The Mission Georgia Master's Commission Story
Master's Commission began as a vision in the heart of Pastor Larry Kerychuk of Phoenix First Assembly of God in Arizona. He believed if young men in the Mormon faith could sacrifice two years of their life for their mission in a false religion, Christian young men and women were capable of a one-year commitment dedicated to the cause of Christ. Tommy Barnett, the senior pastor of Phoenix First Assembly, shared this vision and gave opportunity for such a ministry to be born. Pastor Kerychuk began the Master's Commission program in 1984 with his close friend and ministry partner, Pastor Carmen Balsamo, as director. Trainees pledged one year of their lives to scripture memory, the study of God's Word, and ministering on church bus routes and in nursing homes.
After Pastor Carmen's untimely death in 1987, Rev. Lloyd Zeigler was appointed director. Under his direction, Master's Commission became a multi-dimensional ministry, keeping scripture memory and the study of God's Word as foundations and branching into inner-city ministry, general ministry training, and church and campus evangelism. God continued to pour his blessing on Master's Commission and gave opportunity for multiplication in churches across and around the world. Over the past 16 years this ministry has crossed national, racial, and denominational barriers.
In 1992, while serving as Minister of Music and Youth in rural Georgia, Pastor Patrick Ballington began seeking God's plan for raising a generation of sold-out disciples of Christ. Leading a group of teenagers and young adults in a community where many felt trapped by limited education, limited employment opportunities, and low standards of discipline, Pastor Patrick began developing an intensive discipleship and ministry training program with the intent of helping students realize their full potential in Christ. The first program ran only 6 weeks during the summer of 1992. But the guiding principles and foundation were being laid for what would become a Master's Commission program. But for now, the vision for such a program would be placed on hold.
In 1996, leaders in the Church of God Youth Department began praying about starting a Master's Commission model that could adapt to the Church of God structure. The immediate goal was to establish a model in a major city in the United States so young adults could be spiritually trained and equipped to minister in an urban setting. In January 1997, the Church of God started its first Master's Commission program on the East Coast in Atlanta, Georgia. Response was very strong and another program was birthed that year on the West Coast in Fresno, California. The results of this first year were incredible. God provided opportunities for these students to feed over 3,000 meals to the homeless; minister to more than 4,000 children in project areas; share the gospel in more than fifty churches across the United States and South America; and minister to more than 22,000 teenagers at Winterfest events. Master's Commission students saw hundreds of people accept Christ and many children and teenagers receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Meanwhile, in the summer of 1997, Pastor Patrick and Krista Ballington accepted the position of Youth and Music Minister at Cornerstone Church of God in Athens, Georgia. It was here that the vision for an intensive discipleship and ministry program was revived. The needs of the community and the passion for ministry demonstrated by Cornerstone, along with its unique facilities, proved fertile soil to plant and grow such a ministry. Meanwhile, the Church of God International office was at work establishing its own Master's Commission program in the inner city of Atlanta modeled after the original program in Phoenix, Arizona. While attending Tommy Barnett's Pastors' School at Phoenix First Assembly with the Cornerstone staff in February 1998, Pastor Patrick observed and experienced firsthand the ministry and program of Master's Commission. It was there that God spoke to his heart and gave clarity to the vision and burden given to him six years earlier. On a simple note card, Pastor Patrick privately committed to God to begin a Master's Commission program in the fall of 1998.
The initial start date for REFUGE Master's Commission was delayed one year at the request of the Church of God International Youth Department. The Church of God was working to create stability with its new Master's Commission program in Atlanta before endorsing the efforts of any similar programs in the Church of God. The response and support for the COG Master's Commission program was tremendous; yet many still did not understand the purpose and philosophy of the program. Pastor Patrick Ballington and Pastor Mark Swank met to discuss their visions and dreams for Master's Commission and immediately experienced a blending of passions and purpose for the program. Desiring the blessing and partnership with the Church of God, Pastor Patrick made the decision to delay the start of the REFUGE Master's Commission in Athens, Georgia, for one year to allow time for further growth, development, and stability in the Atlanta program. Finally, in the fall of 1999, after several months of planning, recruiting and fund-raising, Pastor Patrick, with the valuable help of Adam Douglas and Cornerstone Church of God Senior Pastor Robert Sheppard, the REFUGE Master's Commission program was birthed with the enrollment of 10 students. Students came from Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, and Illinois.
During the first year, REFUGE Master's Commission established numerous outreach ministries throughout the city of Athens and became a catalyst for spiritual and numerical growth within the REFUGE Student Ministries and Cornerstone Church of God. From its beginning in 1999 until summer of 2003, REFUGE Master's Commission created and established dozens of ongoing outreach ministries through Cornerstone Church of God as well as other local churches and throughout the city of Athens. Their work among the homeless and low-income housing developments gained the attention and support of local government and city officials. The team accepted dozens of invitations from local churches, school clubs, and denominational leaders to minister in communities, on campus, at retreats, camps, and conferences. As a result of the partnership with the Church of God State Office of North Georgia and the Church of God International Office in Cleveland, Tennessee, REFUGE Master's Commission was called upon to lead inner-city missions trips and church planting groundwork in major US cities and to minister at national youth events such as Winterfest and Sonfest where combined attendance exceeded 20,000 youth.
In 2002, the various Master's Commission leaders and directors from among the Church of God gathered to discuss changing the name of Master's Commission to "The Mission." There were several reasons for changing the name: First, the Master's Commission International program based in Phoenix, Arizona, was being challenged by other organizations bearing the same name but straying far from the foundational structure and spiritual principles of the program. MC International was beginning to pursue legal restrictions against such groups and established an official association that included the payment of very high fees from every MC program and student. Second, the Church of God program began to broaden its vision of intense personal discipleship to include the COG International's City Vision and Stateside STEP programs as well as missionary and urban church planting. The COG directors and leaders decided unanimously to bless the existing Master's Commission programs and continue to cooperate with local and international MC programs, yet to officially seek a name change for the program among the Church of God that would communicate both our similarities and distinctness. The Mission Urban Discipleship Centers (a.k.a. The Mission) was officially adopted by the Church of God International Department of Youth & Christian Education.
Meanwhile, because of the sale of the North Georgia Church of God Campgrounds in 2002, the Atlanta Master's Commission led by Pastor Mark Swank had to relocate from Atlanta to the former campus of Tomlinson College in Cleveland, Tennessee - removing them from the urban setting that was so vital to the original vision. In January 2003, Patrick Ballington and his family accepted a pastoral staff position with Lawrenceville Church of God, in the suburbs of northeast metro Atlanta. After a year of adjustment, Patrick approached Mark Swank and the COG International Youth & CE Department about rebuilding a new Mission program in Atlanta based out of Lawrenceville Church of God. Mark Swank and Mark Abbott, COG International Director of Youth & CE, agreed that the timing was right and elected to relocate The Mission program from Cleveland, Tennessee, back to Atlanta under the direction of Patrick Ballington. Matt Rouse became the Program Director in May of 2006 while Patrick Ballington served as Executive Director.
In February of 2007, Patrick Ballington accepted the offer to become senior pastor of a Church of God congregation called The Bridge Church located in the mountains of north Georgia in Cleveland, Georgia. Matt Rouse and the team decided to relocate to the program to Cleveland and broaden the program's focus from strictly urban or metropolitan to regional. Intentional effort was also given to re-establish the relationship and association with The Mission's parent ministry, Master's Commission International of Phoenix, Arizona. The relocation of the program's base for ministry, and affiliation with Master's Commission, once more necessitated a name change to Mission Georgia Master's Commission.
In 2007, Mission students from all locations began taking fully accredited college classes online through Patten University's Internet Degree Program. This began as a result of Mission directors, Church of God leadership, and Patten University leadership realizing the importance of integrating a college education into the Mission experience. The move was almost unprecedented in the world of college-age discipleship programs, and much work had to be done to begin such a merging of ministry experience with accredited college classes.
In July of 2008, J.J. Chiara moved from Tennessee to become the new Program Director, and Patrick Ballington remained in the Executive Director role.
In 2009, Mission Georgia began a new academic partnership with Truett-McConnell College. Students began taking college classes on campus through this fully accredited Christian college. Since the college is right across the street from The Bridge Church, the opportunity could not be passed up. MGMC students continue to take classes and pursue associate and bachelor degrees while currently enrolled in Mission Georgia MC.
Currently, Mission Georgia MC is experiencing a great level of stability and advancement. August of 2011 began our fifth year at The Bridge Church and our third year with Truett-McConnell College. Mission Georgia is becoming deeply involved in the community where we live as well as surrounding communities. Students are being challenged to go "all in" as we join God's mission in the world. MGMC has adopted the tag line, "The Great Commission Laboratory" because we believe one of the most powerful forces for the Kingdom of God is young people who won't settle for the status quo. They want something more! When a group like this has like minds, like focus, like passions, and are willing to sacrifice for the cause of Christ - they want something more than ordinary! When these students come together in the "laboratory" of character and skill development, hands-on ministry training, leadership development, Biblical focus, and academic accomplishments - the results can be world-changing!
Mission Georgia Master's Commission has more than an 11 year history in the Church of God, but it shares in a history that goes back more than 20 years. The Mission currently has programs in Cleveland, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Lakeland, Florida; and Weatherford, Texas. Plans for future national and international expansion are in the works.
While much has have changed over the years, Mission Georgia Master's Commission has remained committed to raise up a generation of fully devoted disciples of Christ. "Knowing Christ and Making Him Known" is the motto of Master's Commission International. It continues to be the focus of Mission Georgia Master's Commission as well.
