Master’s Commission is an intense nine-month discipleship program for young adults, ages 18-25.  For nine months, you will be involved in ministry, serving those in need and spending time in intense prayer & worship.  MC is not only for people who want to go into full-time ministry; it’s for those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ and want to establish a firm foundation in Him.  Through worship, prayer, service and ministry, you will be prepared for wherever God wants to take you in life.   MC is about giving nine months to God and allowing Him to change you for a lifetime. We are currently accepting applications for the 2010/2011 year.  

About GZMC

Ground Zero Master’s Commission is an intense and passionate discipleship ministry for Young Adults (18-25). Master’s Commission is for those that want to seek more of God in their life and make Him their only focus. Through hands on ministry, mission trips, intense prayer, devotion, and worship, God will change and challenge you.

Every Master’s Commission has its own unique focus.  At Ground Zero Master’s Commission we focus heavily on reaching out to teenagers, working hands-on in youth ministry, and doing everything with excellence.  Our program can best be described as aggressive and fast-paced.  At GZMC, you will have the chance to work with students in the community, build powerful relationships, and express the love of God.  You will have an opportunity to impact this generation in a real and lasting way. To maintain the core values of Master's Commission, an international network was established to protect the heart of the program. We are affiliated members of the Master’s Commission International Network 

If you give these 9 months to God, He will change you, draw you closer to Him, and mold you into the child of God He created you to be. Never again in your life will you be able to set aside 9 months with no distractions or worries like you can RIGHT NOW.

 

Our Focus
GZMC has three areas that make up the core of our focus.

Doing:  Hands on Training
As part of our Youth Ministry, Ground Zero, you will have the opportunity to reach over 250 students every week.  By leading small groups, dramas, and outreaches you will be able to pour directly into students lives.  Every week will be intense and packed with countless ministry opportunities. You will be visiting soup kitchens,  homeless shelters, nursing homes, and more.  In addition, you will be involved with our local home repair ministry, Project R.A.K.E.   Project R.A.K.E. offers free home repair to low income families and senior citizens in our area.  You will also be able to develop new dramas, work on a new worship song, develop your skills at web development, work on other multi-media elements, and explore other areas that interest you.   You will be ministry in action.

Being:  Personal Discipleship
For nine months, you will be in the presence of God.  Every morning will be spent in prayer, devotion, and worship.  We live in such a busy world, to find time just to BE in the presence of God is becoming more and more difficult.  Many times, God speaks in that still, small voice.  With every distraction gone, you will learn to hear God’s voice, and in the process, become more and more intimate with Him.  You will be challenged to reach new levels of faith, righteousness, and discipline through morning quiet times.

Thinking:  Curricular Studies
A part of GZMC will be curricular studies.  We do our schooling through Chesapeake Bible College & Seminary. You will be working towards earning a Diploma of Biblical Studies. Students earn a total of 36 college credits. If a student comes back for a second and third year, they will be able to earn an Associates degree or Bachelors degree. Students will be earning college credits that transfer to most colleges.

You will also receive leadership training that will help you, whether you are in full time ministry or not.  You will learn the invaluable keys of being a leader to today’s generation, and then be able to put them into action.  Another concept of curricular studies will be scripture memorization.  Students will be required to memorize about 150 scriptures over the 9 months of GZMC (breaks down to about 5 a week).

All of the courses offered at GZMC are geared toward deepening your knowledge of the Word and creating a firm foundation for you to stand on.  No matter what you do in life, or where you go, the foundation of God’s Word never changes. 

Core Values
The Master's Commission International Network has 5 core values that we uphold.

Scripture Memorization:  Never Forsaking The Word Of God
GZMC believes strongly in the power of the scripture. The Word of God is powerful, sharper than any double edged sword. During your time at GZMC, you will be spending time studying and memorizing scripture. Our prayer is that God's Word would come alive for you in a whole new way.

Prayer: Guaranteed Prayer Time
Every morning at GZMC, we spend an hour in Worship and Devotion. Something happens when you start your day off praising, worshipping, and seeking God. Your entire day changes. We believe strongly in starting off our day putting God first, so that the rest of the day is an act of Worship.

Hands on Ministry:  Trained By Doing
There is no better way to learn, than by simply doing. We try to give our students every chance to serve in different ministries. Through serving and doing, you will learn where God has gifted you, and begin to walk in those gifts.

Servant hood:  It's Not About Me
A common phrase you will hear at GZMC is: "It's Not About Me." That is our attitude and focus when serving. It's not about us, it's all about Him. At GZMC, we want to build strong men and women of God, who serve those around them. When we are at a soup kitchen, inner city outreach, setting up for a conference, or just hanging around the GZMC offices, we stress the importance of serving others.

Evangelism:  Relational, Missions, Outreaches
At GZMC, we have a threefold approach to Evangelism. The first is our Church. Within our youth ministry and church family, are people that come in every week lost and hurting. It is our heart to build relationships and show them the love of Christ. The second is Community. We try to step out of our comfort zones, and reach out to local cities and mission organizations to help them in their call to reach the lost. The last is Global. Every year, we go on a mission trip that both challenges us and gives us countless opportunities to reach the lost for Christ.

Our Staff
GZMC Director:  Pastor Mike Atkins was raised in a non-denominational, spirit-filled, charismatic church called Faith City Family Church in Newark, DE.  Pastor Mike was there for over 17 years.  During this time, the Pastor of the church took him under his wing and began to mentor him.  Under the Pastor’s direction, Mike was ordained in his early twenties and accepted the position of Youth Pastor.  Mike was first introduced to Master’s Commission through an outreach led by Ron Surratt, director of the Baltimore MC.  It was at this outreach that God planted the vision in Mike’s heart to one day start a Master’s commission.  The Lord’s timing is always perfect and it wasn’t till several years later that God brought this vision to reality.  After overseeing the youth ministry at Faith City for 10 years, and watching it grow from 5 to 75 students weekly, he felt God leading him to “leave the nest.” After much seeking and praying, he was prophesied over and led to NLPC.  In the last 5 years he has seen the youth ministry grow from 30 to over 250 students.   

GZMC Assistant Director:  Christine O’Connor has a similar background.  Growing up in a non-denominational, spirit filled, charismatic church, it was by God’s calling that she came first to Ground Zero.  After high school, she attended Valley Forge Christian College (an Assembly of God affiliated institute).  It was at VFCC that she was first introduced to Master’s Commission.  While at college, God began opening the doors for her to be hired full time with Ground Zero.  She has been on staff with the Ground Zero Youth Ministry for over 2 years.   

GZMC Support Staff:  Ben Dieterly grew up in a Assembly of God Church in Providence, Rhode Island. After high school, he worked for a year before attending Ground Zero Master’s Commission. Ben recently graduated from GZMC and from Chesapeake Bible College & Seminary with his Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies. Ben has a heart for public high schools and hurting teenagers. Ben directs our public school assembly program, Explicit Truth, as well as, helps with guys discipleship.

GZMC Support Staff: Mike Luis grew up in the home church of Ground Zero Master’s Commission. After high school, he worked for two years as a Chef before attending Ground Zero Master’s Commission. Mike graduated from GZMC and from Chesapeake Bible College & Seminary with his Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies. Mike coordinates all of our youth rallies, dramas and helps with guys discipleship.

Application Process

You may download the GZMC application or apply online by clicking on the Costs/Contact page.

After completing your application, please send it to GZMC headquarters.  When we have received your application, as well as the reference form from your pastor, we will call you to set up your first phone interview.  There will be a second follow-up phone interview and then we will contact you by phone or mail to let you know if you’ve been accepted.