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Taking Stock of OCF - Part 3
The
"Mainspring" of OCF
Lieutenant General Bruce L. Fister, USAF (Ret.)
Executive Director, Officers' Christian Fellowship
In the December 2004 issue of COMMAND, we discussed the purpose
and vision of OCF. We said that every ministry should have a clearly defined
purpose and when the Lord, through His blessings, allows us to accomplish that
purpose, we move toward fulfillment of our vision. But beyond our purpose, what
really is the "mainspring" or passion of OCF that drives each of us toward
fulfillment of our vision of "a spiritually transformed military?"
In trying to define the "mainspring" of OCF, look at Acts
chapter two. First, the power of the early church clearly came from the Holy
Spirit. Acts 2:2 says, "Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind
came from heaven and filled the whole house. . ."1 Then the fundamental
purposes of the early church are described in verses 42-47, "They devoted
themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and prayer. . . Every day they continued to meet together. . . praising
God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved."2 The early Christians met, ate,
studied, prayed, and worshipped together and the Lord expanded the number that
came to know Him and who were baptized in His name.
This reminds us of how a Spirit-filled OCF Bible fellowship
should look-meeting together, praising God, studying His word, praying, sharing
food, and growing in numbers. It may be officers praying and studying God's
Word in the mess tent or ward room so they can demonstrate the strength of
Christ as they lead men and women aboard ship or before a tough mission in
Iraq. It may be a group of OCF wives from a deployed unit meeting together so
they gain the knowledge, power, and strength to nurture other wives in the
unit. It may be a Bible study for couples or singles on an installation or in a
neighborhood. It may be the fellowship that occurs during a visit to an OCF
conference center or during a cadet or midshipmen retreat. These are all
activities that fulfill the purpose of equipping and encouraging officers and
their families so they can effectively minister in the military society. And
this, I believe, leads to the "mainspring" of OCF.
However, the "mainspring" of OCF lies beneath our purpose. I
think this was best expressed by an OCF field representative when he said we
should, ". . . identify and develop Christian officers who are passionate for
God and who are willing to accept the calling of being Ambassadors for Christ
in the profession of arms as biblical leaders who fight for the souls of all
members of the military society." It is this "mainspring" as led by the Holy
Spirit that I believe is behind all of the OCF activities in which you and I
participate.
There is a distinction between this "mainspring" and our purpose
and the fellowship activities mentioned above. The distinction is that the
"mainspring" is the transition between "identifying and developing Christian
officers and their families who are passionate for God" and the Lord's work
that should occur outside of fellowship activities. It is the transition that
takes us to the next level of "being Ambassadors for Christ in the profession
of arms as biblical leaders who fight for the souls of all members of the
military society." Our OCF activities should identify and develop Christian
cadets, midshipman, officer trainees, and officers and their families for the
Lord's work.
But the real work is outside of our fellowships and other
activities. That work is being Ambassadors for Christ, being Christian examples
in the profession of arms, and being warriors not only for our military
missions, but warriors engaged in the spiritual battles for the souls of all
members of the military society. Has the Holy Spirit been working in your life
and fellowship, and are you "Christian officers, exercising biblical leadership
to raise up a godly military" and "fight for the souls of all members of the
military society?"
- Acts 2:2
- Acts 2:42-47
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