10/10/2026
PCS orders, marriage, promotions, growing families, loss, and unexpected crises can all reshape life in the military. At last month's annual Mid-Atlantic Retreat, 60 military-connected attendees gathered to consider how Scripture shapes our response to change and how Christian fellowship helps us navigate it.
The retreatโs unique format enabled participants to hear short presentations, spend five minutes in silence reflecting or praying, and then share in small groups what God was teaching them. Guests, ranging from active-duty couples to military families to retirees, reported that the theme, "Facing Change from a Biblical Perspective," addressed something relevant in their own lives.
"We hope they took away a new perspective on [change], but the main thing that we sought to achieve was for the guests to leave with a renewed desire to meet with other military Christians in regular fellowship to study the Bible, pray together, and do life together," said Joe Chiaravallotti, who serves as OCF's Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator with wife Kristi and coordinated the retreat at White Sulphur Springs. "Instead of a one-time, annual event, we hope this leads the guests into or strengthens a process for a daily walk with other believers."
Please pray that these retreat attendees will return to those daily walks equipped and encouraged to do life with other believers effectively, and pray for the Chiaravallottis as they seek the Lord's guidance for future Mid-Atlantic gatherings.
