OCF Crosspoint Podcast

"Anchored & armed": Meet podcast hosts Naomi & Mackenzie / December 2025

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. https://www.ocfusa.org/givingtuesday/ [https://www.ocfusa.org/givingtuesday/] * 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. https://www.ocfusa.org/air/ [https://www.ocfusa.org/air/] * Join OCFers in prayer: Visit ocfusa.org/pip to download the current month's prayer list or ocfusa.org/needprayer to submit a prayer request. https://www.ocfusa.org/pip/ [https://www.ocfusa.org/pip/] https://www.ocfusa.org/needprayer/ [https://www.ocfusa.org/needprayer/] Register for a Winter Retreat session at one of OCF's Conference Centers: * 20-27 December, 28 December-4 January at Spring Canyon in Buena Vista, Colo. https://www.springcanyon.org/winter-retreat/ [https://www.springcanyon.org/winter-retreat/] * 21-26 December, 27-30 December, 30 December-2 January at White Sulphur Springs in Manns Choice, Pa. https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/winter-retreat/ [https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/winter-retreat/] GUEST SPOTLIGHT Today's episode features two individuals—Naomi and Mackenzie—whose voices you'll hear more in the future as they begin hosting a new podcast called "OCF Anchored & Armed." Naomi lives at Edwards Air Force Base with her active-duty husband and their three kids, while Mackenzie is a first lieutenant stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Naomi and Mackenzie discuss their inspiration for the upcoming podcast designed for Christian women in uniform and military wives, share their passion for encouraging other women in the military community, participate in Crosspoint's first-ever lightning round, and more. Interested in connecting with them? You can send an email to anchored@ocfusa.org [anchored@ocfusa.org]. And keep an eye out for the Google Form that will be featured in the show notes of each OCF Anchored & Armed episode to come. OCF Anchored & Armed launches in January 2026. 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/ [https://www.ocfusa.org/podcastguest/] POINTS TO PONDER As you listen to this conversation with Naomi and Mackenzie, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor: 1. Thinking of Hebrews 6:19, what does it mean to you to be "anchored and armed" in Christ? 2. What helps you feel connected to others who come from similar walks of life? 3. What difference does that connection make?

"No perfect leaders, no perfect lives": Five common qualities of Biblical leaders / November 2025

OCF MINISTRY NEWS Apply for the youth program manager position: [https://www.ocfusa.org/job/youth-programs-coordinator-white-sulphur-springs/] 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. Support widows and widowers across OCF this GivingTuesday: [https://www.ocfusa.org/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. Register for a Winter Retreat session at one of OCF's Conference Centers: * 20-27 December, 28 December-4 January at Spring Canyon in Buena Vista, Colo. [https://www.springcanyon.org/winter-retreat/] * 21-26 December, 27-30 December, 30 December-2 January at White Sulphur Springs in Manns Choice, Pa. [https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/winter-retreat/] GUEST SPOTLIGHT Today's episode continues the conversation between Crosspoint host Josh Jackson and Lt Gen Clint Hinote, USAF (Ret.). Listen to part 1 here. [https://www.ocfusa.org/2025/10/good-leadership-lifts-others-practical-truths-for-biblical-leadership-part-1-october-2025/] In this portion, Clint talks about common qualities of Biblical leaders, the cost of leadership, prayer habits, and practical advice. He closes the episode with reminders that the Lord works in and through imperfect leaders, and an openness to answer His calls to lead may bring great cost but may also bring great reward. If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF's "Be a Guest" webpage [https://www.ocfusa.org/podcastguest/]. 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. POINTS TO PONDER As you listen to this conversation with Clint, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor: 1. What leaders in the Bible do you admire and why? 2. How does the way God used broken leaders in Scripture encourage you to lead for His glory despite your own brokenness? 3. Which of the five principles Clint mentions do you struggle with most? 4. In the midst of your leadership role(s), how would you describe your prayer life? 5. How is the cost of leadership actually a cost for everyone? 6. Have you felt isolated as a leader? How did you work through that?

Leadership Micro-series: A leader's responsibility to care for people / Crosspoint Highlights

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 trust. Rooted in a Christ-centered approach to leadership, Bluto reminds listeners that when leaders genuinely care for their people, they strengthen both the mission and the hearts of those who serve alongside them. If you'd like to listen to the full interview, titled "Practice what we profess: Three leadership principles for the Christian in the military," it can be found here. [https://www.ocfusa.org/2023/10/practice-what-we-profess-three-leadership-principles-for-the-christian-in-the-military/]

Leadership Micro-series: Four attributes of respect / Crosspoint Highlights

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. Through stories and reflection, he illustrates how leaders who model humility and honor those they lead can transform struggling teams, cultivate trust, and ultimately glorify God through their leadership. If you'd like to listen to the full interview, titled "Practice what we profess: Three leadership principles for the Christian in the military," it can be found here. [https://www.ocfusa.org/2023/10/practice-what-we-profess-three-leadership-principles-for-the-christian-in-the-military/]

Leadership Micro-series: Being a trustworthy leader / Crosspoint Highlights

In this first part of the Crosspoint Highlights micro-series on leadership, Col Jassen Bluto, USAF (Ret.), unpacks the foundational principle of trust. He explains that true leadership requires both character and competence: the moral integrity that inspires confidence and the professional skill that earns respect. Drawing from personal experience as a squadron commander, Bluto discusses how accountability, care for people, and technical excellence work together to build trust within a team. He shares real-life examples of mentoring, correction, and difficult personnel decisions, showing that trustworthy leadership isn't about authority or manipulation, but about inspiring others through consistency, humility, and faithfulness in both life and work. If you'd like to listen to the full interview, titled "Practice what we profess: Three leadership principles for the Christian in the military," it can be found here. [https://www.ocfusa.org/2023/10/practice-what-we-profess-three-leadership-principles-for-the-christian-in-the-military/]