick continues the roundtable conversation with 2LT Dani Volle, USA, ENS Mary Ann Leonard, USN, and Matt Taylor as they reflect on their experiences growing up in military families. Listen to Part 1 here. While the first part of the discussion centered on the challenges and mental health struggles faced by military kids, this episode shifts to the “strengths-based perspective”—seeing the good that can come out of a hard, transient lifestyle—discussed in Josh Jackson’s Crosspoint interview with Claire Anderson.    Have thoughts or want to share your own experience? Reach out to Josh at josh.jackson@ocfusa.org and/or Courtney at courtney.burdick@ocfusa.org.  If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF’s “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic we should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to podcast@ocfusa.org. https://www.ocfusa.org/podcastguest/

In a recent Crosspoint episode, Josh Jackson and Claire Anderson discussed the “hidden epidemic” of mental health challenges among military kids. In this follow-up conversation, Courtney Burdick hosts three fellow military kids—2LT Dani Volle, USA, ENS Mary Ann Leonard, USN, and Matt Taylor—for a roundtable-style reaction episode.  Having met at White Sulphur Springs, OCF’s eastern camp and conference center, they discuss stories from their respective military kid experiences, thoughts on Claire’s research, and more.  Have thoughts or want to share your own experience? Reach out to Courtney at courtney.burdick@ocfusa.org.  If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF’s “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic we should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to podcast@ocfusa.org.  POINTS TO PONDER  As you listen to this conversation with the brats, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or wit

The July episode of Crosspoint served as Part 1 of a conversation with LTC Lee Robinson, USA, director of the U.S. Military Academy’s American Politics Program and an academy professor in the Department of Social Sciences. We began answering this overarching question—"What does it look like to follow Christ in uniform, when your faith is personal, your authority is public, and the Constitution sets the boundaries?” In Part 2 we continue this timely discussion on how Christian military leaders can live out their faith with integrity, while respecting the pluralism of today’s armed forces. Lee emphasizes that faith in leadership must never take the form of pressure or compulsion. Drawing from both Scripture and military experience, he outlines the importance of being a faithful witness without overstepping the boundaries of official authority. When senior leaders bring faith into their roles, the question isn't “Can I?” but “Should I?”—and wisdom is key to navigating that tension. A central focus of this conver

OCF MINISTRY NEWS  Become findable on the OCF Directory: Visit ocfusa.org/list-me to add or update your group’s information on our online directory of Bible studies.  Apply for Spring Canyon’s Deputy Center Director opening: Check out the job description and apply NLT 15 August.   Check out our new Widowed Ministry webpage: Visit ocfusa.org/widowed-ministry/ to access helpful resources, invitations to fellowship, and scholarship funding for summer programs at the Conference Centers.   GUEST SPOTLIGHT  Why is mentoring important to the Christian in the military? Answering that question and others in this episode are COL Jim Brown, USA (Ret.), and Navy veteran and OCF Director of Women’s Ministry Kristin “KG” Goodrich.   Jim and KG discuss the unique elements of Christian mentoring, their own personal experiences with mentors or mentees, and how military culture might create challenges to the idea of mentoring, among other topics.   Mentoring has always been part of OCF’s DNA—from prayer and accountability to

Guest: LTC Lee Robinson, USA In this Crosspoint Highlight from July 2025, LTC Lee Robinson explores the delicate balance military leaders must strike between free exercise of religion and non-establishment under the First Amendment. He emphasizes that the amendment’s brevity—and its ambiguity—stem from the compromises between Federalists and Anti-Federalists at the time of America’s founding. Lee explains how the language evolved, rejecting broader proposals like prohibiting any laws “touching religion” to avoid overly limiting the federal government. He encourages military leaders to wrestle with the historical context and constitutional principles behind the First Amendment to better understand their own oath to support and defend the Constitution, particularly in gray areas where religion intersects with public duty. What do you think? How does understanding the historical compromise behind the First Amendment help shape your approach to religious liberty in leadership? What practical steps can you take as

Guest: LTC Lee Robinson, USA In this Crosspoint Highlight from July 2025, LTC Lee Robinson tackles the complex question: Was America founded as a Christian nation? Lee draws a distinction between the first founding (e.g., Puritan colonies with explicitly religious laws) and the constitutional founding rooted in liberty and freedom of conscience. He explains that while America’s early cultural fabric was deeply influenced by Christianity, the U.S. Constitution intentionally avoided establishing a state religion—rejecting even a proposed religious test in Article VI. Citing Alexis de Tocqueville, Lee paints a vivid picture of early Americans shaped by both faith and civic engagement, underscoring the enduring impact of Christian values on the nation's moral habits, even if not enshrined in its legal foundation. What do you think? What does the balance between personal faith and civic freedom look like for Christian leaders today?

  OCF MINISTRY NEWS  Sign up for summer programs at the Conference Centers: Visit ocfusa.org/CCexperience to find the right program and week for you at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) or White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.). https://www.ocfusa.org/CCexperience/   Consider your next steps at the Caleb Challenge Career Transition Strategies Workshop (12-14 September): Visit White Sulphur Springs’ website to learn more about and sign up for this impactful weekend. https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/event/caleb-challenge-career-transition-strategies-workshop/   Update your information and stay connected: Whether it's your address, military status, rank, contact information, or something else, take 30 seconds to let us know via the Update My Info form. https://www.ocfusa.org/update/   Check out Crosspoint Highlights: Don’t miss our new episode format, designed to share just a portion of a previously posted podcast for an encouraging listen even when you’re short on time. Find Cross

Information about Summer R&R 7 at White Sulphur Springs, and speaker LtGen Clint Hinote, USAF (Ret.): About the Topic: Wherever we are, God calls us to lead. He calls us to lead ourselves, our families, our units, our communities, and our culture. The Bible contains many accounts of leaders, including stories about their successes and failures. In this session, we will examine Biblical leaders and learn from their experiences. We will celebrate the good and be honest about the bad. In doing so, we will seek practical truths we can apply to our lives because we can always learn and grow as leaders. About the Speaker: Clint retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2023 after a 35-year career as a fighter pilot, military strategist, and senior leader. In his last assignment, he served as the futurist for the Air Force, responsible for creating the vision for the future force. He now writes and speaks on defense reform and leadership. He also teaches leadership and policy implementation at RAND’s School of Public P

OCF MINISTRY NEWS  Sign up for summer programs at the Conference Centers: Visit ocfusa.org/CCexperience to find the right program and week for you at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) or White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.). https://www.ocfusa.org/CCexperience/   Connect with OCFers at USNA and USAFA:  OCF at USAFA: Pre-Inprocessing Day Reception (Class of 2029), 24 June, Monument, Colo. https://www.ocfusa.org/event/ocf-at-usafa-pre-inprocessing-day-reception-class-of-2029/   USNA OCF: Class of 2029 Open House, 25 June, Annapolis, Md. https://www.ocfusa.org/event/usna-ocf-class-of-2029-open-house/   Volunteer as a Local Leader at one of these locations: Columbus AFB, Fort Campbell, Fort Drum, Fort Eisenhower, Fort Jackson, Fort Riley, Fort Stewart / Hunter AAF, Goodfellow AFB, JB Charleston, MCAS Beaufort, MCB Quantico, Norwich University, NSB New London / Groton, Schofield Barracks / Wheeler AAF, Sheppard AFB, Texas A&M University, The Citadel, Tyndall AFB, University o

Crosspoint Highlights: Big ideas, short episodes … for your busy schedule Guests: Joshua and Lindsey Bowen From Episode 54: “The importance of small group fellowship.” Listen to the full episode here.    Highlight Summary: In this Crosspoint Highlight, Joshua and Lindsey Bowen reflect on the lasting impact of biblical community, mentorship, and servant leadership during their time in the military. They share how their early experiences in a diverse OCF small group at Fort Carson shaped their spiritual maturity and inspired them to pour into cadets at West Point years later. From late-night Bible studies to one-on-one mentoring moments, Josh and Lindsey offer a deeply personal look at how fellowship across generations can transform lives and prepare future military leaders for both spiritual and professional challenges. Find an OCF group near you Find out more about Christian mentoring   Key Takeaways: Intergenerational fellowship fosters growth: Being surrounded by older couples in their Fort Carson group

OCF MINISTRY NEWS  Sign up for summer programs at the Conference Centers: Visit ocfusa.org/CCexperience to find the right program and week for you at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) or White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.). https://www.ocfusa.org/CCexperience/   Free Bible studies for OCFers and groups: Visit ocfusa.org/library to download, dive in, and leave a rating to help others discover one of these 18 impactful resources. https://www.ocfusa.org/library/   Help us keep the OCF community connected: If you or someone in your OCF circle has celebrated a birth, wedding, or experienced a loss since 1 March, please send updates to Courtney Burdick (courtney.burdick@ocfusa.org) for the next issue of our print newsletter.  Introducing Crosspoint Highlights: Don't miss our new episode format, designed to share just a portion of a previously posted podcast for an encouraging listen even when you’re short on time. Find Crosspoint Highlights wherever you get your podcasts.    GUEST 

Welcome to Crosspoint Highlights: Big ideas. Short episodes. For your busy schedule.   Guest: Col Chet Arnold, USMC (Ret.) From Episode 46: “May a Christian Serve in the Military?” Listen to the full episode here. Highlight Summary: Can a Christian serve in the military and still follow Jesus’ command to love their enemies? In this Crosspoint Highlight, Col Chet Arnold, USMC (Ret.), tackles the difficult topic of killing in combat from a Biblical perspective. Drawing from both the Old and New Testaments, Chet explains why understanding the sanctity of life and the God-given authority of government is essential for military believers. He also challenges listeners to avoid dehumanizing their enemies and to grieve the loss of life—even in war—through the lens of being made in God's image. Be sure to check out our article by the same name, "May A Christian Serve in the Military?" Key Takeaways: The sanctity of life is foundational: All people are made in God’s image—even those considered enemies. God delegates a

Quick links: Summer R&R 1 at White Sulphur Springs All Summer R&R sessions at WSS All Summer Celebrations at Spring Canyon The Starting Point Project website   Episode summary: In this bonus episode, Jay Seegert, managing director of the Starting Point Project, shares his journey from a Christian upbringing to becoming a prominent speaker on defending the Christian worldview. He discusses the importance of understanding the differences between a biblical and a Christian worldview, emphasizing the need for clarity in definitions to engage in meaningful discussions. Jay also highlights the challenges of defending faith in a secular environment and the significance of grounding beliefs in Scripture rather than external influences. In this conversation, Jay and Crosspoint host Josh Jackson explore the relationship between science and the Christian worldview, addressing skepticism, the purpose of defending faith, and the importance of gentleness in apologetics. They emphasize that understanding Scripture

OCF MINISTRY NEWS  Staff changes across the OCF team: Visit ocfusa.org/job-openings to learn more about vacant positions as a result of OCF's ongoing job moves. https://www.ocfusa.org/job-openings/   Sign up for summer programs at the Conference Centers: Visit ocfusa.org/CCexperience to find the right program and week for you at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) or White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.). https://www.ocfusa.org/CCexperience/   Take the next step in growing as a Local Leader: Visit springcanyon.org/3b to learn more about the upcoming OCF LEAD! Local Ministry Leadership Track at Spring Canyon this June.   ASK OCF  Landon Spaulding, who now serves as OCF’s Online Training Development Coordinator, shares his experience as a SkillBridge intern with OCF.   To learn more about SkillBridge opportunities, read our latest article or visit ocfusa.org/skillbridge. https://www.ocfusa.org/2025/03/serving-beyond-the-uniform-ocfs-skillbridge-internships/ https://www.ocfusa.org/sk

This month’s special episode enables you to listen to the Global Town Hall, which OCF hosted on 8 February at its Home Office in Colorado Springs, Colo., and over Zoom for members around the world.   You’ll hear from OCF Council President Dale Holland, OCF CEO/Executive Director Scott Fisher, Director of Field Operations Colin Wooten, Local Leaders Josh and Lindsey Bowen, USMA OCF Field Staff Bob Phillips, and OCF Conference Center Directors Paul Robyn and Kim Hawthorne. After the ministry updates from these individuals, attending members asked a variety of questions of the staff present.  If you’d prefer to watch the video of GTH 2025 and/or provide follow-up questions, comments, or feedback, visit ocfusa.org/gth2025.  Here are the links for some of the resources mentioned in this episode:   Local fellowships https://www.ocfusa.org/directory/  OCF Conference Centers https://www.ocfusa.org/experience/  ROTC ministry https://www.ocfusa.org/rotc/  OCF LEAD! Local Ministry Leadership

    OCF MINISTRY NEWS  Watch the latest OCF Global Town Hall: Visit ocfusa.org/gth2025 to watch the Town Hall. https://www.ocfusa.org/gth2025/  Serve and adventure at an OCF Conference Center this spring: Make this March a meaningful mix of service, growth, and adventure through one of these two opportunities.  Spring Break Service Project Week, 10-16 March, White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.) https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/event/sbsp-week/   Spring Break Service and Adventure Week, 21-30 March, Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) https://www.springcanyon.org/event/spring-break-service-and-adventure-week-2/   Support OCF during your trips to the grocery store: Visit our Ways to Give page and scroll to the bottom to see if a store near you is eligible for the Community Rewards Program. https://www.ocfusa.org/donate/   ASK OCF  Col Houstoun Waring, USAF (Ret.), who serves as OCF’s Central Regional Coordinator, answered this frequently asked question from another OCF

OCF MINISTRY NEWS  OCF Global Town Hall: Visit ocfusa.org/gth2025 to learn more about and register for the next iteration of this annual, virtual event, scheduled for 8 February.  Regional ROTC retreats: Visit ocfusa.org/rotc to find the next regional ROTC retreat near you.   Annual impact report: To hear more about Freddy’s OCF experience and other stories of impact from our conference centers, field locations, and more, download our Annual Impact Report by visiting ocfusa.org/air2024.     Mentoring opportunities: If you’re interested in mentoring or being trained in mentoring and want to learn more, visit ocfusa.org/mentoring or contact Bill Rue via bill.rue@ocfusa.org.      ASK OCF  LT Will Parker, USN, who serves as the OCF Submarine Community Coordinator, answered this frequently asked question from another OCFer: How do you balance/integrate OCF involvement with commitment to the local church?  To learn more about church-OCF dynamics and ways you can integrate your involvement in both, visit ocfusa.or

Show Notes  In this bonus episode, Josh, Beth, and Corrie explore the challenges of bitterness and resentment in military marriages, highlighting the influence of faith, perspective shifts, and community support. They discuss the importance of diverse friendships, flexibility in family life, and seeking counseling. Emphasizing teamwork, Beth and Corrie share strategies for balancing responsibilities and overcoming feelings of isolation and resentment.   Beth introduces insights from her new book for military spouses called “Another Move, God?: 30 Encouragements to Embrace Your Life as a Military Wife,” while Corrie shares about her dynamic Instagram platform, @ajoyfulmilspouse, that celebrates military life. Together, they stress that community and shared experiences can strengthen relationships amid military life’s unique challenges.  In the course of this conversation, we also reference Beth’s list of 10 ways to overcome bitterness and resentment, which you can view here.   If you would like to share your