OCF Crosspoint Podcast

In a recent Crosspoint episode, Josh Jackson and Claire Anderson discussed the "hidden epidemic" of mental health challenges among military kids. In this follow-up conversation, Courtney Burdick hosts three fellow military kids—2LT Dani Volle, USA, ENS Mary Ann Leonard, USN, and Matt Taylor—for a roundtable-style reaction episode.

Having met at White Sulphur Springs, OCF's eastern camp and conference center, they discuss stories from their respective military kid experiences, thoughts on Claire's research, and more.

Have thoughts or want to share your own experience? Reach out to Courtney at [email protected].

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 [email protected].

POINTS TO PONDER

As you listen to this conversation with the brats, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:

1. Which challenge of military life (deployments, moving, role confusion, food insecurity, etc.) has impacted you or someone you know the most, and how did you see God at work in it?
2. What do you think might help military kids and families?
3. What struck you about this conversation?
4. How do you see military culture—often marked by toughness and stoicism—affecting kids' ability to talk about struggles openly?

The July episode of Crosspoint served as Part 1 of a conversation with LTC Lee Robinson, USA, director of the U.S. Military Academy's American Politics Program and an academy professor in the Department of Social Sciences.

We began answering this overarching question—"What does it look like to follow Christ in uniform, when your faith is personal, your authority is public, and the Constitution sets the boundaries?"

In Part 2 we continue this timely discussion on how Christian military leaders can live out their faith with integrity, while respecting the pluralism of today's armed forces.

Lee emphasizes that faith in leadership must never take the form of pressure or compulsion. Drawing from both Scripture and military experience, he outlines the importance of being a faithful witness without overstepping the boundaries of official authority. When senior leaders bring faith into their roles, the question isn't "Can I?" but "Should I?"—and wisdom is key to navigating that tension.

A central focus of this conversation is the principle of religious liberty for all, not just Christians. Lee speaks to the importance of defending others' rights, even when you disagree with their beliefs because a free society depends on reciprocal freedom.

Lastly, Lee offers both encouragement and challenge to Christian leaders: You won't get this balance perfect. But grace, humility, and a deep dependence on God are essential as you try to be salt and light in a diverse military environment.

This episode does a pretty good job of standing on its own, but we do encourage you to go back and listen to part 1 to get the full context of the conversation.

Key points from the conversation

• Coercion and leadership don't mix. Your influence as a Christian officer must be grounded in love and respect, not pressure.
• Religious liberty is for everyone. Defending others' freedoms strengthens your own witness and integrity.
• Wisdom matters. Just because something is legally allowed doesn't always mean it's wise or helpful in a given leadership context.
• Mistakes will happen. What matters most is how you respond—with humility, grace, and a willingness to grow.

Questions to ponder

1. How can you create a culture in your unit where spiritual questions and discussions are welcome but never forced?
2. Are there moments where your leadership presence might unintentionally signal pressure around faith?
3. What does it look like to advocate for religious freedom in a way that honors others' beliefs?
4. How do you respond when you realize you didn't strike the right balance between faith and official duty?
5. What role does humility play in spiritual leadership?

OCF MINISTRY NEWS

• Become findable on the OCF Directory: Visit ocfusa.org/list-me to add or update your group's information on our online directory of Bible studies.
• Apply for Spring Canyon's Deputy Center Director opening: Check out the job description and apply NLT 15 August.
• Check out our new Widowed Ministry webpage: Visit ocfusa.org/widowed-ministry/ to access helpful resources, invitations to fellowship, and scholarship funding for summer programs at the Conference Centers.

GUEST SPOTLIGHT

Why is mentoring important to the Christian in the military? Answering that question and others in this episode are COL Jim Brown, USA (Ret.), and Navy veteran and OCF Director of Women's Ministry Kristin "KG" Goodrich.

Jim and KG discuss the unique elements of Christian mentoring, their own personal experiences with mentors or mentees, and how military culture might create challenges to the idea of mentoring, among other topics.

Mentoring has always been part of OCF's DNA—from prayer and accountability to sharing wisdom across generations. Check out our Mentoring Program page, which offers a structured approach to equipping Christian military leaders to grow in their faith and leadership while walking alongside others.

Whether you feel called to invest in someone else's journey—or you're looking for someone to invest in yours—we invite you to get involved.

If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF's "Be a Guest" webpage for consideration. 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 [email protected].

POINTS TO PONDER

As you listen to this conversation with KG and Jim, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:

1. How would you define mentoring, and what have your experiences as a mentor or mentee been like?
2. In what areas of your life might you most benefit from having a mentor?
3. How might God be equipping you to mentor others around you?
4. What barriers might you see to mentoring, and how can you go about overcoming those?

Guest: LTC Lee Robinson, USA

In this Crosspoint Highlight from July 2025, LTC Lee Robinson explores the delicate balance military leaders must strike between free exercise of religion and non-establishment under the First Amendment.

He emphasizes that the amendment's brevity—and its ambiguity—stem from the compromises between Federalists and Anti-Federalists at the time of America's founding. Lee explains how the language evolved, rejecting broader proposals like prohibiting any laws "touching religion" to avoid overly limiting the federal government.

He encourages military leaders to wrestle with the historical context and constitutional principles behind the First Amendment to better understand their own oath to support and defend the Constitution, particularly in gray areas where religion intersects with public duty.

What do you think?

How does understanding the historical compromise behind the First Amendment help shape your approach to religious liberty in leadership?

What practical steps can you take as a military leader to uphold both the free exercise of religion and the principle of non-establishment?

Guest: LTC Lee Robinson, USA

In this Crosspoint Highlight from July 2025, LTC Lee Robinson tackles the complex question: Was America founded as a Christian nation?

Lee draws a distinction between the first founding (e.g., Puritan colonies with explicitly religious laws) and the constitutional founding rooted in liberty and freedom of conscience.

He explains that while America's early cultural fabric was deeply influenced by Christianity, the U.S. Constitution intentionally avoided establishing a state religion—rejecting even a proposed religious test in Article VI.

Citing Alexis de Tocqueville, Lee paints a vivid picture of early Americans shaped by both faith and civic engagement, underscoring the enduring impact of Christian values on the nation's moral habits, even if not enshrined in its legal foundation.

What do you think?

What does the balance between personal faith and civic freedom look like for Christian leaders today?

OCF MINISTRY NEWS

• Sign up for summer programs at the Conference Centers: Visit ocfusa.org/CCexperience to find the right program and week for you at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) or White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.). https://www.ocfusa.org/CCexperience/

• Consider your next steps at the Caleb Challenge Career Transition Strategies Workshop (12-14 September): Visit White Sulphur Springs' website to learn more about and sign up for this impactful weekend. https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/event/caleb-challenge-career-transition-strategies-workshop/

• Update your information and stay connected: Whether it's your address, military status, rank, contact information, or something else, take 30 seconds to let us know via the Update My Info form. https://www.ocfusa.org/update/

• Check out Crosspoint Highlights: Don't miss our new episode format, designed to share just a portion of a previously posted podcast for an encouraging listen even when you're short on time. Find Crosspoint Highlights wherever you get your podcasts.

GUEST SPOTLIGHT

What does it look like to follow Christ in uniform? LTC Lee Robinson, USA, director of the U.S. Military Academy's American Politics Program and an academy professor in the Department of Social Sciences, joins the podcast to address questions like this.

Hailing from Georgia and having graduated from West Point in 2000, Lee now teaches and researches topics like civil-military relations and organizational leadership. In this episode, Lee shares about the cadet ministry that takes place through USMA OCF, led by Field Staff Bob & Tracy Phillips, then dives into complex topics ranging from balancing personal and professional choices to studying the United States' historical approach to religion.

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 [email protected]. https://www.ocfusa.org/podcastguest/

POINTS TO PONDER

As you listen to this conversation with Lee, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:

1. Why is it important to understand the historical context of the First Amendment?

1. How does the vague language of the First Amendment impact us today?

1. As you listen to Lee's example of the company commander with the cross on his desk, how would you respond if you were in Lee's position?

1. How do you think you balance your private and public personas?

1. What do you learn from Jesus' example of rejecting political power?

1. "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity." How does this quote from seventeenth-century German Lutheran theologian Rupertus Meldenius tie into today's conversation?

1. In what ways can your life be an example of the gospel and the work of Christ?

1. What Scriptures shape your leadership philosophy, even in ways that might be subtle to the non-believer?

1. Where's the line between encouraging religion and morality and compelling it?

1. What can we learn from the Founding Fathers as they faced tension and disagreement regarding the government's approach to religion?

1. Lee explains that "liberty is freedom to follow laws and freedom of conscience." What are your thoughts on this definition?

1. Why is it important to understand not only what the Constitution says but also why it says what it does?

Information about Summer R&R 7 at White Sulphur Springs, and speaker LtGen Clint Hinote, USAF (Ret.):

About the Topic: Wherever we are, God calls us to lead. He calls us to lead ourselves, our families, our units, our communities, and our culture. The Bible contains many accounts of leaders, including stories about their successes and failures. In this session, we will examine Biblical leaders and learn from their experiences. We will celebrate the good and be honest about the bad. In doing so, we will seek practical truths we can apply to our lives because we can always learn and grow as leaders.

About the Speaker: Clint retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2023 after a 35-year career as a fighter pilot, military strategist, and senior leader. In his last assignment, he served as the futurist for the Air Force, responsible for creating the vision for the future force. He now writes and speaks on defense reform and leadership. He also teaches leadership and policy implementation at RAND's School of Public Policy.

Links:

• Direct registration link: http://www.ultracamp.com/info/sessiondetail.aspx?idCamp=294&campCode=wss&idSession=495759
• WSS Summer R&R page: https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/summer-rnr/
• Spring Canyon Summer Celebration page: https://www.springcanyon.org/summer-celebration/

OCF MINISTRY NEWS

• Sign up for summer programs at the Conference Centers: Visit ocfusa.org/CCexperience to find the right program and week for you at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) or White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.). https://www.ocfusa.org/CCexperience/

• Connect with OCFers at USNA and USAFA:

• OCF at USAFA: Pre-Inprocessing Day Reception (Class of 2029), 24 June, Monument, Colo. https://www.ocfusa.org/event/ocf-at-usafa-pre-inprocessing-day-reception-class-of-2029/

• USNA OCF: Class of 2029 Open House, 25 June, Annapolis, Md. https://www.ocfusa.org/event/usna-ocf-class-of-2029-open-house/

• Volunteer as a Local Leader at one of these locations: Columbus AFB, Fort Campbell, Fort Drum, Fort Eisenhower, Fort Jackson, Fort Riley, Fort Stewart / Hunter AAF, Goodfellow AFB, JB Charleston, MCAS Beaufort, MCB Quantico, Norwich University, NSB New London / Groton, Schofield Barracks / Wheeler AAF, Sheppard AFB, Texas A&M University, The Citadel, Tyndall AFB, University of North Georgia, USCG Air Station and Base Kodiak, USCG Air Station Miami, USCG District 11 and Base Alameda, USCG District 13 and Base Seattle, USCG Sector Key West, USCG Sector St. Petersburg, USCG Station Port Canaveral, Virginia Tech. When you are ready to volunteer, complete our quick List Me form so that members can find you on the OCF Directory and OCF staff can equip you based on local needs. https://www.ocfusa.org/list-me/

• Help OCF steward its ministry buildings: Email Director of Infrastructure and Facility Management Joe Orosz ([email protected]) to get more information or offer your expertise in master planning, design, construction, and/or facility maintenance. mailto:[email protected]

GUEST SPOTLIGHT

Today's guest spotlight features Claire Anderson, a military child and new graduate of Liberty University. Claire joins the podcast to talk about the military kid experience, informed by her own upbringing and her recent honors thesis, titled "Analysis of the At-Risk Mental Health of Military Children and Proposed Intervention Plans To Be Implemented by Mental Health Professionals."

Having gotten connected to OCF through friends as a freshman in high school, Claire shares how her summers at White Sulphur Springs, particularly her work with youths attending the Camp Caleb program, piqued her interest in the military child experience. She and Josh discuss some statistics from her thesis research, connections to The Performance Paradox: The Unexpected Way to Grind Less, Grow More, and Unlock Success by Eduardo Briceño, and a Biblical view of trials.

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 [email protected].

POINTS TO PONDER

As you listen to this conversation with Claire, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:

1. If you've grown up in the military and/or raised children in the military, what of your own firsthand or secondhand experiences relate to what Claire discussed today?

1. How did the statistics shared during this episode impact you?

1. What factors of the military lifestyle have you seen contribute to low mental health, and how might you work to address and/or mitigate those factors?

1. Claire's thesis and interview talks about taking a "strengths-based perspective," and Josh mentions Romans 5:3-4, too. How can our relationship with Jesus transform our view of trials we may experience?

Crosspoint Highlights: Big ideas, short episodes … for your busy schedule

Guests: Joshua and Lindsey Bowen

From Episode 54: "The importance of small group fellowship." Listen to the full episode here.

Highlight Summary:

In this Crosspoint Highlight, Joshua and Lindsey Bowen reflect on the lasting impact of biblical community, mentorship, and servant leadership during their time in the military. They share how their early experiences in a diverse OCF small group at Fort Carson shaped their spiritual maturity and inspired them to pour into cadets at West Point years later. From late-night Bible studies to one-on-one mentoring moments, Josh and Lindsey offer a deeply personal look at how fellowship across generations can transform lives and prepare future military leaders for both spiritual and professional challenges.

• Find an OCF group near you
• Find out more about Christian mentoring

Key Takeaways:

• Intergenerational fellowship fosters growth: Being surrounded by older couples in their Fort Carson group helped Josh and Lindsey mature spiritually and understand what Christlike leadership looks like in marriage, military life, and beyond.
• Mentorship happens in everyday moments: Watching how mentors cared for their spouses, shared struggles, and modeled vulnerability left a deep and lasting impression on the Bowens—one they now strive to replicate.
• Leading means serving: As small group leaders at West Point, Josh and Lindsey invest time, energy, and emotional bandwidth into cadets—not just during Bible study, but through desserts, coffee chats, and showing up when it matters most.
• Spiritual black holes are real: Without proactive preparation, cadets can find themselves spiritually adrift after graduation. Josh shares candidly how his own post-academy faith stagnated, and how he now helps cadets plan ahead to avoid the same pitfall.
• God equips those He calls: Lindsey never saw herself in women's ministry or spiritual mentorship—until someone invited her. Now she thrives in that space, walking alongside young women facing challenges she never imagined when she was in their shoes.

OCF MINISTRY NEWS

• Sign up for summer programs at the Conference Centers: Visit ocfusa.org/CCexperience to find the right program and week for you at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) or White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.). https://www.ocfusa.org/CCexperience/

• Free Bible studies for OCFers and groups: Visit ocfusa.org/library to download, dive in, and leave a rating to help others discover one of these 18 impactful resources. https://www.ocfusa.org/library/

• Help us keep the OCF community connected: If you or someone in your OCF circle has celebrated a birth, wedding, or experienced a loss since 1 March, please send updates to Courtney Burdick ([email protected]) for the next issue of our print newsletter.

• Introducing Crosspoint Highlights: Don't miss our new episode format, designed to share just a portion of a previously posted podcast for an encouraging listen even when you're short on time. Find Crosspoint Highlights wherever you get your podcasts.

GUEST SPOTLIGHT

Today's guest spotlight features COL Kurt & Donna Schosek, USA (Ret.), who share their stories of hope through grief as they each lost a spouse before meeting and marrying one another. They talk about what surprised them most in the midst of their respective loss, GriefShare, the importance of community, what hurts, what helps, and more. https://www.griefshare.org/

They both have a heart to walk alongside those who have lost their spouses in any season of life, and the Schoseks will do just that later this year when they serve as speakers during the Summer R&R #6 program at White Sulphur Springs. https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/event/summer-rnr-6/

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 [email protected].

POINTS TO PONDER

As you listen to this conversation with Kurt and Donna, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:

1. If you've lost a loved one before, what helped you in the midst of your grief?

1. How would you describe what it means to grieve well?

1. What are your takeaways from the Schoseks about how you can care for others as they grieve?

1. What Bible passages comfort you most during loss?