Bridges instead of islands: The state of the military sisterhood
Release Date: 09/02/2025
OCF Crosspoint Podcast
Guest Spotlight: Approximately 60% of active-duty officers commission through ROTC programs at more than 1,500 colleges and universities—making campus ministry to cadets and midshipmen a strategic mission field. In this episode of the OCF Crosspoint podcast, we hear from John Hoyman, OCF’s Director of ROTC Ministry and a 30-year Army veteran (Active Duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve), about the renewed vision and momentum in ROTC outreach. John shares his personal connection to OCF, why evangelism and discipleship are central to his vision, what he is witnessing spiritually...
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Guest Spotlight Today’s episode features more of the conversation between Crosspoint host Josh Jackson and Lt Gen Clint Hinote, USAF (Ret.). Within his 35-year career as a fighter pilot, military strategist, and senior leader, Clint also served as a futurist for the Air Force prior to retiring in 2023. He is now a professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. Clint breaks down how to think strategically about the future without getting paralyzed by uncertainty, how to read the signals of change, and how to communicate vision. Whether you're leading in...
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Guest Spotlight Today's episode features a conversation between Crosspoint host Josh Jackson and LTC Brittany Simmons, USA (Ret.). Brittany served 20 years in the Army Military Police Corps, including deployment to Iraq as a platoon leader from 2004-2005. In this episode, Brittany challenges the common individualistic reading of the Armor of God passage in Ephesians 6. Drawing from her combat experience and understanding of Roman military formations, she explains why Paul's analogy was always meant to be understood not only individually, but also collectively—as a unit linking...
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Today’s episode features Col Scott Fisher, USAF (Ret.), who serves as OCF’s CEO and executive director. Throughout his 27 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Scott and his wife Christie were involved in OCF ministry as Local Leaders across the globe, on OCF Council, and to our chaplains. Scott joins Crosspoint host Josh Jackson to share about the meaning of the Christmas story, to address those facing the unique challenges of military life during the holiday season, and to discuss God’s faithfulness to individuals and to the OCF ministry. After also sharing some expectations...
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OCF MINISTRY NEWS Support widows and widowers across OCF this GivingTuesday: Your gift—large or small—directly provides opportunities for widowed members of the OCF family to find comfort, community, and Christ-centered encouragement at our Conference Centers. Visit ocfusa.org/givingtuesday to learn more and donate now. Read the latest Annual Impact Report: Visit ocfusa.org/air to check out financial reports, members’ stories of impact, and year-in-review reports from OCF Service Academy & Gateways, Regional Coordinators, and Conference Centers. ...
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OCF MINISTRY NEWS If you are interested in this opportunity at White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.), contact WSS Center Director Paul Robyn (wssdirector@ocfusa.org) or WSS Director of Hospitality Susanne Pappal (wssoffice@ocfusa.org) or call (814) 623-5583 for further information and an application. Your gift—large or small—directly provides opportunities for widowed members of the OCF family to find comfort, community, and Christ-centered encouragement at our Conference Centers. Visit ocfusa.org/givingtuesday to learn more and donate now. Register for a...
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In the final episode of this Crosspoint Highlights micro-series on leadership, Col Jassen Bluto, USAF (Ret.), shares his third core principle—caring—and what it truly means to care for the people you lead. Far from being sentimental, Bluto explains that genuine care is a leader’s responsibility to meet both the physical and emotional needs of those under their command. Drawing from his military experience, he shares how simple, compassionate acts—like ensuring subordinates have proper equipment or recognizing when someone needs time to regroup—can transform a unit’s morale and...
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In part two of this Crosspoint Highlights micro-series on leadership, Col Jassen Bluto, USAF (Ret.), explores the second core principle—respect—and breaks it down into four key expressions: respect for your unit, for each other, for yourself, and for the authority entrusted to you. He explains that genuine respect begins with love for the people you serve alongside and extends to humility in how you lead them. Bluto cautions against the pride that can accompany rank or privilege, urging leaders instead to see their authority as a responsibility to mentor, develop, and care for others....
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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 Serve as the ministry support volunteer position: Check out the full volunteer listing for details and the application. Calling all female cadets & mids: Connect with your peers via OCF Sisters in Service’s monthly Zoom calls. Find out more on SIS’ Instagram: Register for a Winter Retreat session at one of OCF’s Conference Centers: 20-27...
info_outline- New podcast (subscribe on your favorite podcast app): Anchored & Armed, honest conversations with women navigating faith and military life—whether you're a woman in uniform or love someone who is.
- OCF Sisterhood page: Program information, 3 ways to get involved, upcoming events & resources, OCF Sisterhood team.
OCF MINISTRY NEWS
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Check out and attend any of these local events:
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Aspentime Retreat: 26-28 September at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) https://www.springcanyon.org/aspentime/
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BBQ Bonanza: 3-4 October at Fort Leavenworth (Kan.) https://www.ocfusa.org/event/fall-bbq-bonanza-2025/
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OCF Hampton Roads Region Annual Fall Picnic: 4 October at Fort Monroe, Va. https://evite.me/M6xMVkCshv
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USNA Fall Retreat: 10-13 October at White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.) mailto:usna@ocfusa.org
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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/
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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/
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Help OCF steward its ministry buildings: Email Director of Infrastructure and Facility Management Joe Orosz (joe.orosz@ocfusa.org) to get more information or offer your expertise in master planning, design, construction, and/or facility maintenance. mailto:joe.orosz@ocfusa.org
GUEST SPOTLIGHT
Today you’re going to hear from Kristin “KG” Goodrich, a Navy veteran and OCF’s new director of women’s ministry. KG talks about ministry efforts from her role, the impact of our current cultural climate, and an update about the military sisterhood KG discussed in a 2019 episode of OCF Crosspoint. https://www.ocfusa.org/2019/11/47-goodrich-military-sisterhood/
She mentions a few resources in today's episode: American Bible Society and Planting Roots’ Bible Boot Camp for Military Women and Planting Roots’ Growing Deeper: Spiritual Nourishment for Military Women by Kasey Raia Stout. https://resources.armedservicesministry.org/products/bible-boot-camp-for-military-women https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Deeper-Spiritual-Nourishment-Military/dp/B0FHH4FT6J
Save the date for these events KG mentioned, and keep an eye out for more details and registration links in the coming months:
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Growing Deeper Conference: 31 January at Grace Community Church (Pensacola, Fla.)
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OCF Leading Women Retreat: 20-22 March at White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.)
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Women’s Week of Summer Celebration: 28 June-3 July at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.)
Contact KG via kristin.goodrich@ocfusa.org with any input regarding women’s ministry, and be sure to follow @sisters_in_service_ocf on Instagram, too. https://www.instagram.com/sisters_in_service_ocf/
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/
POINTS TO PONDER
As you listen to this conversation with KG, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:
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What challenges would you say women in the military face today?
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How can you as an individual and OCF as a parachurch ministry support them in those challenges?
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KG talks about a scaffolding approach to her role as OCF's director of women's ministry. How can you take a similar approach to come alongside and mentor the next generation for ministry and service?
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KG also talks about the isolation female officers can sometimes feel when they’re the only one among all male officers. How has finding someone with similar experiences been an encouragement to you?