Bridges instead of islands: The state of the military sisterhood

UPDATED: January 2026   New podcast (subscribe on your favorite podcast app): Anchored & Armed, honest conversations with women navigating faith and military life—whether you're a woman in uniform or love someone who is. OCF Sisterhood page: Program information, 3 ways to get involved, upcoming events & resources, OCF Sisterhood team. OCF MINISTRY NEWS  Check out and attend any of these local events:   Aspentime Retreat: 26-28 September at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.) https://www.springcanyon.org/aspentime/   BBQ Bonanza: 3-4 October at Fort Leavenworth (Kan.) https://www.ocfusa.org/event/fall-bbq-bonanza-2025/   OCF Hampton Roads Region Annual Fall Picnic: 4 October at Fort Monroe, Va. https://evite.me/M6xMVkCshv  USNA Fall Retreat: 10-13 October at White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.) mailto:[email protected]  OCF Mid-Atlantic Fall Retreat: 14-16 November at White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.) https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/event/ocf-mid-atlantic-fall-retreat/   Start an OCF small group: Read Rich's article, full of practical guidance to help you take the next step. https://www.ocfusa.org/2011/01/starting-ocf-small-group-fellowship-2/   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 you're going to hear from Kristin "KG" Goodrich, a Navy veteran and OCF's new director of women's ministry. KG talks about ministry efforts from her role, the impact of our current cultural climate, and an update about the military sisterhood KG discussed in a 2019 episode of OCF Crosspoint. https://www.ocfusa.org/2019/11/47-goodrich-military-sisterhood/   She mentions a few resources in today's episode: American Bible Society and Planting Roots' Bible Boot Camp for Military Women and Planting Roots' Growing Deeper: Spiritual Nourishment for Military Women by Kasey Raia Stout. https://resources.armedservicesministry.org/products/bible-boot-camp-for-military-women https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Deeper-Spiritual-Nourishment-Military/dp/B0FHH4FT6J   Save the date for these events KG mentioned, and keep an eye out for more details and registration links in the coming months:  Growing Deeper Conference: 31 January at Grace Community Church (Pensacola, Fla.)  OCF Leading Women Retreat: 20-22 March at White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.)  Women's Week of Summer Celebration: 28 June-3 July at Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.)  Contact KG via [email protected] with any input regarding women's ministry, and be sure to follow @sisters_in_service_ocf on Instagram, too. https://www.instagram.com/sisters_in_service_ocf/  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 KG, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:  What challenges would you say women in the military face today?  How can you as an individual and OCF as a parachurch ministry support them in those challenges?  KG talks about a scaffolding approach to her role as OCF's director of women's ministry. How can you take a similar approach to come alongside and mentor the next generation for ministry and service?  KG also talks about the isolation female officers can sometimes feel when they're the only one among all male officers. How has finding someone with similar experiences been an encouragement to you?