::    W E D N E S D A Y,     A U G U S T     2 6 t h    ::

The summer is starting to wind down, and we are gearing up for the 08/09 year of Master’s Commission. We have been busy with MC applicants, booking, and preparing for the year.

Our returning students and alumni have been busy as well! This summer, some MC students interned with us, others went to Hatai on a Mission Trip. Some worked at Christian camps or found jobs at home to raise money for their tuition. Some of our alumni have been pursing youth pastor positions or moving into new jobs in full-time ministry. It is exciting to see everyone staying involved and doing amazing things for God’s kingdom!

Please pray for our incoming first year students. Pray that God would prepare and guide them over the next few weeks as they get ready to move to Pennsylvania!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     A U G U S T     6 t h    ::

We can hardly believe it… in less than 4 weeks our second and third years return! The summer has flown by!

In 6 weeks, our first year students move! We are still accepting applications for the 08/09 year. We currently have 20 first years coming in!

It’s going to be an amazing year. We are also currently booking churches for the 08/09 tour season. If you have a church service or event that you would like to bring GZMC in for, please feel out the booking request form located on the left hand side. --Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T H U R S D A Y,     J U L Y     2 4 t h    ::

Summer is in full swing! The MC staff has been busy with preparing for the upcoming year! We are still accepting students for the upcoming 2008-2009 year. If you are interested in applying, you can fill out our online application or print one off in the Cost/Contact section. First years move in on Sunday, September 21st. Second and Third year students move back on Friday, September 5th. Our tour schedule for the Fall and Spring is already filling up fast!

Scholarship avilable: A member of our church is offering a $1,000 scholarship to any gentlemen that is interested in being in full time ministry. The applicant needs to be accepted during the month of August. For more details, please contact Christine@gzmconline.com.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     J U N E     1 8 t h    ::

Summer is upon us! Even though the MC students are home for the summer, things are busy in the GZMC office. We are planning new dramas and skits, booking tours, promoting at summer events, and interviewing first year applicants.

Our second and third years are all settled into their summer routines! A few MC students are interning with us this summer. They will be helping out with different outreaches at our church and helping prepare for the next MC year. Some of our other students are ministering on Martha’s Vineyard, helping out with disaster relief in Iowa, and others are working and helping with their local churches.

We are still accepting applicants for the 2008/2009 year. If you apply online, you don’t have to pay the application fee! So click on Cost/Contact at the top of the page to apply!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     J U N E     10 t h    ::

On Sunday, May 25th the GZMC Class of 2008 graduated! It was an incredible evening of reflecting on what God had done in our lives and sharing with our family and friends. Thank you for your prayers and support this last year! It was a blessing.

Our July Newsletter should be in your mailbox in the next few weeks! If you do not receive our quarterly newsletter, and would like to, please send your address to Christine@gzyouth.com.

We are gearing up for the 2008/2009 year already! God is already blessing us in numerous ways and opening up countless doors. We are enjoying the summer breather… but are ready to see what God is going to do with the Class of 2009!

The first years move in on Sunday, September 21st. Please keep them in prayer. God is already working, transforming, and changing them!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

P.S. We are still accepting applications for the 2008/2009 year. Know of someone who would be great for MC? Have them fill out the online application!

::    T U E S D A Y,     M A Y     6 t h    ::

We have made it to the Dominican Republic! After a 3 hour delay, we finally made it on to the plane! On Monday, after getting settled, we headed out to do different outreaches. Some people played basketball and soccer with the local students, and others did street evangelism. Today, part of the group will be doing construction on an Orphanage and the other part of the group is going to a community high school to pray with the students and hand out bags of rice. God started moving the second we got on the plane, and has not stopped since. Thank you for your prayers! We will be keeping everyone up-to-date!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

P.S. It's hot down here!

::    T U E S D A Y,     A P R I L     1 5 t h    ::

This week we are very excited to have Pastor Chet, District Youth Director of the Assemblies of God Appalachian district, as a guest speaker this week at GZ. He will also be giving a message at MC chapel and be spending the day with us on Friday. Pastor Chet spoke last year at our GZ Spring Retreat, and we also helped him with his youth convention. Some of the team will also be spending next weekend with him helping again at his youth convention. Another exciting thing that is quickly approaching us is our Mission trip. This year we will be going to the Dominican Republic and will be working on a church, helping with kids in orphanages, ministering at churches, and much more. We are very excited about what God is going to do. Please be in prayer for this trip, prayers that God would change hearts, both ours and theirs, that He would reveal Himself in miraculous ways, and for His protection upon the team.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     A P R I L     8 t h    ::

We just returned from a three day tour in Long Island, New York. It was an incredible trip overflowing with God’s blessing. We are so thankful that God has chosen us as His instruments, it is a blessing to be able to serve Him, we are so unworthy, yet He has made us worthy. Please pray that we continue to look to God alone for our strength. On Thursday, we listened to a teaching by Pastor Jeremy Deweerdt on sacrificial living. This message was a great “checkup” in that it targeted some of the little areas of our perspective and challenged us to live a life of true sacrifice. Please pray for us that as individuals and as a team, we will become more sacrificial in our living.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     A P R I L     2 n d    ::

The Spring Retreat was absolutely amazing! There were over 150 students there all with one purpose, to grow closer to God. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you,” and we definitely saw this come true this weekend. Then, on top of all this, we were able to spend time with the students and get to know them a little better. During the testimony time, many of the students shared how they felt God was calling them to be more bold about their faith, especially in their schools.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     M A R C H     2 5 t h    ::

All I can say is that God is truly amazing. At the youth convention there was incredible worship, a powerful speaker, but more than anything, God moved in a powerful way. I doubt than anyone could’ve left without experiencing something new about God. We were also able to spend some time with a student who is accepted for next year. Coming out of that incredible weekend, we are extremely excited for this coming weekend. We will be holding the spring retreat for our youth ministry. We will spend most of this week preparing for it. The spring retreat is definitely one of the highlights of the year, and we are so excited to spend time with the students, have fun, and pursue what God has for us.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     M A R C H     1 8 t h    ::

This past weekend was an incredible time of ministry. Every time we go out and minister, we are reminded of how great our God is; He comes through every time. God gave us so many opportunities to connect with people and share the love of Christ. This weekend we will be volunteering at a youth convention of Friday and leading a drama workshop on Saturday.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     M A R C H     1 2 t h    ::

Once Again, we are truly blessed to be a part of what God is doing! It is so exciting to see what God is doing around us and through us. We recently hosted an event at our home church that served as an opportunity for us to share what God is doing with our friends and family. As a team, God has been moving in our hearts and challenging us to become ever closer with Him. Please pray that we continue to keep Him at the center of our lives amidst our busy schedules.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     F E B R U A R Y     1 5 t h    ::

Our Project R.A.K.E. workcamp is here! This weekend we are taking opportunities God has given us to reach families in a real and tangible way. GroundZero Youth Ministry's Project R.A.K.E. workcamp is a free home repair ministry for low income families and senior citizens. We have the chance to partner with our youth ministry and help repair homes for people who, without this help, would be unable to do necessary every-day tasks. We help provide plumbing, repair floors, ceilings, roofs, walls, build wheelchair ramps, and just about anything else needed to help make the lives of the home owners a little easier. We are also gearing up for our Massachusetts tour! We will be spending a few days in Massachusetts doing youth and church rallies. Check our schedule to see if we will be in your area. We would love to see you stop by!! As we get ready to enter into another busy few weeks pray that God's will be done in everything that we do. God can and will do amazing things and not because of anything we do, but because of what He does through us.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     F E B R U A R Y     5 t h    ::

January has been an amazing and busy month! We have had the chance to minister to over 7,000 people at youth conventions and rallies. We are taking the next couple of weeks to regroup and focus in on drama practice and academics. God is still doing amazing and powerful things within the team. We are continuing to grow as a family, as well as individually. God is showing Himself to us in new and remarkable ways. Please continue to pray for us as we get ready to enter into another busy few weeks. Pray that God gives us the strength and rest we need to continue to do work for His Kingdom.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     J A N U A R Y     2 9 t h    ::

God truly is amazing! The doors that He has opened before us are far beyond what we could’ve imagined. This past weekend we were able to go into a public high school in Delaware and speak with the students about living “Above The Influence.” Also, a local church opened their doors to us for the weekend allowing us to do two youth rallies and giving us the opportunity to reach students with the love of Christ. We also were given the opportunity to lead the Sunday morning worship service. It’s amazing how the dramas we chose for Sunday were exactly what everyone was in need of, including ourselves. God just brings things together exactly how He wants them and uses us in ways we could never have imagined.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     J A N U A R Y     1 5 t h    ::

Once again, we had an amazing weekend. We were in Ocean City Maryland at a youth conference for the Baltimore/D.C. area. The students were amazing, and God was working in many of their lives, as well as our own lives. For many of us, the weekend was a reminder of how unworthy we are, but how awesome God is. We will be at another youth conference this weekend in Saratoga Springs, NY. We are expecting great things from a great God.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     J A N U A R Y     9 t h    ::

Well, we’ve hit the ground running this month. We spent this past weekend in Ocean City Maryland volunteering and running workshops at a conference with about 5000 students. It was an amazing weekend, and as always God was awesome. This coming weekend we will again be in Ocean City Maryland at a conference. We will be helping with Set-up/tear-down, and we will be leading seminars and doing dramas on stage. Please pray that as a team we will not get lost in all the hustle and bustle, but that we would stay focused on what God is doing, whether in the students lives or our own.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    F R I D A Y,     D E C E M B E R     14 t h    ::

This month we have not been traveling as much, so we have used the time to focus in on the team and our hearts. It has been an awesome time of growing closer together and, most importantly, closer to God. We are looking forward to Christmas and all the exciting things that come along with it. Next week we have the Christmas parties for our youth ministry. The Christmas parties are our biggest outreach of the year and we are extremely excited, we give away lots of prizes and the MC team does some stuff on stage. We are expecting God to provide us with tremendous opportunities to reach out to new students in our home community.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    M O N D A Y,     D E C E M B E R     3 r d    ::

The team just returned from Virginia, once again God was faithful and provided us with awesome opportunities to pour into students lives. God’s faithfulness in never ending. We are really excited as we prepare to minister at one of our student’s home church this weekend in Delaware. Please continue to keep the team in your prayers as we pursue the opportunities that God places before us.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     N O V E M B E R     2 8 t h    ::

Thanksgiving is over, it was an amazing day full of things to be thankful for, like friends, food, and rest. We hope that your thanksgiving was just as amazing. The team left today to spend a few days in Virginia, please keep them in your prayers. We are excited about what God is going to do.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     N O V E M B E R     2 1 s t    ::

Wow! God is amazing! It has been an awesome weekend of ministry. God has truly blessed us with some amazing opportunities. This past weekend part of the team was in Ocean City Maryland volunteering at a youth convention that was incredible. There were also a few people in Philadelphia doing inner city ministry, which also was incredible. The rest of the team was either in Kentucky or in Tennessee at separate youth conventions. It is amazing to see what God is doing in our time, and we are blessed to be a part of it.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T H U R S D A Y,     N O V E M B E R     1 5 t h    ::

It is truly awesome to see what God is doing in our students lives. I hope you are blessed.

Nic Knapp - Second Year Student
Since coming to Master’s God has done so many incredible and indescribable things in my life. There are a few areas, however, that stand out above the rest, these are authority, love, and faith. In the area of authority, God has brought me to a place where I am no longer controlled by a spirit of timidity, but by the Spirit of God. This is not to say that I no longer struggle with being intimidated, but rather, when I am, I know that I have the power to stand up and do what God has called me to do. Through Master’s, I came to the realization that, although I did not at all hate people, I really didn’t have a love for people in general. There were people that I loved, but generally speaking, my heart didn’t ache for people. When God made me aware of this, He began to change it in me. I can now say that in general, I love people. I enjoy talking with people, hearing their stories, sharing their pain, and just showing the love of God to them. The thing that God is currently working on me in is faith. He’s bringing me to a place where I will trust Him explicitly. It’s not an easy place to be brought to, but I wouldn’t take away a moment of it.

Breanna McCormick - Second Year Student
God has transformed me so much in the last few months! It’s amazing what God can do when we dedicate ourselves to Him. Before I started Master’s, I felt a calling of ministry on my life but I wasn’t able to accept it. I often related to the story of Jonah from the Bible. God told Jonah where to go and what to do and he ran in the opposite direction. I’m not proud to have a story similar to Jonah’s but no matter what we’ve done or where we’ve come from God created us for a purpose and He wants to use us. I joined Master’s spontaneously and I wasn’t specifically sure what God wanted to do in me. I can’t say that it was God that changed me, but I would say that the more I focused on God the more things I saw in myself that I wanted to change. In my first year there was a major change in my attitude. We had been ministering and serving people for months and I had a very selfish attitude. It took a while for me to realize that I had been focusing on myself instead of those I was ministering to. My attitude towards serving God and others changed over the course of the nine months, it was a process I had to go through. When I finished my first year, I had a heart to serve others. From the ministry experiences I had in my first year of Master’s I knew that I would always be doing some kind of ministry. I learned that ministry and serving is a lifestyle not a program, it requires commitment and an inward obedience. Master’s Commission taught me self discipline and enabled me to institute Christ into my everyday life. I’ve now returned to Master’s for a second year and I’m earnestly expecting God to do amazing things. This time I’ll be able to watch first years grow and I’ll be able to minister to then. I cannot say that I know exactly what God wants me to do in me this year, but I know that God has started to “Give me the desires of my heart.” He’s told me, “I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you… plans to give you the future you hope for.” All I can do is put my complete trust in Him.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     N O V E M B E R     1 4 t h    ::

Here are a few more of our stundents testimonies of what God has done in their lives over the past few months. It's so awesome to see what God is doing, I hope you are blessed. Please keep the team in prayer as we travel this weekend.

Belinda Renkens - Second Year Student
God has moved in me so much since I first started Master’s. My cry has been to know the heart of God, see what He sees, feel what He feels. I want His fierce love to flow through me. Though that may be a dangerous request, and though I don’t even know everything that that entails, God has truly begun to show me His heart for this lost and dying world. I know because I see myself doing things and thinking in ways that are truly not my own, but can only be explained by my God. Though I know there’s a long way to go, I can begin to see the results of my struggles and that is worth everything.

Stephanie Cole - First Year Student
I feel that God is breaking a lot of strongholds and stubbornness in my life. God has had me come to this particular Master’s program at this specific time for a very unique reason. I know that God has many things that He wants to do. I believe that I am finally starting to let God have His way in my life. I have grown up a pastor’s daughter and was always very comfortable in having my families’ version of Christianity instead of having my own personal walk with Him. This year I am finding out what God means to me, and where He is taking me. I never really knew where I was going and if I did, how I was supposed to get there. Master’s has slowed me down in a constructive way so that I can better understand the wonderful things the He was in store for me. So far it has been a hard process but a very rewording one. I am very blessed to be here learning more and more about God and myself in God everyday.

Nick Cirino - Second Year Student
God has totally transformed me from who I used to be. Before, I was very much a loner. It was a defensive reaction against wounds with people. God helped me through those wounds, and helped me to let go of that junk in my life. He transformed me into a person who loves people and wants to hang out with them. Before I came to Master’s I had a lot of head-knowledge of God, but not a lot of heart-knowledge. In Master’s I really learned what an intimate relationship with God is like. I’ve learned to trust and rely on Him more and more.

Cassandra Strycharz - Second Year Student
Since coming to Master’s my life has gone from ordinary to radical in a matter of months. The person I was I could never go back to nor do I even recognize. I used to be so timid and fearful. I went through life with the single goal of getting in no one’s way. I was afraid of being bold because of the consequences it would have. If people would accept or reject, love or hate, show kindness or hostility. I loved God but I also loved the world. I love who God was, but I was stuck in the world because the world made it easy for me to hide. God was calling me to be bold and speak out, yet all I wanted to do was hide and go along with what everyone else had to say. When I entered Master’s I was desperate to break free of fear. God definitely broke it. Through the course of the nine months, I became a person who was confident in the woman God made me. I learned that I did not want the easy life of hiding, I wanted to fight for the things I believed in. God took me and empowered me. I don’t know exactly what I am doing in the future, but I know that wherever I am going God has given me the heart to follow.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     N O V E M B E R     1 3 t h    ::

Here are a few more of our stundents testimonies of what God has done in their lives over the past few months. It's so awesome to see what God is doing, I hope you are blessed.

Ben Dieterly - Third Year Student
God has done so many things in my life during Master’s that it is almost hard to know where to start. I came to Master’s because of a longing to grow closer to Him. I had a desire that compelled me to leave my comfort zone and experience something that would change my relationship with him. Since coming to Master’s the desire that I had to grow closer to Him has intensified to an even deeper level. I am consumed with the desire to know Him more than yesterday, to experience Him more than this morning, and to walk more in his power than in this moment. Every time I enter into His presence I am addicting to wanting more, more than yesterday, more than today, and more for tomorrow. My hunger has intensified to an unsatisfying level, and I need Him more. Another area that I have seen growth in is the way that God has given me a love for teenagers. My heart breaks for a generation that is hurt, lost, and dying. Going into public schools and seeing the hopelessness in students’ lives is something that has grasped my heart and won’t let go. I can’t explain the desire I have now to show them how Christ has changed my life. I want them to experience life that can only be found in Jesus Christ. God has begun to give me the desires of my heart and has opened up doors to allow us into public schools, challenging students in how they live their lives. He has given me opportunity after opportunity to reach a world that needs the love of Christ. He has given me amazing leadership opportunities that I could not have imagined myself in. He has used the incredible people around me to challenge me and stir up a desire for more of Him. God has changed me in so many ways, and it was only when I let Him, when I stepped out of my comfort zone that He did amazing things.

Matt Mericle - First Year Student
Since coming to Master’s Commission God has rekindled the burning passion inside of me to draw closer to Him. Before Master’s Commission I had fallen into a place of complacency and apathy. I knew that I had a relationship with God, yet I knew that it could always be deeper and more intimate, but I was content where I was. Since the day I started Master’s that desire to draw closer and know God more intimately has been so intense. I desire to read the Bible and spend time with Him like I desire to eat and drink now. Worship is no longer just words someone wrote to praise God, but they are the yearnings of my heart. I knew Master’s was where God wanted me, despite constantly fighting the idea of going, and I believe this new passion he has put in me is a testimony to it. When you begin to walk the path God has set before you in your life, it is amazing the transformation He does in your life.

Sherry MacPherson - Second Year Student
God has blessed me abundantly in Master’s, and he never ceases to give His blessings. I praise Him because He is worthy and because of all that He has shown me and has brought me out of. Glory be to God that He shepherds us and watches our coming and going. He has brought my family to a place where they are totally relying on Him. Through Master’s, I am in the will of God and am being challenged to change my lifestyle, my attitude, and surrender every day. Master’s is something that has radically changed my life, my future, and where I am going in my relationship with God.

Meaghan O'Malley - First Year Student
God has shown me that it is possible to live a life without fear: the fear of trusting God completely with your life and dreams, the fear of losing the approval of others, the fear of being inadequate. Through Him I have been able to surrender this fear, and that even though I still go through fear, it had been surrendered, and I have the victory to overcome it with Him. God has shown me that even though I don’t feel him near, he is always there—that I shouldn’t base my relationship with Him on my emotions.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y ,     N O V E M B E R     1 3 t h    ::

Well, Well, Well… we have a busy weekend ahead! Half of the team will be in Maryland helping at a youth convention, and the other half will be in Philadelphia doing inner city mission work, or Tennessee, and Kentucky at youth conventions. It’s going to be a busy few days, but we are excited for what God has in store for us.

We just finished the October Newsletter for GZMC. Keep an eye out on your mail boxes… they should be arriving in the next few weeks! If you would like to receive our Quarterly Newsletters, please email me at and we will make sure you get on the list!

Thank you again for your prayers!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T H U R S D A Y,     N O V E M B E R     8 t h    ::

Over the next few days we want to let you become a little better acquainted with our students. Below, a few of them share a little about what God has done in their lives through Masters. Check back soon for the rest of the team.

Mike Luis - Third Year Student
I came to GZMC only understanding that this is where God wanted me. I was seeking a deeper relationship with Him, but not knowing what that truly meant, only understanding I wanted more than what I had at the time. Through the years of being at Masters, God has completely transformed my life to where I am never satisfied with where I stand in my relationship with Him. He has completely ruined me for the ordinary. I live with more boldness and confidence and the authority He has given me. I have this never-satisfied hunger in me that completely consumes me every day. I wake up every day not wanting what I got the day before, but more that that. I don’t ever want to be content with what I have. I want more because I know He is offering more for me. I passionately seek Him by worshiping Him with everything and anything I do. I came to Masters with a simple desire for God to change me. Now, not only has God given me that, He has given me this burning desire to ignite that passion in other young people’s hearts.

Nan Thomason - First Year Student
Since coming to Masters I have really begun to find who I am in Christ. My gifts, my purpose, my identity, a little bit every day. He has begun to show me things I need to get rid of, the things I must deny so I am more able to pick up my cross and follow. He has changed the way I look at things; He has increased my desire for the lost, and my perception on life as a whole. I am more focused and single-minded, I realize now more than ever what is important and what is actually worth living for, and I am willing to put all I am into it. Masters has really showed me how to live for what is ultimate, no matter what the cost.

Lindsay Lacombe - Second Year Student
Since being in Masters I have been ruined for the ordinary. I’ve tried college, I thought about becoming an English professor, maybe even a psychologist, but I have become disenchanted with the patterns of this world. Career doesn’t matter to me, money doesn’t matter to me- nothing matters to me but advancing the Kingdom of God. The Bible says that narrow is the way that leads to life, and I believe that, for me, the way keeps getting narrower. I feel like as I am on this journey of Masters, God will reveal to me more and more, “Hey, see this in your life, it was okay for you last year, but for you, I’ve set you apart, so put that down, just lay aside.” Things that aren’t necessarily bad, God is telling me to disengage from because He wants me to “Come out from among them” to be separated to Him for His glory.
Also, this year I long to be broken for the bride of Christ. I don’t want to be judgmental about His people; I want their faces to be seared into my mind. I want to hate what God hates and love what He loves.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     N O V E M B E R     7 t h    ::

Most of the team spent the past weekend in West Virginia at a youth convention. While there, God provided incredible opportunities for us to minister to the students. He also did some amazing things in everybody’s lives, including ours. There were also teams in Illinois and Michigan at other youth conventions. These too proved to be incredible opportunities, and God blessed us with the chance to talk with students and share His love. Overall, it was a weekend of servant-hood and ministry that has left us in awe of God’s goodness.

This upcoming weekend we will be on tour in western-central Pennsylvania. We are looking forward with excitement to what God will do during this trip. We hope to see you there.

Also, keep an eye on your mailbox, our November newsletter will be going out today. If you don’t receive our newsletter and are interested, please contact Christine@gzmconline.com.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     O C T O B E R     2 3 r d    ::

This past weekend, we did Project RAKE with the senior highers at our church. We went out into our community and helped low income families and senior citizens. We helped build ramps, put on new roofs, did dry walling, painting, and more. We had a great time!

We have uploaded new pictures of the Class of 2008! Take a few minutes to check them out!

We have a few teams out traveling this weekend and next. Please keep them in your prayers!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T H U R S D A Y,     O C T O B E R     11 t h    ::

This past weekend we had our first tour of the year. We were able to minister at three churches in central Pennsylvania. We had an amazing time! God moved in a mighty way. The church families at every church greeted us with open arms and great food! It was an incredible blessing!

We had our Master’s Commission “Photo Day” yesterday. We took a lot of really cool shots. We will be posting some here and on our MySpace in the next week or so.

Our MC Preview day is tomorrow. Please keep the students and their families in prayer as they are traveling. Pray that God would speak to their hearts and reveal the plan He has for them.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     O C T O B E R     3 r d    ::

I just wanted to fill you in on an exciting event we have coming up. On Friday October 12th, we will be having an MC Preview day. If you are a junior or senior in high school or if you have graduated, this is a great opportunity to come out and see what MC is all about. You will have a chance to meet the staff and the students and see all the things we are involved in. Parents are also welcome to come and learn more about the program. Dinner will be provided. The day starts at 9:00am and ends at 5:30pm. You will also be welcome to stay from 7:00pm-10:00pm for our senior high youth ministry night. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn more about MC and what we do. For more info or to sign up please contact me at Christine@gzmconline.com or 610.869.7332.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    F R I D A Y,     S E P T E M B E R     2 8 t h    ::

Here are some more about the first years! We wanted them to share a little of their heart and what they want God to do in their lives this year!

Kate Kingery – Age:18 – Hometown: Greenville, TN
I chose to do MC because I wanted to deepen my relationship with God. I also wanted to experience a mission trip before I went into studying missions. The think I am most excited about fro this year is the traveling and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Teddy Tompkins – Age:18 – Hometown: Newark, DE
All I want is to be within the will of God. Yet, one question kept arising: Where did God want me? Through much prayer and searching, and a series of events, God brought me here. Though this year, I want to grasp onto God more than I already have. I also have issues, not of God, deeply rooted into my heart and mind, and want God to uproot them and fill those spots with HIS spirit. I want everything God wants for me and no less. I am extremely excited about spending every waking moment with God for 9 months. I want to east, sleep, live, breath, and die with God by my side.

Meaghan O’Malley – Age:18 – Hometown: Long Island, NY
I wanted to go o a community college with my friends, where I would have been comfortable, but God wanted more. God wanted me to step out of this comfort zone of friends and home. I want to finish this year with a deeper friendship with Him. I am ready for God to show me new things, and go places I was always scared to go before. I pray that fear will be knocked out of my life, and that I can let go and start trusting more. I am most excited about being able to minister, help people, and go on the mission trip.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T H U R S D A Y,     S E P T E M B E R     2 7 t h    ::

Wow! That’s about all we can say when it comes to the last few weeks! God is doing amazing things and opening up some pretty incredible doors for us this year! We are so excited to see what is going to happen!

We are already accepting applications for the 2008/2009 year. Just a reminder: if you apply online it waives the application fee!

Over the next few days, we wanted to introduce you to a few of our first years. Below they share a little of their heart and what they want God to do in their lives this year!

Stephanie Cole—Age:19—Albuquerque, NM
God broke me of the life I was in, and He said, “You can do something better with your life”, and then He brought me to MC. Throughout this year I want a better understanding of myself and God, the security and confidence of being a Christian, and more direction in my life. I want God to break me of my pride, and help me to trust and love people more. I believe my favorite thing about this year is that I am going to be able to minister to students.

Matt Mericle—Age:19—Hometown: West Grove, PA
I was talking to God six months ago about college. God put MC on my heart, and I thought it was a joke. Four months later, God revealed that MC was no joke when He wasn’t supplying funds for college and I was worried about what to do. God opened the door to MC and showed me the funds to go, and now I am here. I am hoping to get spiritual discipline through this year, and can’t wait for God to start preparing me to walk down the path He has set before me of becoming a pastor. I really think I am going to enjoy the youth rallies, I have heard stories and believe they will be a lot of fun.

Nan Thomason—Age:18—Lavergne, TN
I first heard about MC through a friend who sent me the address for the website. I decided to choose the Master’s Commission program because I was looking for something different. I wanted something different than the normal college experience and normal education. I wanted to do something extreme. After this year I want to leave completely different, completely erased. I didn’t really put expectations on this year because I would feel that I was putting God in a box. I desire to find who I am in Christ, and seek direction of where God wants me after I move on to the next path in my life. I am most excited about the overseas mission trip. I have a heart for doing God’s work all over the world.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T H U R S D A Y,     S E P T E M B E R     1 3 t h    ::

The first years are here! We are so excited to have them join us. Already, there is a bond between us that only God can bring. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do this year; it’s going to be amazing! The opportunities that He’s giving to us are incredible!

We’ve hit the ground running this year, and have already been out ministering. We’ve also been delving into God’s word through our academics and scripture memory, and seeking God’s face every morning in worship and devotion. Please keep checking our tour schedule for a location near you. Also, please be in prayer for the entire team as we pursue God’s will.

Our theme for this year is surrender. Surrender is to give oneself into the power or control of another. For us, this year is going to be a time of surrendering to God, a time to give up everything that is holding us back. A time for laying down our desires, our emotions, our will, and all that we are. None of this is going to be easy, but through it all we will be crucifying the flesh and living by the Spirit, completely surrendered to God.

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     A U G U S T     2 8 t h    ::

The second years are back! It is great having them back “home” with us! We are so excited for the upcoming year and the First years that will be arriving (Sept 9th is coming up fast!). God is really doing amazing things and preparing our hearts for this year.

Students are still applying for this year. Just a reminder, you can now apply to GZMC online! Applying online waves the application fee.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    F R I D A Y,     A U G U S T     1 7 t h    ::

Our second year students officially return next Thursday! God is opening up so many amazing doors this year, we can’t wait to hit the ground running!

Last Friday, we did a community outreach at our local YMCA. Over 180 students came out to play dodgeball, basketball, DDR, eat free food, swim, and more! At the end of the evening, Ben Dieterly, one of our third year students, led the devotion. It was an incredible night!

Some of our second and third year students just got back from the National Fine Arts Convention in Indiana. They had a great time! We can’t wait for next year!

Hey, just so you know, we only have a few spots left for our upcoming 2007/2008 year. If you are interested in applying, head over to the cost/contact page. You can download an application or fill out the online app!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    W E D N E S D A Y,     A U G U S T     8 t h    ::

Summer has gone by so fast! We can hardly believe that it’s already August! We are counting down the days till our second years come back, than shortly afterwards, our first years! It’s been a busy summer, but we are ready for the MC students to come back.

We only a few spots open for our first year class! If you are interested in applying, make sure to get your application in ASAP!

Thank you for your continued prayer and support!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     J U L Y     2 4 t h    ::

Hey everyone! Well, things have been really busy here at the GZMC offices! God is doing great things, and we are just happy to be a part of it!

Just a reminder, there is only one week left to take advantage of our $750 scholarship! If you get your application in before August 1st, we'll take $750 off! For more details, feel free to email me at Christine@gzmconline.com!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    T U E S D A Y,     J U L Y     1 0 t h    ::

This is always a very exciting time in the GZMC offices. God is continuing to build our team for this upcoming Fall. It is amazing to see each student heart, passion, and the direction God is beginning to lead them. It is even more amazing to see how that students heart and passion fits so well with the rest of the team. God is not preparing a team, He is bringing together a family.

Just a reminder, every application we receive between now and August 1st will receive a $750 scholarship! You can now apply online by clicking on the side link or by clicking on Cost/Contact.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director

::    M O N D A Y,     J U L Y     2 n d    ::

We wanted to let you know of a new addition that have been added to our website. You can now apply to Ground Zero Master’s Commission online! By applying online, it waives the $25 application fee. If you still want to print out an application, you may download it on the costs/contact page.

Don’t forget, if you send in your application and your Pastoral reference before August 1st, we’ll take $750 off of your tuition! For more information, you can contact me at Christine@gzmconline.com

We hope everyone has a safe and fun fourth of July!

--Christine O’Connor--
Assistant Director