“Declaring His power to the next generation...”Psalm 71:18

Growing Together, Building the Future

“Declaring His power to the next generation...”Psalm 71:18

Growing Together, Building the Future

The familiar clanging of the old bell resonates throughout the property—echoing off sheer

rock cliffs, across small ponds stocked with trout, and through stands of aspen and pine.

It’s mealtime at OCF’s Spring Canyon Conference Center, where 165 hungry guests and

staff crowd into the dining hall and onto the outdoor deck of Hartley Holmes Lodge. They

have come to this spiritual depot to be refreshed—weary from the exhausting operational

tempo of life in today’s military society. They cluster in groups of seven, eight, and

sometimes nine around the dining tables, always willing to make room for a familiar face

or a new friend.

There’s nothing quite like big, family-style meals filled with good food and conversation.

When you gather for a meal, you receive more than physical nourishment—the dining

table is a place where people come together to share life. It’s a place where the family of

Christ comes together in His name.

Just west of Buena Vista, Colorado

“Wonderful, great home-cooked food, beautiful and housewarming facilities. Can’t wait to come back and thanks for the refreshment.”

—UsaFa Cadet Retreat participant 3

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Growing Together,Building the Future

On this day, the retreat center is at maximum capacity. Tables that normally seat six or

eight must add an extra chair, maybe two, because the 40-year-old dining room, which

adequately seats only 124, is no longer able to meet the needs of those who need it most.

Once the chairs in the dining hall are filled, guests or staff will need to find room on the

outdoor deck. The overcrowded room also severely limits handicap accessibility, a vital

necessity for our wounded warriors and elderly guests. Mentoring and bonding between

staff and guests is stifled when the two groups don’t have room to mingle. Experiencing

genuine fellowship around the dining table loses some sense of the familial bonds of

fellowship enjoyed by the body of Christ.

In the snowy months, the retreat center must limit the number of guests and groups

to less than 145 because there isn’t enough room to feed everyone indoors. This means

Spring Canyon will turn away groups, resulting in lost relationships, lost ministry, and lost

revenue. Thankfully, the weather on this day is warm and accommodating for those forced

to find a seat outdoors.

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Days like this are why we decided a decade ago to pray and seek God’s wisdom and guidance

in growing and building the OCF Conference Center ministry.

Growing and Building

That phrase became the name of the capital campaign ten years ago, when the

membership of Officers’ Christian Fellowship came together in 40 days of prayer and

fasting before God to seek His will and direction for the ministry. God placed Psalm 71:18

in the hearts and minds of the first campaign committee—“Declaring His power to the

next generation”—to serve as a reminder that He will guide us, that He is faithful…that

His name will be proclaimed and glorified to all generations.

Since 2005, God has graciously prompted more than 2,300 OCF members and friends

to provide over $10 million for the much-needed expansions and upgrades to our two

conference centers. These new facilities have doubled our guest capacities at both Spring

Canyon and White Sulphur Springs along with improving our utility infrastructure and

minimizing our environmental impact.

Look What God Has Done Through You Since 2005 2005: OCF Council approves the Growing and Building Campaign2006: OCF launches Growing and Building Campaign2007: OCF members engage in 40 days of prayer and fasting2008: OCF holds groundbreaking for Hemingway Operations Complex

at Spring Canyon2009: Hemingway Operations Complex construction is completed2009: OCF holds groundbreaking for Heritage House at White Sulphur Springs2010: Growing and Building focus shifts to Spring Canyon Phase2011: Heritage House is dedicated at White Sulphur Springs, and Hemingway

Operations Complex is dedicated at Spring Canyon2012: Wastewater treatment plant is built at Spring Canyon2012: OCF holds groundbreaking for Veterans Memorial Lodge at Spring Canyon2013: Spring Canyon installs handicap chair lift in Hartley Holmes Lodge2013: OCF holds Veterans Memorial Lodge dedication and groundbreaking for new

Fort Shine Lodge at Spring Canyon2014: Fort Shine Lodge opens and original Fort Shine is re-commissioned as

Cornerstone Lodge (Spring Canyon sees 8,818 guest days, marking the highest number in its 53-year history)

2015: Spring Canyon is now able to lodge up to 200 guests, but needs 75 extra seats in the dining room to accommodate all of them

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It’s an opportunity to expect even more of God.

Funding the expansion of the Hartley Holmes Lodge and the dining room to seat and feed

200 guests at Spring Canyon is our next big initiative. It’s a call to look at God’s gracious

provision these past ten years and to expect more—for each of us to depend on Him, to see

Him work, to build our faith, and to complete the work He calls us to.

Physically, the final push of the campaign means building a larger dining room. It means

growing our capacity by nearly double, allowing us the ability to multiply the number of

different groups we can serve at any given time and eliminating the logistical challenges

of trying to feed so many in a room where every inch is filled to its limit. It means more

tables and chairs, more lighting and carpet, and more wood and cement.

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But spiritually, the campaign carries an even greater significance as we build truth into

people’s lives, helping them integrate faith and profession and equipping them to grow

into the Christian military leaders God intended. Suddenly, the dining table carries a

deeper meaning.

It’s a place where families grow stronger. Where bonds are nurtured. It’s a place where

friendships begin. Where old friends come together after being apart. It’s a place where

fellowship occurs. Where discovery and learning take place.

And that means your partnership is about more than just the outward, tangible expansion

of a building. It’s an investment in the hearts and lives of people. It means more fellowship

to be had, more friendship to be kindled, more life-changing connections with God and

with each other.

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It’s exciting to see what God is doing through OCF.

Please join us in seeing the Growing and Building Campaign to completion.

Join us in praying. Join us in giving. Join us in building for the generations to come.

OCF’s PURPOsE

To glorify God by uniting Christian officers for biblical fellowship and outreach, equipping and encouraging them to minister effectively in the military society. 15

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For more information about the Growing and Building Campaign, visit our website:

http://growingandbuilding.ocfusa.org

3784 South Inca Street • Englewood, Colorado 80110 • 800-761-1984 • http://growingandbuilding.ocfusa.org