2006/2007 Staff & MC Team

2006/2007 First Year Master's Commission Students

Belinda Renkens, age 19 of Green Bay, Wisconsin says she was led to Master's by a persistent youth leader. “I just really feel that this is where God wanted me to go. I didn’t have a plan for what to do with my life, and my youth leader kept telling me that MC would be really good for my life. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, I worked for a year and still had no idea. I didn't want to go to school and waste money, switching my majors. I finally let God have control and I told Him that He could do whatever He wanted with me in the next 9 months. It's scary to give up control of everything, but I know that is the only way that everything in my life will come together. I just want to be completely changed this year. I want to be so in synch with God’s Spirit, to be able to hear His heart beat. I know that I'm going to be completely different coming out of this, but I also know that that difference is what God has planned out for my life. Yes, it's going to be hard, and I'm sure that there will be many things that we are going to go through. But we will come out stronger because of it; both as individuals, and as a team. Master's has already refined me and stretched me, something that doesn't exactly feel pleasant but which needs to be done. I love how we get to meet and speak with so many people, from all over the nation and in all walks of life, and with each person we find common ground, and that is amazing. It's God. Please pray for me during the rest of this year, just that I would continue to grow and hear the call of God. I want everything he could possibly give me. Pray for our team, that everywhere we go we would walk in the anointing of God and that He would have His hand over all the things that we do and the people that we meet.”

Video Testimony: Looking back on this past 9 months God has made my relationship with him Deeper and more intimate. He has started giving me specific things to pray into the lives of people around me, and those I minister to.

Breanna McCormick, age 18 of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts says God directed her towards Master's at the last possible moment. “Well... I found the brochure and it sounded interesting. So I sent in my application just days before the start of Master's. Applying so late in the summer, I just put my trust in God and said, “I’m going to go at this 100% and if God wants me here then it will all work out. And He did, so I’m here. I want God to mold me and change me this year. I also want him to show me the next steps to take in life after MC. I want to learn a lot about the Bible so I can back up my beliefs with Scriptures from God's word.”

Video Testimony: Nine months ago I asked God to simply break me, and start over. He's done that and given me a new boldness to share His love with my friends.

Peter Oduluna, age 23 from Nigeria by way of Bowie, Maryland says that he came to Ground Zero looking for more training. “I felt a strong calling into the youth ministry, and I was positive that it was where God wanted me. However, I didn't know how to get there. I saw Ground Zero Master's Commission at a senior high convention in Ocean City, MD called Impact, and I was impressed with their presentation. What they did intrigued me, so I decided to find out more about them. The more I heard and read about them, the more I heard God telling me "HOW MANY MORE HINTS DO YOU NEED?!! JUST APPLY!!". So I did. This ministry is the perfect training ground for going into the field of youth ministry. Between the tour team & rallies, the three nights of youth ministry, outreaches to Lighthouse in Oxford and Urban Promise in Wilmington, and Sunday night small groups, I'm getting to see a lot of great hands on instruction and experience working with teens. I not only get to watch a thriving ministry reach out to teens, I get to jump in, get my hands dirty, and help do it every week!! This year,I hope to get closer and closer to God, and that He irons out my quirks. I want to be refined by Him through and through. I want my eyes to be opened to His will and to be completely in submission to it. I want to be stretched to the extent of God’s will. I want God to do the things in my life He has always wanted to do to reveal my purpose. I also want to minister and help change lives this year. So far, Master's has been incredible, and I have experienced God in ways I could have never imagined. He's used me to the point of extreme exhaustion, and then He gave me more strength to go on. I have learned to rely on God for everything...everything. I have also really enjoyed this family and the genuine love we all have for each other. I see everyone's heart and it's just incredible watching God grow them, and work in and through them in phenomenal ways. I know that God has grown me in amazing ways and that I have accomplished a whole lot. However, compared to how much more of God there is to receive, I am still nothing. Pray that that fiery passion will grow in me and that I will continue to seek after Him with increasing momentum.”

Video Testimony: Looking back on this past 9 months God has giving me a new understanding of the offensive and defensive power of His love and shown me that His love the eminating from us is a more powerful testimony than any words we can ever say.

Nick Cirino, age 17 of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania says God made it very clear what he was supposed to do this year. "One Thursday night at GZ JV, God told me that he wanted me to go to Master's Commission; so I went. I've been involved with the youth ministry at New London for a long time. I've been close to God, far from God, and close again. But that night, as I sat in God’s presence (psalm 46:10), He made it very clear to me, there in my seat, that He wanted me to become a Master's Commission student. I came wanting God to really break my out of my shell this year. During high school I became a total loner; I shut myself off from people as a coping mechanism. I was miserable. I wanted to know God's love more, to step into being a son of God, instead of feeling like I didn't belong and that no one cared. One morning during worship, God broke that orphan spirit in me. Through the support and love of my family--the MC students--I've been working through all the stuff that had held me back from God. At graduation I hope to be walking even more in the authority that God has given us (Luke 10:19) and in the love of Christ. I want to be increasingly sensitive of the Holy Spirit's guidance and increasingly obedient to God. Please pray that my love for people would continue to increase and that God would use me to show his love to the world, one person at a time. Thank you and may God bless you with love, peace, and obedience."

Video Testimony: During the past 9 months, God has transformed me from an isolated, defeated Christian into a victorious disciple.

SherryAnne Macpherson, age 18, of Somers Point New Jersey came to Masers because she was sick of the way she was living. "I wanted to know God more intimately and have a close relationship with him. My life was headed down a path of selfishness and partying. I knew that God had more for me and wanted to change my sloppy way of living. I found out about Master's when they visited my church, however I didn't apply until two weeks before Master's started. God showed me after graduating high school, that college, or staying home wasn't the answer for me. I came to Master's because I wanted to lay everything down. I wanted to spend nine months totally devoted to God and focusing on him. I want him to break me, mold me, and use me the way he wants to. I also want to get over the pain that I experienced with my family growing up and I want to break the habit of allowing guys to define who i am anymore and replace them with God in my life. I want to graduate knowing that i am strong enough to overcome, knowing that God has given me the authority and the victory. One of the best parts of MC is knowing that God is giving me opportunities to impact the lives of hundreds of teenagers EVERY WEEK! There is nothing better then being able to talk to teens and share Christ's love with them; nothing better in the whole world. Please pray for me, that God would overcome & use my weaknesses to bring Him glory and that I learn to stand firm in Christ, in the victory that He has already given me."

Video Testimony: Nine months ago, I asked God to make me strong. I assumed that meant that I'd spend a lot of time with Him this year. Instead, he took me to the desert and I'm still in the desert, but as weird as it may sound, I'm closer to Him now and my faith is strong, than it's ever been before and it's awesome.

Brittany Mooney, age 17 of Mays Landing, New Jersey says it was the influence of her pastor and friends that pointed her to masters. “I had just heard so many great things about it. This year, I really want God to break me and mold me into what He wants and not what I want. I hope to graduate in May with a deep deep relationship with Him.”

Video Testimony: Looking back on this past 9 months God has shown me who I am in Christ, what it means to be His child, and He has shown me that when I live and walk in that authority, it's then that I can have true confidence in myself through Him.

PJ Rogers, age 19 of Leominster Massachusetts came to MC to get closer to God. “I decided to go to master’s commission because I wanted a closer relationship with God. I want to draw closer to Him and be able to follow His words that He has given me. I also want to know His word better. I want to fulfill what God wants me to be. I am willing to do what God wants me to do. I knew that God was calling me to the ministry field, yet I just did not know what part, whether being a Missionary, Youth Pastor, Pastor, or an Evangelist. Then, I found out about Master's when they came to my church in Leominster, MA. I watched their stomp and dramas. The way they did the dramas really spoke to me. I really liked what the Master's Commission team had done to show Christ’s love towards the youth that needed to experience the love of The Master. Later on that week toward the end of their time with us, I got an application from Mike Luis. I told God that He was going to decide where I was going to go to college. I told God that I really wanted to get away from the world and go to a Christian college so that I didn’t have to deal with the wild parties at most colleges. This year I hope to get exactly what God has for me by totally submitting myself to what He wants me to do. For so long, I was waiting for God to just come in and change me immediately. I shortly found out that God didn’t work that way. God has already brought me far from what I was and now looking back that I my attitude has changed the way that I carry myself has changed, and also the way the I have disciplined myself. I want God to increase the desire that I have for Him and I want so much more of a hunger for Him. I know that there is so much more that God wants to give me, but He will deliver these things at the time of His choosing... not mine. I hope that when I arrive at graduation in May, that I'll look back at my first year in Master's and see a totally different PJ in the mirror. This year has been so awesome with the family atmosphere we have with each other, core groups, the incredible academics, the youth rally practices, and the ministry each night... I really like the Worship and Devotion because that is a time for me to get close and personal with God so that I am on the same page as He is. God has really made Himself known to me during these times each morning. Please pray for me that I continue to be submissive to God and His will and plan for me. Also pray that my hunger and thirst for God continues to increase in intensity. Please pray that God would continue to pour out his anointing on the leadership of GZMC, the places that we visit, the GZMC team, and each Master's student.”

Video Testimony: Looking back, I realize now that I started this year, only half living for God. But in the past nine months, God has shown me how to turn over the areas of my life that I was holding back in, and now, I'm more fully available to serve my King.

Josh Glock, age 17 of Cayuga, New York spent a summer fighting wildfires in Colorado to raise his MC tuition. “I really did not decide that I was supposed to come to Master's, God did. When I first saw Ground Zero Master’s Commission at a youth convention, I sent an application in, knowing that if it was God’s will then I would be accepted. This year, I reall want God to remove the junk in my life from the past. There is a lot of junk in my life that He and only He can get out.”

Video Testimony: The part that amazes me the most about the past nine months is that God somehow taught me something new and different each and every day of Master's.

Katy Swiger, age 20 of Fairview, West Virginia came looking to go to the next level. “I joined Master’s not only to get closer to God, but because I needed more from Him than what I was getting from my home church. I want God to strengthen me so I can go back home and be able to help my church grow. I want God to stretch me so much that I will not be able to fit back into the same shape I was in before Master's; physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Master's Commission has been on my heart since I was 15, but this year God really opened all of the necessary doors for me to be here. His timing is always perfect and there is no doubt in my mind that He put me in the right place at the right time. I want to grow in every aspect of my walk with God. I never want to get comfortable or satisfied with where I am with Him. I have especially enjoyed all of the touring we've done so far this year. We still have so much more to go, but I know that as long as we are open and willing to go wherever God may take us we can do so much to further His kingdom. Please pray for me to stay on track and to not lose focus of Him and the ministry He still has in store for me.”

Video Testimony: God used the death of my Grandmother, my rock in this world, to rock my world. He pushed me to stop looking for things and people to lean on so that I could learn to rely solely on Him for all of my strength and all of my needs.

Vanessa Crowder, age 20 of Hammonton, New Jersey says she came to Master's to so God could take her to the next level. "Master's is going to require a radical change in my life.... I won't be going out with my friends until 1 or 2 in the morning anymore. I believe that if i hadn't come to Master's this year I would not be the person that my parents or God wants and expected me to be. I found out about Master's when they came to my church and did a rally. God made it clear that this is where He wanted me to go to get that relationship that I always wanted with Him. I hope that at the end of this year I will have the relationship that I want with God and that I'll be a better person than I would have been, had I continued on the road that I was on. I used to depend on guys a lot to help me through the situations of life and I really want God to change that this year. When graduation comes around I hope to have a bigger influence on my brothers, sisters, & cousins. My favorite parts of Master's are going out and doing the rallies and ministering at the GZ Youth Services, but my all-time favorite is the worship and devotions that we do every morning. Pray for me for strength to get through this year because I know that it is going to be hard to be away from home, away from my family, and not talking to guys any more.

Video Testimony: When I came into Master's 9 months ago, I was living a life dominated by excuses. But God has shown me how to stop looking at my weaknesses and how to start focusing on Him and His strength and position in my life.

Cassandra Strycharz, age 18 of Wilmington, Delaware came to Masters looking for a lifestyle that would radically change the life she was currently stuck in. “I felt overwhelmed in my life, and I did not have strong Christian friends to depend on. I have been going through so many trials that were tearing me apart and I felt very uncomfortable asking for help because I always thought it made me look weak. But really, I was feeling weak. I want to rely fully on God and use Him as my strength and comfort. I working on getting rid of all the fear and questioning I have so that I'll be better able to trust people and feel as if I can depend on them. I struggle with feeling happy with myself and being able to put myself out there. I am tired of feeling incomplete. I want to trust God that He will take care of me and my family. I pray that God will make Himself real to me. I want so despiratley to know what it is to feel as if I am actually good enough. I want to have the courage to pursue what I love to do. I am tired of feeling alone; feeling like I have to do everything myself. When GZMC came to my church, I saw the passion and the conviction they all had. I saw in them everything that I felt like I was missing. I began to wonder if Masters was for me, and every time I thought about it, I would either bump into someone who belonged to a Master's team or I'd get a newsletter in the mail from GZMC. This confirmed for me that THE Master was calling me by name and I need to join Master's Commission. Masters has been a crazy journey with many tears and a lot of laugher. The people I have meet here will be the support I have for the rest of my life. I have grown so much being here and I have gained so much strength from the stretching experiences God has put me through. This is going to be the absolute best and the absolute worst nine months of my life, and I would not trade it for anything in the world. The things I am accomplishing here... I couldn' have ever done anywhere esle. There is nowhere on earth that has so many different ministry opportunities. Please pray that I continue to grown in God and allow Him to move my life in the direction He has planned for me. The prayer that has been on my heart is that I never lose the principles and lifestyle Master's has tought me, and that I continue to grow in God for the rest of my life."

Video Testimony: Nine months ago, I was afraid. But God has done so much in my life including totally removing my fear of failure and assuring me that I can do that which He has prepared in advance for me to do.

Nic Knapp, age 18 of Stanfordville, New York says that God used a little carelessness to change his goals in life. “For a long time I wanted to be a mechanic, there were a lot of things that I could’ve done to pursue this for my future, but I knew God was telling me He had something bigger for me. That something came along a little later than I would’ve wanted. When all my friends already knew where they were going for school, I was planning on working for a year because I still didn’t know where God wanted me. Then my cousin accidentally left some stuff he'd picked up at a youth conference in my backpack. When I emptied everything out after the conference, there was some information from GZMC. I read through all the information and was impressed by the fact that it was something totally different than “normal.” I felt like I may have found the answer God had for me but I wasn’t completely sure. I was in contact with some of the staff through e-mail and eventually I just decided that I needed to meet them. I came with my parents for a visit in June and talked with Pastor Mike and Christine for several hours. As I talked with them I began to see what they believed and where there heart was. I saw that their heart was in the right place, and that the program would help strengthen many of my weak areas. By the time I left, I knew God had confirmed that GZMC was where He wanted me. This year, I want God to remove every trace of apathy from my life, and give me a passion for Him. I want to walk in the authority that Christ has for me. I want my faith to become my life, rather than just being a part of my life. I hope that by graduation I will be so immersed in God that He just spills out of me everywhere I go, that no one will be able to talk with me without seeing God. So far, God has already begun to make these things a reality. One of the things I like most about Master's is being able to meet people from all over the country and just talk to them. When I came into Masters, I was not one to initiate a conversation, especially with someone I didn’t know. Although it still doesn’t come naturally, God has given me a desire to talk to people and just build a relationship with them. It’s so awesome to be able to talk to someone and hear about what God is doing in their life. Please pray that I will stay focused through the rest of the year. With how busy we are, it is very easy to lose focus or and it's tempting to just start doing thing to do them like you are going through the motions... That is the last thing I want to do. Pray also that God will continue to stretch me and change me. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19).”

Video Testimony: When I came into Master's, I was intimidated and afraid, but in the past 9 months, Christ has given me a boldless like never before and more than that, He's added purpose and meaning to my life. It's incredible.

2006/2007 Second Year Master's Commission Students

Ben Dieterly, age 20 of Providence, Rhode Island really felt called here for a second year, knowing how God changed him during his first 9 months of Master's. “After my first year of Masters I felt like God was calling me back to do a second year. God had grown and stretched me in so many different ways, but I still felt like there was more that God wanted to do In me. The knowledge that I gained and ministry opportunities that I experienced was unlike anything that I had ever done. God used me in so many ways my first year that all I could do was humbly thank Him for calling me a minister of His Word. I love the team that I am a part of, each person has made me a better man. They have challenged me to live a better life and with more of a hunger for Him. To see their growth has been one of the most rewarding things that I have been apart of. In just the short time that we have all been together their has been such a transformation, to see the place they have come from to the place they are at is amazing. They have become my family and will always be a part of me. I love you all. I had this desire to come back for a second year but knew that I would need a financial miracle in order to afford it. Like every other time in my life, God provided. He blessed me with a job that allowed me the opportunity to work enough hours to pay for an entire year of Master's, in only 2 and a half months of working. My prayer for this year that God would use me to challenge people to go father in their walk with God than they have ever gone before. I want to be the empty vessel that God would pour into, so that I can in return pour out to other. I want to go to that next level with God. I will never be satisfied with the place that I am at with God, but want that next height. I' so hungry for more of Him, I want my desires to be completely in line with His. I don't want to be distracted by the things of this world, but want to be completely molded by the Potters hand. Please pray that God would eclipse the work that He did in me last year by the work that He will do in me this year. Pray that I would have the patience to put my desires on Hold and completely be focused on Him. To my fellow MC's... Stay focused!”

Video Testimony: The past two years of Master's has ruined me. The things of this world no longer come close to satisfying. I've been in the presence of God. The only thing I long for, hunger for, and thirst after now, is more of God in my life.

Mike Luis, age 20 of Landenberg, PA put another dream on hold to follow God’s call on his life. “God closed the door on restaurant school and opened the door to MC. I wasn’t pleased at it at first, but I knew it’s not about me, it’s all about God and His will. As I was deciding to find an MC far away, God showed me a vision and how He was using me here at my home church, praying, worshiping, and totally being used by Him. That’s when I knew that GZMC was where God wanted me to be. I’ve really grown a love for ministering through human videos and reaching out to the youth and adults. I also enjoy the many outreaches like soup kitchens and homeless centers. Having a love for being around youth, I was excited to hear that GZMC would be doing a lot of inner city kid ministries as well. I know God has a divine purpose and plan for my life. Following His will always comes with many sacrifices and it’s worth it, knowing God is going to do awesome things in my life in my second year. I knew coming in, that it was going to be harder tougher and more intense then last year. Nothing can hold me back from what I feel is God’s will for my life. This year, I really want God to mold me and form me to be the man of God He wants me to be. This year’s theme is “Legacy”... it’s asking the question, "How do you want to be remembered." God really hit me hard with Heb. 12:1-4, which speaks of Jesus as the example, the first to endure it all, and how we are to follow His path. I desire to follow that path. To endure all the hardship, the suffering, the struggles, so that I can leave an impact on this generation in Christ’s name. This year I am determined to have a heart after God’s own heart. Pray that I’m just not myself, the regular old “Mike Luis”. I want to be a completely different man of God, where everything I say, everything I do, comes from God. I really want to see God leading me in life through these next nine months and beyond. Thank you so much. God bless.”

Video Testimony: My commitment for these past few months has been a conscious decision to live well and to finish well. No Sloppy living for me. God has increased my passion and my focus.

Rob Cochran, age 21 came to GZMC from Bluffton, South Carolina after deciding it was time to stop running FROM God, and start moving TOWARDS Him. "As a high school graduate I felt that I was being called into ministry. I began to pursue this by going to the University of South Carolina. There I thought that I would attain a degree in sociology and then go to a traditional seminary. These of course were my plans that I had not fully submitted to God. After a year at college I came to realize that what I was doing was not for me, I was not meant for traditional college. About the time I was coming to this realization my Mom called me and told me that a Master’s Commission was starting up at my old church back home. At first I resisted going because I simply did not understand what Master’s was. But over time God worked in me and told me that Master’s was the place that I needed to be to get to were he was calling me. My hopes for this year is that God will continue grow me and shape me like he did in my first year. Through out the year last year there were different challenges that I had to deal with. These challenges grew me and forced me to look at ministry differently. With these radical changes that took place from last year I can only imagine what kind of ministry God is equipping me for. I look forward to another year of these challenges and how I will be shaped through them. Through this year I need prayer for strength and peace. When these challenges come there is often a degree of fear, with God at my side providing strength and peace I can face them and come out of it stronger. I look forward to this bu them and come out of it stronger. I look forward to this but know that I need God more then ever to be able to do a second year."

Video Testimony: Last year at Master's, God asked me to turn in my dreams. At the end of this year, I can look back and say that while I didn't understand this at the time, God was asking me to do that, so that he could exchange my dreams and my ideas for my life... and give me His dreams and His ideas for my life. And His dreams are bigger than anything I could have asked for or imagined.

Melynda Haynes, age 24 of Ephrata, PA, knows that she is supposed to be here, seeing how everything has worked out for her. "Ever since I accepted Christ into my heart I felt the calling of God to work in youth ministry, but I had no idea how I was going to get from point A to point B. I knew I had to go to a college to become a youth pastor but had no idea how that was going to happen. I attended a Christian college for two years, and while there, I felt God leading me away from the college setting, and into another environment, but had no idea where. I took a break from school, and after a year and a half, I met GZMC at a Fourth of July outreach! After talking with the directors of GZMC, I knew this is where I was supposed to be. During my first year of MC, God broke down a lot of walls in my life, and healed me from the hurts and pains of my past. I was holding on to a lot of unforgiveness (mainly dealing with myself), and I wasn't sure how to let go of it. Through my first year at Master's, God showed me how to forgive myself and how to give my past hurts to God. Knowing what God had done in and through my life last year, I wanted to come back for a second year. I love the ministry of MC, and the heart and passion behind the ministry. The beginning of the year has been hard for me so far. I just recently lost my father, but I know that God wants me here in this ministry for a reason, so I am staying here. I am trusting in God to heal me, and fill me with peace and joy during this year. During this year of MC I want God to simply continue the work that He started in me last year. I want my hunger for God to grow even more this year. I want to go deeper in my relationship with God. I want to leave GZMC this year with an overwhelming sense of peace and joy back in my life. I want to leave MC this year with more of a passion and hunger for God than when I came in. Please pray for me that I will stay focused & not get distracted by things that could hinder my walk with God, my education here, or the ministry here at GZMC.”

Video Testimony: My father, unexpectantly went home to be with Jesus during the first weeks of Master's, and while I miss my daddy, God has used it to take my focus off of my weakness and shift it onto His strength in my life.

Josh Mericle, age 21 of West Grove, Pennsylvania believes that this is the next step in the process of training to become an a leader in a Master‘s Commission. “I believe that God is going to take my time here at Master's to strengthen my knowledge of how to become the leader He has called me to be. While I’m here, I know that God will use me to reach out the students and help them grow in their faith. I’m most exited about being able to learn about and do hands-on ministry, while simultaneously learning more about Him and deepening our relationship. I decided to do MC for a second year because I wanted to deepen the level of discipleship that I had previously. God had done so many amazing things in me within the last six months of MC. Some of what God has done is to build up my faith, and help me to persevere with victory and authority of Christ. God has begun to do so many new things within in my life, and with in my personal ministry. This year I want God to change the level of where I’m at spiritually, and to strengthen me in my boldness and confidence. One of my favorite parts of MC is the time that we spend together as a family, whether that be in morning worship or in the van for eight hours. Please pray for God to keeping building me up in every aspect of my life, and that I stay within His perfect will."

Video Testimony: God has used the nine-months of daily morning worship to take me from a self-critical, lack of confidence, and move me to a place where I now boldly walk in my authority with Christ.