Dean Carlson, One Challenge USA President, shares his reflections on his last OC Board Meeting as president in September 2026:
There are moments in ministry when gratitude for the past and anticipation for the future come together. OC’s recent board meetings were one of those moments.
For me, they marked my final board meetings as President of One Challenge. After 12 years, term limits will soon bring this chapter of leadership to a close. I am deeply grateful for these men and women who love Jesus, believe in OC’s mission, and generously invest their wisdom, prayers, and resources.
What struck me most was the genuine love and friendship that unite our Board. More than a governance body, they are brothers and sisters in Christ joined by a shared mission and desire to see God glorified through OC. That rich fellowship went hand-in-hand with faithfully fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities, including addressing important organizational matters, learning together, and approving the budget for the new fiscal year.
The meeting marked a significant milestone as the role of OC President will soon pass to Donovan Dugan on January 1. Seeing him and our Executive Leadership Team step forward with confidence reminds me that the transition is not merely coming. It is already happening, and happening well.
Inspired by the stones of remembrance in the book of Joshua, board members reflected on God’s faithfulness and their prayers for OC’s future. Their reflections were represented by stones placed in the same jar used at my installation in 2015, which I then handed to Donovan Dugan: new stones, same jar, same mission.
The Board also surprised Kathie and me with a handmade hiking cairn, its stones inscribed with Scriptures and words of encouragement. It is a treasured reminder of their friendship, God’s faithfulness, and the journey still ahead.
We will celebrate this transition more broadly at the OC Succession Celebration on January 22 in Monument, Colorado, giving thanks for God’s faithfulness and looking toward OC’s next chapter. You are warmly invited. More details will be coming soon.
I concluded my final Board meeting with a full heart, profound gratitude, and great confidence in Donovan Dugan and OC’s future. Leadership changes, but the calling continues. Together, we move forward.
