Spring Canyon Conference Center

Summer Celebration #3
2026-06-21 - 2026-06-26 | Spring Canyon Conference Center, 26000 County Road 344, Buena Vista, CO, 81211
Speaker: LTC & Mrs. Joel Eberly, ARNG (Ret.)
After doing some really cool stuff in the Army, Joel decided to return home for college and had a 10 year successful career in the corporate world while serving in the Army National Guard part-time. Joel felt the calling to volunteer for an active duty deployment after 9-11 and stayed active until he retired at 31 total years (Legion of Merit, Bronze Star,…).
Joel has been mentioned in articles and a book, on the news several times and radio, the featured speaker or contributing presenter at numerous events, published articles, founded and led an activity group for special needs kids in the Raleigh area, volunteered in high school as a soccer coach, volunteered with numerous non-profits through the years beginning in college, is a former WMD advisor for 2 state committees – worked with Secret Service/FBI at Super Bowls and Presidential events as Commander of a special Army unit, has a Master’s Degree, started an annual 200 mile bike ride to help wounded troops/military kids,… and started numerous other events through the years. Joel is/was on the council of a non-profit, board member of another, former President of another, speaks weekly at 2 drug/alcohol addiction centers and cooks a pig for them monthly, started 7 Bible studies,… and is constantly helping people behind the scenes. Those around him truly can’t keep up with all he has done and still does that people have no clue about – people drop in/text/email/call him for encouragement/advice often.
He loves making others laugh (at his expense and doesn’t care much about what people think of him), can fix about anything, hangs out with all types of people, is an avid outdoorsman (takes people fishing and hunting), loves to play (not watch) sports, and is crazy (rode bulls in the rodeo and illegally jumped solo out of civilian planes with no formal training/certification). He reminds people he has made a ton of mistakes and still does-says he is not special and thinks he does not do enough for others but I say he is a one of a kind.
Author of The Three Hardest Things In Life (Amazon)
Topic: “The Three Hardest Things In Life”

Part 1 – Most people think they are a good person, even if not religious, but are you? Also, should we settle for being average or try to be great at a few things? Who defines “good person or good Christian” and why is it so hard?
Part 2 – People in relationships/marriage for a long while will tell you that it is tough to always call it “great” and some will even sadly say it was often bad. We will share deep tips from each other and of course, the Bible.
Part 3 – Any idiot can have kids and put in little effort to raise them to the point where they can take care of themselves – the third hardest thing in life is to raise them right. How do you define “right”?

If you are not married or don’t have kids, you will still enjoy those parts of the presentation because the information can be used to help others (God may bring you a soulmate, you may be an aunt/mentor/…). Also, sadly all of us adults need a refresher in the various topics.
Guest Ambassadors: CAPT Jim and Sandy Speicher, USN (Ret.)
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Summer Celebration #4A
2026-06-28 - 2026-07-03
Speaker: Brig Gen Robert G. Armfield, USAF (Ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Gwyn Armfield, USAF (ret) served as a special operations leader in units and assignments around the world before he and his wife Catherine settled in northwest Florida. In this season of life, they are serving in their local church leading a program for at risk students and enjoy mentoring young military families. Gwyn is the co-author of the book Lead to Serve and Serve to Lead: Leading Well in Turbulent Times with former OCF Executive Director Lt Gen Bruce Fister (ret).
Topic: “Philippians: Finding Purpose and Joy”
Philippians offers us the opportunity to center our lives on Jesus by humbly putting others first and discovering the deep joy of relying on Christ’s strength. During our time together at Summer Celebration 4A, we will explore and discuss Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi and how we apply this wisdom to our lives.
Guest Ambassadors: Col Scott, USAF (Ret.) and Lt Col Carolynn Johnson, USAFR (Ret.)
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Summer Celebration #4B (OCF Sisterhood - Women's Track)
2026-06-28 - 2026-07-03
Uniformed women and military wives will spend time building friendship connections, enjoying time to hang out as women who are experiencing the breadth of life’s ages and stages – all while being equipped to face their next set of challenges.
Speaker: LTC Brittany Simmons, USA (Ret.)
Brittany (USMA ‘02) served in the US Army Military Police for 20 years, leading at multiple levels, including Platoon Leader, Company Command, and Battalion Commander. She is married to Jack Simmons (USAF Reserves). They currently reside in Fishers, Indiana with their sons, Peter (13) and Luke (9). Brittany currently serves as the COO/CFO and a coach with Arrowhead Leadership Consulting. At Grace Fishers Church, she serves on the governing board, as a member of the Women’s Groups Leading Leaders Team, and as a women’s small group leader. She enjoys traveling with her family, watching/coaching sports, listening to podcasts, and occasionally decorating a cake. She has a passion for developing women leaders and equipping fellow Christians to positively engage the world around them for Jesus.
Meet Brittany on a recent OCF Crosspoint Podcast episode!
Topic: “Armor of God”
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Summer Celebration #5
2026-07-05 - 2026-07-12
Speaker: COL Jim Brown, USA (Ret.)
James (Jim) Brown is a graduate of West Point and served for 31 years as a Military Police and Foreign Area Officer. He has an M.A. from Georgetown University and the Naval War College. Jim commanded two brigades in Iraq and a battalion in Germany and Kosovo. He was also the Defense Attache to Germany and is German linguist. He served 11 years in the Intel Community and is currently a Strategic and Defense Advisor and German cultural advisor. An avid marathoner and world traveler, Jim loves to give back and mentor or coach where called. Jim is married to Cindy for over 40 years and they have two children and three grandchildren in Vicenza, Italy.
Topic: “Committed to Christ: Peter’s Transformation from Fisherman to Church Father”
Like Peter, God’s plan for our life often expands the vision and scope of our own faith journey. Together we will reflect on key points in Peter’s life that transformed the way he followed Christ and served others.
The life and ministry of Peter and the comparisons of his journey and our journey of calling; service with challenges and sacrifice; blessings of seeing lives changed; and being refined and changed ourselves. Peter lived in a period of unprecedented change, globalization, and political turmoil. He was called to be a key leader in serving as one of the 12 disciples of Christ and in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and establishing His Church. We serve in a time that has many similarities to Peter’s and we are charged to continue the legacy of his service with our own. Through this week, we will journey together to explore key wave points Peter’s journey and to consider our own.
Guest Ambassadors: LTC & Mrs. Todd Plotner, USA (Ret.)
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Summer Celebration #6
2026-07-12 - 2026-07-19
Speaker: Pastor Keith Peck
Keith and Gale currently serve OCF in the role of Pastoral Care. They have ministered at White Sulphur Springs for the past 40 years and more recently at Spring Canyon. Keith is currently pastor emeritus at Mercy Presbyterian Church. He and Gale ministered in Annapolis for 30 years, serving the Nav, Cru and OCF ministries at the USNA. They enjoy 5 children and 19 grandchildren.
Topic: “Knowing, Trusting & Following the God Who Leads”
The God revealed in Scripture is a God who guides His people. But sometimes His leading leaves us perplexed, angry, confused. God, what in the world are you doing? Other times our problems are too thorny, our decisions too complex and our perspective too narrow for us to find our own way. God, show me your will? Give me wisdom to follow you.. Together we’ll explore the Bible’s call to walk by faith, trusting our Great Shepherd whose leading is constant.
Guest Ambassadors: CMSgt Vance and Pam Clarke, USAF (Ret.)
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Summer Celebration #7A
2026-07-19 - 2026-07-26
Optional OCF LEAD! Local Ministry Leadership Track
Find Out More!Sessions with Jay will parallel with Summer Celebration Week 7B (OCF LEAD! Track), with shared activities and fellowship.
Speaker: Jay Seegert
Author, international speaker and Director of the Starting Point Project, Jay holds degrees in Physics and Engineering Technology. He is also the past President of Logos Research Associates (world’s largest group of scientists who are Christians and biblical creationists). Jay has been lecturing on science and the authority of Scripture for 41 years.
Topic: “Defending the Christian Faith”
God is the Creator of life and the universe, and the Bible is the Word of God. Are you positioned to powerfully and graciously defend those two core Christian beliefs? This seminar will equip you with answers, enabling you to confidently reach the world for Christ!
Guest Ambassadors: COL Steve and Miriam Shambach, USA (Ret.)
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Summer Celebration #7B (OCF LEAD! Local Ministry Leadership Track)
2026-07-19 - 2026-07-26
OCF LEAD! Local Ministry Leadership Track
“Now is a pivotal time to equip, encourage and embolden Christian military leaders. We strongly desire to further strengthen our current local leaders and mobilize a new generation of leaders.” – Col Scott Fisher, USAF (Ret.), Executive Director of Officers’ Christian Fellowship
OCF’s Leader Equipping And Development is designed to encourage and equip OCF leaders – and potential leaders – for dynamic, Christ-centered ministries of outreach and service to positively impact the military community. Facilitated by seasoned military ministry leaders, Summer Celebration LEAD! will equip OCF Members with the essentials of local OCF ministry leadership. These sessions will parallel Summer Celebration Week 7A, with shared activities and fellowship. Come be refreshed, equipped and inspired for Christ-centered military ministry!
Speakers:
Lt Col Tom Falconer, USAF (Ret.)
Tom and Jan Falconer have been involved with OCF since 1978 and currently serve in several capacities with OCF: Colorado Springs Area Coordinator; Spring Canyon Advisory Council, Rocky Mountain OCF ROTC Coordinator and ROTC Ministry Lead at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. They reside in Colorado Springs and have two adult sons, a daughter-in-law and one granddaughter.
Col Larry Simpson, USAF (Ret.)
Larry currently serves as OCF’s Director of Regional Operations. A former Air Force Human Resource Management officer, Larry served at commander, director, and division chief at various levels of assignments. Larry and Bobbie have enjoyed ministry with OCF for over 18 years. Starting in 2006, as the Family Outreach Staff Couple (2006-2020); Puget Sound Field Staff Representatives (2008-2020); and as Regional Coordinators for the Pacific Northwest Region (2021-present). Larry is the author of OCF’s devotional book, “Leader, Draw Near.” They reside in Puyallup, WA, and have three adult children and six grandchildren.
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Summer Celebration #8 (Medical Week)
2026-07-26 - 2026-08-02
Speaker: Dr. Al Weir, MD

Dr. Al Weir is board certified in Internal Medicine, with certifications in hematology and oncology. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, and was a Fellow in Hematology and Oncology at the University of Alabama Birmingham. After leaving academic medicine, Dr. Al Weir served in private practice at the West Clinic in Memphis, TN from 1991-2005 before joining the CMDA staff as Vice President of Campus and Community Ministries where he served for 3 years from 2005-2008.He is presently Professor of Medicine at University of Tennessee Heath Science Center and previous Program Director for their Hematology/Oncology fellowship program. Throughout his career, Dr. Weir has acted in many important leadership roles, including Internal Medicine Consultant for Eku Baptist Hospital in Eku, Nigeria from 1983-1985. He is now a board member of the Albanian Health Fund, an educational evangelism ministry to Albania where he has been serving for 32 years. He has twice been president of the national Christian Medical & Dental Associations.
In addition to his specialties, Dr. Weir’s major area of interest is the practical aspect of living out the Christian life as a doctor.
He is the author of three books: When Your Doctor Has Bad News (Zondervan, 2003) and Practice by the Book (CMDA, 2005) and Whispers (CMDA 2015). He has contributed chapters for Handbook of Medicine in Developing Countries and served as Editor for The Doctor’s Bible, collaboration between CMDA and Holman Bible Publishers. He and his wife, Becky have three children, six grandchildren and live in Germantown, Tennessee.

Topic: “Listening to God”

We spend so much time talking to God that we often fail to Listen. Listening is far more than silence and hearing. It involves that at times, but most of our listening is listening while we run in a crazy, busy life that God has given us. We listen to relate, listen for direction, listen for power, listen for forgiveness and much more. Dr. Weir will be sharing from his life as a physician in Christ who has been serving veterans as a Christian oncologist for the past 16 years, and from his life before. More importantly, he hopes everyone that attends will be sharing as well.

Guest Ambassadors: Dr (COL) Arnie Ahnfeldt, USA (Ret.) and Dr (COL) Jeff Ginther, USA (Ret.)
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