WSS March '10 Ministry Report"I wanted you to know that (our son) returned to Ft. Hood safely after his 12 month tour in Iraq. He will be spending part of his block leave up here with me. He still talks of you and his fond memories of retreats and summer at WSS! Who knows, you may see him sometime in the future!! May God continue to bless you as you minister to our nation's military families."-- Former attendee upon reading "The Wellspring"
Priority Obj. 1.2Foster mentoring relationships which will allow OCF members to reproduce themselves
across generations: Quantico ladies met here for the first weekend of March and had a great retreat program of sharing joys and trials of marine family life -- older women teaching younger women according to God's word. Priority Obj. 1.3Identify, communicate, and implement programs and culturally relevant methods across OCF that meet biblically sound fellowship needs and enhance personal growth and effective ministry outreach. We hosted the Carlisle Barracks Chapel and OCF community for their annual retreat here at the end of the month. As always, they and we had a wonderful time of fellowship and growth in Christ as General "Van" and Paula VanAntwerp brought the Good News in their typically powerful way. It was a "full house", and numerous couples stayed outside of WSS and commuted to the meetings from a nearby motel. The weekend ended all too quickly, but many first-timers took back with them fond memories of fun family times, spiritual growth, recreation and fellowship. This retreat is always a favorite group for us on the WSS staff. Jef and Debbie Troxell did a great job of planning and executing it along with their team of helpers from Carlisle. Priority Obj. 2.5Exhort, equip and encourage members to seek opportunities and implement efforts that reach beyond the local fellowship to affect the larger military community for Christ. Six Christian couples of the West Point class of 2000 met here for a reunion retreat, sharing Christ's love with one another and their growing families. This weekend afforded them an opportunity to sharpen one another in their walks with Christ and outreach in His name. Priority Obj. 3.3Train and equip local OCF leaders to teach and support biblical marriage and family. See Obj 1.3 above. Priority Obj. 4.3Successfully execute the OCF Growing and Building Campaign, achieving all Phase 1 and 2 objectives I continue to brief all groups that come to WSS of the need to support the project. I took the Carlisle Barracks retreat group up to the construction site, shared their excitement at seeing the progress and led a group prayer for God's blessing on the project. Somerset Steel Erectors, our design-build firm, has done a super job of keeping the construction on track as we have moved into the spring season. Project manager, Joe Orosz, met with the contractor and OCF members of the Construction Committee on site at the end of the month to review the progress. The foundation footings are complete, and basement foundation walls are 80% complete. The erection of structural steel will begin this next week. We continue to post construction photos on our Facebook page (White Sulphur Springs). Please continue to pray and encourage giving so that we may meet the $7.8M goal and move ahead into phase II for needed facilities at Spring Canyon. The construction committee continues to meet bi-weekly via telephone conference to coordinate and direct the project, and Joe Orosz continues to give his time faithfully to the effort both at WSS and Spring Canyon. To God be the glory; great things He has done and is doing! Other Ministry HighlightsAbner Beiler (Amish) and three sons continued work to stabilize and rehab the Promise Barn during four weeks of this month. They have done an amazing job of saving this historical treasure and making it both beautiful and functional. Remaining work to be done includes installing flooring, rain gutters and front sliding door. This is a big project, and we are grateful for those who have contributed to the "barn fund" to make it happen! Marty and I were privileged to attend the OCF farewell dinner for LtGen Bruce and Melissa Fister held in Denver on 5 March. Many friends and ministry partners joined in tribute to God's work in this special couple who have led OCF for the past ten years. The WSS Advisory Committee met during the second weekend of the month. We were blessed to have COL Mike Tesdahl, USA (Ret.), OCF Executive Director, attending the meeting. Mike gave an overview and welcome from the Home Office and also got a chance to hear the staff reports and concerns of the committee. Chairman Eric Kail led the meeting that was held on Friday evening and Saturday morning. We concluded with a van tour of the construction site and the Promise Barn work. We remain very thankful for these committed ministry partners! Prayer RequestsPraise God for the progress on Heritage House! Pray for Steve (site superintendent) whose son is in Afghanistan. Pray for all OCF members to become stakeholders in "declaring His power to the next generations", and that all the remaining Phase I funds will be pledged/given. Pray for the Bennas, a local Christian family who just lost their 22-year-old son this week. Pray for our OCF members who are separated because of deployments. Pray for their protection and spiritual growth and for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please pray for our son, H, to do well in his PA program at GWU as he prepares for final exams. Pray for a safe delivery for our daughter, Christa Dittmar, as she is due in April. Pray for WSS Senior Staff who have been selected to serve this summer, and that we on the WSS ministry team will guide them well in preparation for their service to Christ. Pray for God to give them a selfless heart for ministry and peace regardless of the position for which they were selected. With many thanks and prayers, |