The OCF Handbook: Recent Episodes
Officers' Christian Fellowship
A chapter-by-chapter reading of OCF’s 2022 Handbook, a vision for military ministry and how we serve within the military community.
The desire for community with those who share their military lifestyle and Christian values led to a Bible study in a Washington, D.C., home that continued for several years. In [December of] 1943, at the urging of the British Officers’ Christian Union (OCU), leaders incorporated OCU in the United States and was renamed Officers’ Christian Fellowship (OCF) in 1972. This chapter provides a short overview of OCF’s 75+ year history.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
This chapter is a reading of the OCF Constitution and a summary of what is found in the OCF Bylaws.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
STATEMENT OF FAITHSTATEMENT OF PARTICIPATIONPURPOSEVISIONMISSIONPILLARS (CUE LINES)DISTINCTIVESGUIDELINES FOR OCF MEMBER CONDUCT (OCF Bylaws)GUIDELINES FOR OCF LEADER CONDUCT (OCF Bylaws)OCF FOUNDATIONS GRAPHICThe full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
Our ministry is run and coordinated from OCF’s Home Office, a name harkening back to when OCU communication and accounting was accomplished in the basement of Buck and Louisa Buxton’s home. The Home Office is where most member inquiries are handled and where we respond to your requests for materials to support local fellowships and conferences. Think of the Home Office as a small nerve center that helps connect OCF members to one another by doing things like managing the OCF member database, providing linkups between members, and working to keep the online OCF Directory up to date. The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
INITIATE THE CONNECTIONSince OCF operates within the larger body of Christ’s church, our leaders in the field should be aware of like-minded parachurch ministries who are laboring nearby and should be the initiators of coordinating and supporting relationships.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERThe OCF Council governs the ministry of OCF, and they hire the Executive Director of OCF. The staff of OCF supports the members of OCF by encouraging Christian obedience and integrity, equipping Christ’s body in accession and education locations, connecting members to one another, developing resources for the field, sending laborers to the field, caring for ministry monies, maintaining and developing OCF’s facilities, communicating the ministry of OCF outside the organization, and praying.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEREvery OCF member needs to know how to find the OCF Directory, use it, and help others navigate the Directory to connect men and women in fellowship around the world—this connects us to other family members.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERIf there were no enemy, then there would be no need for a military. If Satan and rulers in the heavenly places were not a real threat to the Christian, then the church would have had no need to stay alert, to put on armor and to hold fast in the face of lies, threats, deceptions, and mockery. Study the truth and draw near to Him whom we eagerly long to see at the end of days when He returns.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERThose who serve in the military will be changed before they separate or retire, so what follows are some ways to think intentionally about capturing the good while resisting the bad of military culture. It is good that we getto serve alongside people different than us. It is also good that we learnto live disciplined lives, but serving within the government can make us dependent on government privileges if we are not alert to the danger of the insidious expectation that we deserve something.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERGod works in the lives of His adopted children during the years they wear the uniform and are within the military community. Military life may yield promotions and good assignments, but we will also experience non- promotions and assignment locations we didn’t see coming. In good times and in bad, we always grow, change, and are made into Christ-like servants learning to trust God’s provision. Having served in the military will impact us and the people we serve with for the rest of our lives.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERThe military is a great place for uniformed leaders to learn how to submitto God and to those He places over us. Officers usually serve in positionsof influence that give them an opportunity to do good to all those around them, whether to Americans, to allies, or to the people of a nation at war with the United States. Sound ethical and moral actions flow from the practice of studying, thinking, and repeatedly doing what is right, especially when under stress. The bottom line is that Christians ought to have a good (positive) influence on a military unit’s culture and climate, in times of peace and in times of conflict.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERUnderstanding the idea of professional calling flows from our grasp of God’s sovereignty over all His creation. The Bible speaks repeatedly of His unfolding plan as He directs the steps of men and women. In light of God’s sovereignty and His step-directing work, entire military households can see themselves as living on mission, allowing their love for God and love for neighbor to establish the priorities of the home. Both adults and children are essential members of the Christian military body. May you use your days well!The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERWorldview informs our priorities, which then determine our use of time. Our understanding of creation, fall, redemption, and living under Christ’s new covenant impacts how we live our lives, prioritize our use of resources, and engage the people around us. If we think deeply now (while we have time for study and contemplation), then it is more likely we will be a leader who acts decisively during times of crisis or stress.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERWe hope your OCF participation will extend beyond the few years one spends in uniformed service. We are constantly seeking to connect men and women serving, and who have served, for the rest of their lives according to their gifts and capacities. Once you have connected and met one another, we want you to keep getting together to help stir one another toward effective stewardship to the end of your days.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEROCF members plan and host many different gatherings for the benefit of the military community around them. There is no limit to the creativity involved in these gatherings, but each one requires an initiator, an organizer, and help from the larger fellowship to execute the gathering. These are usually exciting opportunities to meet the larger OCF body, to be encouraged in your walk, and to gain new vision for service.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEROCF owns two conference centers (Spring Canyon in Colorado and White Sulphur Springs in Pennsylvania) for the purpose of bringing the military community of singles, families, and friends together for mutual growth, edification, rest, and refreshment. Guests should leave the conference centers ready to re-enter the mission field where they live. These conference centers function as home base for many military families, the one place the family visits year after year from pre-commissioning years all the way through post-service years, coming back with children and grandchildren. The centers provide OCF members a depot for spiritual maintenance, a crossroads environment to meet members of the larger family of Christ, and a place where vision is developed to serve for the rest of life.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERThe various seasons of life bring about different abilities and capacities to volunteer within OCF and within your local church. This chapter gives ideas for some of the many ways you can volunteer to serve the military community and OCF by using your gifts, time, talent, and treasure.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERThere are three main roles an OCF member can volunteer to fill and become visible in the OCF Directory. These volunteer roles are OCF Local Leader, OCF Contact, and OCF Hospitality Home. The OCF Directory also makes OCF Coordinators visible. If someone desires to support a larger area, region, or military specialty as a Coordinator, please contact the OCF Home Office at (800) 424-1984. Finally, our OCF Council members are volunteers who serve on the OCF Council after being elected to this role.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEROCF members serve where the local church does not have access or the opportunity to impact lives, but where military members can. OCF gathers Christian believers together so that the gospel, and the impacts of the gospel, might go into places where their military credentials permit access to garrison installations, to deployed locations, and to the many temporary locations where the military is sent. A spiritually healthy OCF member is one who lives under the sound teaching and oversight of a local church body. These local churches have the privilege of teaching, training, and sending gospel-bearing members out as ambassadors for Christ.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEROCF is a ministry body composed of members (regular, associate, honorary) who are all committed to OCF’s Purpose (to glorify God by uniting Christian officers for Biblical fellowship and outreach, equipping and encouraging them to minister effectively in the military society). Regular members determine the direction of our ministry by voting for Council Membersand for changes to the OCF Constitution. Every member of OCF affirmsthe Statement of Faith and the Statement of Participation (to participate actively and prayerfully in the ministry of OCF with my time, talents, spiritual gifts, and financial resources). This chapter addresses the question of why we focus on commissioned military leaders to accomplish the primary laity work of leading OCF fellowships for the good of the entire military community. Our member-led model allows us to have a small staff focused on equipping, encouraging, connecting, and sending OCF members into various areas of service.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERThe family of Christ is commanded to love our neighbor, so that means singles, couples, and children loving “our neighbor” unique to our timeof life. Singles have great freedom in action and can focus on serving one Lord and Master. Marriage, as God gave it to His creation, is between one man and one woman (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6). The blessing of marriage is that the labor of two people is multiplied, and the home becomes a place to develop and grow toward greater effectiveness in outreach. Those who have children get to develop within them a vision that they are part of the parent’s military calling and spiritual work.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEROur enduring and eternal family relationship is that which God has established through His adoption of those of us who belong to Christ. In light of this, we no longer look at one another as acquaintances and friends, but as brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. These relationships define how we do life together.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERChapel programs vary widely among military installations and among the branches of the military, but chapels are generally a place where religious conversations are welcomed and where Christians can serve to make the gospel of Jesus Christ visible. They are great places to grow in appreciation for people from different spiritual, denominational, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. This chapter explores ways to be a representative of Christ wherever you are assigned, ways to support the Command Religious Program (or similar), and how to nest that participation within local church membership.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEROur nation is blessed to have a military chaplaincy, and OCF wants its members to reach out to their chapel staff, build good relationships with them, and seek to bless the chaplain teams whenever possible. We are careful to say that we support the chaplaincy, but we do not ask members to support a particular chaplain or chapel program. Supporting the chaplaincy can be done whether the doctrine and theology of a particular chaplain or religious affairs professional are Christian or not, since they remain responsible for implementing the commander’s religious program.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERMentors need mentees, and mentees need mentors. This two-way process of spurring one another on in Christian faith, specifically in the context of Christian and professional living, is Christian mentoring. This chapter gives ideas for starting, developing, and sustaining a mentoring relationship and for making transitions.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEREnsure you stay connected to Biblical fellowship through a PCS or TDY/TAD. You and your group can use the OCF Directory, OCF staff, and friends who can help connect people in various locations. The habits and rhythm of TDY/TAD locations and new assignments tend to be established in the first days and weeks after arrival, so join a local body to find fellowship and worship right away.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERIt can be overwhelming to think about being the host or facilitator ofa small group Bible study, so this chapter will be an encouragement to facilitators who wrestle with getting a group started on time, ended on time, or staying focused on the Bible text at hand. Prayer time usually needs expectations to be set with an explanation about how to proceed. We want our OCF leaders to be humble yet faithful to sound doctrine, and we need them to keep participants aware of events, retreats, and conferences that might be of interest.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERIf a small group does not already exist, you can lead a PDO to ask God to grow a local OCF fellowship where you live. We challenge you to take a step of faith with others, and in doing so, may you be blessed by those who join in! Every group requires a willing leader to get started.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERSmall Bible study groups develop resilient, maturing Christian believers who grow in their ability to integrate faith into every area of their lives. Lifelong friendships are developed, comfort and encouragement are found, and family bonds are built within small communities sharing the Word and life together.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERIf you are in the military, then you are managing great wealth. Now consider what it means for God to be the owner of every financial asset that He has entrusted to your care. What follows is a brief discussion of using moneyto meet current obligations, to give generously, and to faithfully store up a portion for future expenses.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERThe PDO process emphasizes prayer first, planning second, and obedient action third. This model helps OCF members to be still before God, asking Him for wisdom and direction before future actions are planned out. The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERPrayer is personal and corporate, it is spontaneous and intentional, and it changes us as we lay concerns, griefs, praises, thanks, and supplications before our God who is over all.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEREnduring ministry flows from work that is anchored in the Scriptures. The Bible is a trustworthy, reliable text inspired by God that is useful for all of life. As such, it is the authoritative source for knowing God, His work and promises, and His commandments, and for aligning our lives in obedience to His revelation. Consider buying a well-bound and reliable translation that you expect to use for the rest of your life.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERFollowers of Christ must be ready to give an answer for what they believe, why they live a certain way, and for how they face difficulties with hope. This chapter focuses on evangelism within the context of the military society. You are free to express your beliefs while in uniform, but work place conversations should give no perception of requiring subordinate agreement or implying government endorsement (establishment). Religious expression by military members is protected by the First Amendment under most circumstances.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERChrist-followers are made visible in the way they integrate their faith into every part of their personal and professional lives, expressing confidence that God is working all things according to His plan. We reject attempts to make much of ourselves or of our professional successes, lest we imply failure to those who do not experience temporal success. Our public and private reputations flow from an integrity that can be strengthened by personal reflection expressed in a mission statement, by the public help of your church and peers, by a mentor regularly meeting with you, and especially by living a humble life with those who are closest to you.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERDeveloping lifelong habits for spiritual growth, knowledge of God, obedience to His commands, and faithful ambassadorship requires daily discipline so the worries of each day do not neutralize believers.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERA Christ-like steward-leader is one who thinks, plans, and acts in obedience to our Lord’s directions. The leader will give an account to God for decisions made using His resources and talents. These talents are to be used for the good of others both while in uniform and after uniformed service.The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERThese Pillars express the essential traits of our Fellowship. They speak to what OCF is known for doing, are a summary of OCF priorities, and help give focus to ministry work. You can memorize these pillars using the acronym “CUE LINES.” The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTERWe are a ministry to the military community by those who are serving, or who have served, within the military community so that Biblical fellowship happens around the world in a way that positively impacts the entire military community. This chapter helps you answer, “What makes OCF unique in the military ministry space?” The following three distinctives can help you encourage others to become co-laborers in the OCF body as you articulate our place alongside other ministries. The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.
IN THIS CHAPTEROCF exists to gather Christian military leaders together for Biblical encouragement and growth so the entire military society is impacted positively wherever these leaders serve. Currently serving Christian leaders will be encouraged and helped in their spiritual journey by being connected with the larger body of Christ, especially with those who have served ahead of them. The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.