Master's Commission New Mexico

Time with the Lord

Each student is expected to spend individual time with the Lord every morning. This, of course, includes Bible reading and prayer. We also require journaling. Individual worship (with music) or working through a devotional book may also be parts of this time.

The most important thing is that the student is learning to find that intimate place of delighting in the Lord and to abide there. The whole purpose of our existence is to abide in His love so that we may bear the fruit that lasts which only comes out of this intimacy.

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Work Out

We believe that in addition to plain old good health there is something that happens in the spirit when we learn to push past what we think our limits are. There is a spiritual lesson in learning to just keep running after you've hit a wall.

In light of this and also for accountability and mutual encouragement in it, we work out together at the local community center Tuesday through Friday mornings at 7:00 am.

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Worship & Pray

Back at the church, we listen to a brief devotion then spend about 30 minutes pressing into worship and adoration of our King. In the beginning, the devotions are given by the director and the interns but as the year progresses, the students are expected to take this responsibility.

After worship, we spend another 30-40 minutes praying. This can be a very stretching time but we learn to push past ourselves and to war for the things on His heart. We have some regular things we pray for such as the leadership and ministries of Joshua's Vineyard, the nations (using "Operation World"), other MC programs, and for an end to abortion.

In addition to these regular topics, we pray for whatever needs there may be or other burdens that the Lord gives. We try to listen to Him and follow Him wherever He wants to take us.

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Intern Meetings

Interns are MC graduates who help carry the program in many different ways. They are the first level of one-on-one interaction with the students. Each student is assigned to an intern and on Tuesdays after worship and prayer, they meet together and "go over forms". Basically, the intern holds the student accountable for assignments, time usage, finances, relationships (at home and in MC), Bible reading, scripture memorization, etc. The majority of these things are tracked via various forms.

We not only set a standard but we fully expect the student to meet it. If they do not, there are consequences. We call it "Monday Club" but it's basically detention. The student may have to spend some of their precious day off doing work at the church or for one of the church families.

Interns are authorized to give time in Monday Club.

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Class & Study Time

Two to four times a week, depending on the particular week, we have class time. We go through various teachings delivered by the director, interns, leaders or other members of Joshua's Vineyard. These teachings can range from spiritual things (like how to have a quiet time or how to share the gospel, etc.) to "practicals" (like keeping a personal budget, how to write a resume or basic auto maintenance).

We also go through a number of books, video and audio teachings related to the larger focus of that stage of the year (see The MCNM Year above).

The Bible is the single most important book we study in the Master's Commission. We want to be absolutely steeped in God's Word and have it utterly transform our perspective on everything. We approach this goal using four separate but overlapping methods:

• We read the entire Bible in ten months
• We memorize passages of scripture each week (maximum of to 10-12 verses)
• We do in-depth Bible study using an inductive method
• We meditate on God's Word with the lectio divina approach

We are active and intentional in discussing what the Lord is teaching us through each of these methods. With scripture memory for example, we don't just memorize passages so that we can rattle it off when asked to but we fully expect our lives to be transformed by internalizing His Holy Word. Accordingly, we don't just drill each other on accurate recitation but dialogue with each other about how those truths affect our lives.

As the year progresses, part of the training towards leadership is that students will take the teaching responsibility for certain classes. This includes writing up lesson plans etc.

In addition to studying the books, many of the class times will have associated homework assignments (written reports). Scripture memorization and daily Bible reading are also primarily done during personal time. Therefore, significant time reading and studying at home will be necessary.

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Service/Outreach

A crucial aspect of leadership training is the concept of servant leadership. Christ called all His disciples to be servants and to demonstrate His love in the ways He Himself did. Therefore, several times a week the students will be involved in a variety of different service projects.

Master's Commission students first serve Joshua's Vineyard. Students will help keep the church clean at all times. They will also help with general maintenance of the facilities and do work for people in the church with needs (elderly, widows, single moms, etc.). At the discretion of the director, they may also serve in various church ministries such as worship team, children’s ministries, Café, as well as help in the church office, etc.

We also seek to serve the broader Body of Christ by helping a church other than Joshua's Vineyard. We may help clean their facilities or do other sorts of work. This helps foster the realization that the Real Church of our Lord is bigger than one building or denomination and teaches the invaluable lesson of serving some one else's vision.

Additionally, we will serve the community in a variety of ways. Some possiblities are:

• Albuquerque's Adopt-a-Park program through which we would clean the park in our neighborhood. We see this as an opportunity to bless the community in a variety of ways, including warfare prayer while cleaning.
• working at The Storehouse (a poverty relief ministry)
• tutoring at local schools

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Arts

Later in the year the students will begin to learn dance and drama and other creative expressions of worship and ministry. We will take these on the road on our ministry tour and perform them in various churches, youth groups and so forth. So, as they develop, more time during the week will be devoted to learning and practicing them.

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Family

Finally, the day is over!

Back home with their houseparents, the student is required to press into relationships with their hosts. They are not just boarders but expected to become a genuine part of the family—to help out around the house and with the children, to communicate honestly and vulnerably, to pray for their houseparents and be a blessing to them. Also, the students should expect to receive the blessings of generational transfer in the home setting.

We believe that behavior at home is a far more accurate measure of one’s spiritual maturity than behavior anywhere else. Therefore, some of the greatest challenges and lessons of character come from living with houseparents.

Click here for more info about houseparents.

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