412 Commission

The [http://www.412commission.org 412 Commission] is a year long ministry training program run by CE National, an organization under the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. The 412 commission is run out of a local church and receives credits from a college's distance Learning Program. The 412 Commission was started in the 2005-2006 school year, and will end after the 2007-2008 year. During the course of the year, students travel to locations across the US, Mexico City, Israel, and Canada as part of their training. The name "412 Commission" is based on 1^st Timothy 4:12: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." The name is used in reference to the fact that even though the students are young, they should be well enough equipped by the end of the year to be a leader and teacher, not just an absorber of information.

Life

During the year that a student attends the 412 Commission, He/she is housed in either a host home or, in some cases, a dorm. For the duration of the year, the student is not allowed to work, full or part time, as the student must focus entirely on his/her studies. This poses financial problems; however, it is believed that this is best. A 412 graduate will receive a plaque with his or her name on it. This plaque carries no actual weight other than declaring that the student has gone through the program. It does carry weight in the Grace Brethren circles since it does signify that the student underwent a considerable amount of one on one discipleship and ministry training, as well as quality Bible education.

Rules

A Student of the 412 Commission, must not:
1. Drink any alcohol for the duration of the year.
2. Smoke, or chew, or otherwise consume tobacco for the duration of the year.
3. Consume in any way, any kind of illegal drug for the duration of the year.
4. Enter into a newly formed dating relationship for the duration of the year.
5. Work full or part time for an employer (except for a work study)

Purpose Statement

The 412 Commission exists to produce people of Godly character who are biblically grounded and effective in practical ministry.

Values

The Bible is the basic foundation for life

" [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204:12;&version=31; Hebrews 4:12] ; [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203:16-17;&version=31; 2 Timothy 3:16-17] "

1. Students read the entire Bible in one year.
2. Students learn the overview of each book (and chapter) of the Bible.
3. Students memorize a minimum of 150 verses of Scripture, cumulative.
4. Students are regularly quizzed orally over what they are understanding from the Scriptures.
5. Students have an opportunity to visit the Holy Land in order to see where Bible events happened.

God’s program for today is the local church

" [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202:22-32;&version=31; Ephesians 2:22-32] "

1. Students be exposed to working within all aspects of a local church.
2. Students learn how church ministries differ from place to place, by visiting various church ministries regularly.
3. Students are trained in the ACTS strategy of church planting (contact discovery, process-evangelism and discipleship, leading to the formation of Bible studies).
4. Students are taught and mentored by people actively involved in local church ministry.
5. Students are involved in an extended tour each semester, in addition to once-a-month opportunities to visit cross-cultural, urban, camping, campus, and other ministry settings.

God wants all believers to be involved in sharing Christ with a hopeless world

" [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%205:11-20;&version=31; 2 Corinthians 5:11-20] "

1. Students are trained in how to build positive relationships with non-believers and how to share Christ with the lost.
2. Students weekly have the opportunity to make contacts with non-believers, pray for these contacts, and do activities with those people.
3. The goal is that students from 4:12 will be able to form small groups from the community that will study the Bible together.
4. Students are exposed to considering how to turn lost people to Christ wherever they go, in and outside the U.S., in a variety of environments.
5. Students are focused on the large, cross-cultural elements of our society.

Discipleship is essential for each believer and includes the process of building Godly character in others

" [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%202:2;&version=31; 2 Timothy 2:2] "

1. Students regularly are discipled by mature believers who not only model Christian truth, but also are involved in the life of each student. Also, students will meet with these coordinators who oversee the 412 Commission.
2. Students learn Godly character by learning the Word of God and applying its truth to every walk of life.
3. Students are given one or more persons from the local church that would like to be discipled into being a follower of Christ.
4. Students are given the opportunity to develop boldness, communication skills, hard-work ethics, and time management through being given opportunities to work in local church and community projects.
5. Students are given an opportunity to explore God's calling on their lives through a two-month internship in an area of his or her interest.

Each believer needs to be equipped to serve and love others

" [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=61&chapter=1&version=31 1 & 2 Timothy] "

1. Students, in order to be more equipped for ministry, are able to participate in a variety of ministry opportunities.
2. Students are equipped to serve God and others with a spirit of joy and thankfulness.
3. Students are exposed to various ways to love and serve God and others. They will receive ongoing evaluations on their potential from various ministry opportunities.

Teams

2005-2006 Team

Locations: Grace Church Ohio, Norton, Ohio and Sebring Grace Church, Sebring Florida
Site Coordinators: Ryan and Lori Rodeman (Ohio), Dr. Randall Smith (Florida)
Interns: N/A
Accredited Through: Moody Bible Institute
Students:
Adam Cooper
Aricia Hoycott
Benaiah Kirbawy
Brian Z
Casey Treen
Chris Colelli
Hannah [Thornton] Colelli
Hunter Brewer
Janelle Ehrhardt
Jess VanDervort
Joanna Jones
Joseph Allen Pogar
Josiah Teeple
Lenny Morales
Matt Wheeland
Mike Ozbolt
Peachy Sloan
Terrah [Heston] Dubasak
Todd Ickes
Wade Rininger

2006-2007 Team

Location: Grace Church Ohio, Norton Ohio
Site Coordinators: Ryan and Lori Rodeman
Interns: Josiah Teeple, Matt Wheeland
Accredited Through: Moody Bible Institute
Students:
Amie Anderson
Amy Myer
Atanya Photikam
Cedrian Srisabai
Lia Fleckenstein
Lindsay Bauder
Matt Garner
Mike Workman
Paul Hughes
Philip Weaver
Ryne Leake
Taylor Hynson
Whitney Firebaugh

2007-2008 Team

Location: Grace Brethren Church, Goshen Indiana
Site Coordinators: Mike and Connie Pumphrey
Interns: Amie Anderson
Accredited Through: Liberty University
Students:
Ben Jeffries
Christopher Springer
Daniel Dwyer
Didi Lachet
Erik Jensen
Jenelle Ritchey
Jenny Gowen
John Waris
Jordan Polsdorfer
Kara Schaffer
Kyle Strickland
Valerie Foster