WSS November/December '09 Ministry Report

What brings me back to WSS each time is "Jesus in every aspect of each event."-- Winter Retreat guest

"WSS gives us the peaceful place to rest and receive good, thoughtful teaching."-- Winter Retreat guest

"We enjoyed the chance to pursue God together as a family during our school break instead of all going our own way working on projects, college applications and the other distractions at home."-- Winter Retreat guest

"We can enjoy our time at WSS with no pressure and total enjoyment. It brightens my spirit, gives me joy, refreshes and revives me to face another day. Directs me (us) back closer to God, re-directs and corrects my walk." -- Winter Retreat guest

Priority Obj. 1.2

Implement a mentoring program by which OCF will reproduce itself across generations

OCF member and retired navy chaplain Mark Brown brought a large group of men from All Saints' Church, many of whom were in the military, to a weekend retreat here in November. The Holy Spirit was evident throughout the weekend, and our own staff who attended some of the sessions were greatly encouraged and blessed by these godly men.

Our own Winter Retreat, 21 Dec - 3 Jan, was a great time of disciple making and mentoring among the many who came as guests. Besides great teaching from our four speakers, we on the WSS staff got opportunities to encourage, exhort and pray with numerous OCF members and their families during informal times of discussion and mealtime fellowship. We also had occasion to mentor our young adult winter staff who served here over the Winter Retreat. They were: Lauren Armstrong, Amy Bembeneck, Curtis and Courtney Bowden, Sarah and Hannah Bryan, Heather Campbell, Randy Darden, Christiana Halvorson, Sarah Jones, Michelle and Megan Moore, Joanna Morrison, Bethany Petersen, Kristina Rehberg and Josh Thompson.

Priority Obj. 2.1

Proclaim the Gospel throughout the military society by the example of our lives, particularly our military excellence. Provide members with the necessary tools for an effective ministry outreach into the workplace

We held four sessions of our annual WSS Winter Retreat for a total of 232 guests and 16 winter staff. Four great speakers, Pastor Cecil Washington, Chaplain Guy Lee, USN, Pastor Keith Peck and Dr. Mark Jumper, brought very relevant and challenging messages to the 123 adult guests while our winter staff teachers taught the 109 children. Morning discussions for the adults focused on personal and ministry application of the topics, with sharing of scripture and prayer liberally applied when needed. Numerous special events such as staff open houses, manger service, caroling in the Cove, Christmas and New Year's Eve Communion services, trail rides and sumptuous feasts with assortment of pies made for wonderful family memories among the guests.

Priority Obj. 2.5

Exhort, equip and encourage members to seek opportunities and implement efforts that reach beyond the local fellowship to affect the larger military community for Christ.

Discussion sessions during Winter Retreat focused on applying speakers' topics to life in the military and how to engage the military culture with the gospel of Christ. OCF resources (Command magazine, link up, web sites, etc.) were also mentioned.

Priority Obj. 4.3

Successfully execute the OCF Growing and Building Campaign, achieving all Phase 1 and 2 objectives

We held the Heritage House ground breaking ceremony on Veterans' Day, November 11th, and the design-build contractor, Somerset Steel Erectors, Inc. began actual construction a few days later by beginning the excavation of the building footprint. Joe Orosz, project manager, held two in-progress reviews during December. I presented a progress report on Heritage House construction and the Growing and Building Campaign to each of four Winter Retreat sessions. Foundation and footings are now being dug and soon will be poured as weather permits.

Other Ministry Highlights

During these two months we also hosted Mountain View Community Church couples, numerous bed and breakfast guests, Burke Community Church youth service retreat, I.A.E.C board and our annual Christmas Open House for the local community (about 200 attendees despite bad weather).

Dailey Chandler, WSS Youth Program Director, continued these two months facilitating Youth Leadership Bedford County. We were also blessed by Mrs. Kent who hosted all of us staff families for a super luncheon during which she gave us Christmas presents. What a sweet member of our volunteer community!

By the generosity of the WSS Advisory Committee, Marty and I were able to attend the Christian Camp and Conference Association's National Convention that was held at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs over the end of November and early December. This was a wonderful time of professional instruction, spiritual encouragement and fellowship with other Christian camping staff, and we are deeply grateful to our advisory committee for their help in sending us to this important event. We were also able to visit with our daughter, Joy, and observe her Christmas musical play at First Presbyterian Church where she leads the children's music ministry.

Prayer Requests

Praise God for the progress on Heritage House. Pray for all OCF members to become stakeholders in "declaring His power to the next generations."

Pray for Barb Pensyl as she grieves and adjusts to Don's homegoing. After his death in early December, Barb has been taking a leave of absence, but just today (2 Jan) she came back in to serve as head cook for the first time--a big step. We love her and we'll all miss Don. Please lift up her whole family--Jock, Sue Ellen, their kids and Barb's ward, Carrie.

Pray for our OCF members who are separated because of deployments. Pray for protection and spiritual growth for all our troops and for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pray for many who have and are experiencing PTSD as a result of combat tours.

Praise God for His blessing during our WSS Winter Retreats! Pray that lessons learned will be faithfully applied as guests return to their units, homes, neighborhoods and churches.

Please pray for our son, H, to do well in his PA program at GWU as he heads into his second semester didactic work. Pray for him to find a good church family. It was great to have his visit and good fellowship over the winter retreat timeframe.

Pray for all of us on WSS staff to love and nurture one another in our respective roles, to not grow weary in well doing, and to give Christ first place in our personal and ministry lives.

Warmly in Christ Jesus,
Clay Thomas