WSS June '10 Ministry Report

"We had a wonderful time at Anchor Points. Thank you for inviting and allowing us to spend the week with you. Thank you again for your marvelous ministry and hospitality."-- attendee during 'Anchor Points' leadership week

"Thank you for letting me come serve on support staff these past two weeks! I have had a wonderful time. Thank you for your selfless service to military families. You are such a wonderful blessing. I'm planning on coming next year."-- high-school support teamer at Summer Family Camp (SFC)

"We can't just do a weekend! (This week was) like a cruise without being seasick."-- Family Camp guest

Priority Obj. 1.2

Foster mentoring relationships which will allow OCF members to reproduce themselves across generations:
a. Empowering senior leaders and retirees to come alongside and encourage the current generation in the "trenches."
b. Developing programs and materials that help OCF members develop future leaders through example, instruction and mentoring.

Mentor couples included Eric & Sally Robyn and Mike & Peggy Tesdahl during the first two weeks of Summer Family Camp (SFC). Allegheny Outback! (AO) staff arrived on 31 May and, after a week of training and team building by Dailey Chandler, conducted the first three AO's of the summer as well as a week of "Outback" for military teens. Camp Caleb (CC) staff arrived on 9 June and led the first two weeks of camp for 5th through 8th graders. The rest of the Senior Staff arrived on 12 June, undergoing a week of intense training, orientation and team building by the Ministry Team for the purpose of glorifying the Lord through their various summer responsibilities. Facilitators Bob and "Sam" Uber were very effective in challenging these young leaders to maturity in Christ for a full summer of hard work.

Priority Obj. 1.3

Identify, communicate, and implement programs and culturally relevant methods across OCF that meet biblically sound fellowship needs and enhance personal growth and effective ministry outreach.

Pastor Greg St. Cyr of Bay Area Community Church led a wonderful week on a study of "Ruth--a story of redemption", instructing the 14 families present for the first week of SFC that in His "chesed" (Heb.) lovingkindness, God providentially orchestrates the circumstances of our lives for His glory and our ultimate good.

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.

During the second week of SFC, the Anchor Points speaking team of Mike & Peggy Tesdahl and Rich & Sue Goldsmith led the 9 invited couples and four others to consider God's call for us to be "ambassadors for Christ" and entreat our fellow officers and their mates, through us, His gospel message of reconciliation to and the call to step up to leadership opportunities in OCF.

Priority Obj. 3.3

Train and equip local OCF leaders to teach and support biblical marriage and family.

Interesting objective in light of the discussion during Anchor Points week of our call to be salt and light when policies change regarding traditional biblical marriage.

Priority Obj. 4.3

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

During each week of SFC, I have led a briefing and tour of Heritage House that totally excites guests' imagination and expectation of the future possibilities as we move into the new building in spring/summer, 2011.

Other Ministry Highlights

We are having a record summer of attendance! This is a great praise and appears to be signaling a major "turning of the corner" as the effect of the reality of Heritage House is being felt among so many in OCF. God is to be praised, and we are to remain faithful and diligent to plan for increase utilization and growth into the future.

Prayer Requests

Praise God for great progress on Heritage House and for reaching 100% of the Phase I goal of $7.8M at White Sulphur Springs. Pray for all OCF members to continue as stakeholders in "declaring His power to the next generations" by participating in Phase II objective of raising funds for needed expansion at Spring Canyon.

Pray for all our troops who are separated because of deployments. Pray for their protection and spiritual growth and for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pray for marriages and families to grow stronger through the hardships of deployments.

Please pray for our son, H, to do well in his PA program at GWU as he works through his year of clinical rotations at various medical facilities in the east.

Pray for WSS Senior Staff to stay strong and depend on Christ as they complete their summer program responsibilities.

Pray for all the speakers for Summer Family Camp. Pray also for our mentor couples and us on WSS staff to be able to discern needs among our summer guests--to see beyond the surface and minister in the love of Christ.

In His Grace,
Clay Thomas